Wannanup (WA)

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According to the latest demographic assessments derived from official agency statistics and subsequent address validations by Districts, the suburb of Wannanup has a residency count estimated at 4,843 as of May 2026. This represents an addition of 701 individuals (16.9%) compared to the 2021 Census, which recorded 4,142 residents. The calculation builds upon a baseline of 4,831 residents determined from the ABS June 2025 regional population release, supplemented by 45 new validated properties identified post-census. The resulting population density stands at 1,542 persons per square kilometer, outstripping the typical density of localities evaluated nationally. The suburb of Wannanup registered a 16.9% expansion rate that outpaced the national growth metric of 9.3% as well as state-level trends, placing the community among the regional leaders in population expansion. The primary catalyst for this growth was interstate relocation, which accounted for roughly 55% of the total demographic gains, with positive contributions also observed from international arrivals and natural increase.

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Wannanup features a well-rounded labor market that includes both white and blue collar positions, with manufacturing and industrial fields making up a large share of the economy. The unemployment rate stands at 2.3%, and the area has seen an estimated employment growth of 8.1% over the last twelve months according to Districts' compilation of statistical area information. By March 2026, the number of residents employed was 2,204, and the local unemployment rate was 1.9% lower than Greater Perth's 4.2%. At the same time, workforce participation in Wannanup was notably lower, reaching 55.4% in contrast to Greater Perth's 70.2%. Census data indicates that only 9.3% of residents worked from home, a figure that may still reflect the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdown measures.

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According to tax registry files for the 2023 financial year, local taxpayers recorded a median income of $55,565 and an average of $78,355. This represents a high national ranking, though it sits below the Greater Perth median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median of $61,638 and an average of $86,919 as of March 2026. However, 2021 Census data indicates that household, family, and individual incomes sit in the lower tier, ranging between the 22nd and 33rd percentiles. The local earnings profile shows that the largest cohort, representing 27.3% of earners (1,322 people), falls into the $1,500 - 2,999 band, compared to across the wider region. Affordability pressures are high, with residents retaining only of their income, placing the suburb in the nd percentile, while the SEIFA index ranks the area in the th decile for income.

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Residential structures in the suburb consisted of 90.7% standalone houses and 9.2% other housing formats like townhouses or apartments at the time of the last Census, compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative dwellings across metropolitan Perth. Home ownership was notably higher than the metropolitan benchmark, with 39.6% of homes owned outright, while 40.1% were mortgaged and 20.3% were occupied by tenants. The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,885 was lower than the metropolitan median of $1,907, whereas the median weekly rent of $363 sat slightly above the metropolitan figure of $350. Nationally, local mortgage costs exceed the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rents remain below the national average of $375.

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Family households represent the clear majority at 77.6% of dwellings, consisting of 27.1% couples with children, 38.4% couples without children, and 11.4% single-parent households. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 22.4%, with single-person households at 20.2% and group living situations at 2.1%. The median household size of 2.5 residents is slightly below the metropolitan average of 2.6.

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Educational outcomes show room for development, with university graduation rates of 14.7% sitting well below the national average of 30.4%. Among those with higher education degrees, bachelor studies lead at 10.7%, followed by postgraduate studies at 2.2% and graduate diplomas at 1.8%. Vocational and technical training is highly prevalent, with 43.6% of residents aged 15+ holding practical qualifications, including 11.4% with advanced diplomas and 32.2% holding certificates.

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Public transit infrastructure includes 20 passenger stops within the boundaries, consisting of bus services. These stops are connected to 3 distinct routes, which combine to support 595 passenger journeys each week. Local access is good, with residents living an average of 269 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential nature of the suburb, most workers commute out of the area, with private cars remaining the primary choice at 85%, followed by train travel at 5%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.6 cars per home. A modest 9.3% of workers worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

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Health assessments indicate positive wellness indicators across the local population, characterized by low rates of chronic illness and mortality across all age categories. Additionally, private health insurance uptake is high, covering approximately 58% of the population, equivalent to about 2,823 people.

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Cultural diversity matches regional averages, with 70.5% of residents born in Australia, 88.8% holding citizenship, and 94.7% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, representing 49.3% of the community. The most notable statistical variance is in Judaism, which accounts for 0.2% of the local population compared to 0.3% across Greater Perth.

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The median age of 47 years is higher than the Greater Perth average of 37 and also exceeds the national average of 38 years. The 65 - 74 age bracket is highly represented at 18.0% compared to the metropolitan area, while the 25 - 34 cohort is lower at 7.2%. This 65 - 74 representation is higher than the national figure of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census figures show the 75 to 84 cohort has expanded from 6.6% to 9.8% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 12.6% to 11.2% and the 55 to 64 group declined from to . Demographic projections suggest significant changes by with the to age group expected to grow by , adding residents to total . Seniors aged + are expected to account for of all population growth, highlighting local aging trends, while the to and to age cohorts are projected to experience declines.

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Wannanup currently has an estimated 203 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 121 children aged 0-2 and 80 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 14% since the previous census. though population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 0% by 2041 (to approximately 203 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 381. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been low, with approximately 7.6 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the bottom 20% of areas assessed nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.