Western Australia is home to the nation’s fastest-growing region for the second consecutive census, but this time it’s not in the north.
Western Australia is home to the nation’s fastest-growing region for the second consecutive census, but this time it’s not in the north.
Serpentine-Jarrahdale has experienced a population increase of 51 per cent, to 27,000, during the past five years, according to the census, dethroning East Pilbara, which took the title in the last census in 2011.
Despite the economic downturn in the, the state’s median income of $724 a week was higher than the national median of $662/week, the census found.
The median weekly rent of $347 and monthly household mortgage repayment of $1,992 were also both higher than the national medians of $335 and $1,755 respectively.
The census revealed that WA had the highest proportion of Australian households with a mortgage, with 39.7 per cent in WA against the national average of 34.5 per cent.
“This shows WA households are much more sensitive to factors that impact home buying, including access to housing finance, the supply and diversity of new housing and the strength of local real estate markets,” Property Council of Australia executive director Lino Iacomella said.
“The census also shows that WA’s population grew by 10.5 per cent (since 2011), which is the second highest nationally and above the national average of 8.8 per cent.
“The strong population growth since the last census contributed to the big increase in home buying and stronger economic growth in WA.
“However, recently there is evidence that population growth in WA has slowed.
“The census shows why the WA government should focus policies on maintaining strong population growth which will also contribute to a strong housing market.”
According to the census, WA is also home to the largest number of residents born outside of the country, with about 32 per cent reporting they were born overseas. That’s an increase from 31 per cent in 2011.
While WA’s population has increased by 10.5 per cent since 2011, it has grown by only 0.7 per cent in the past year, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics out today.
