Midwest Times & Northern Guardian

Oliver Lane

Cost-of-living pressures and the desire to downsize are driving more families to move into regional Western Australia, according to new data published by a leading moving comparison website. Figures from Muval suggest that more than twice as many families are relocating to regional WA than leaving it.

The data, based on over 41,000 family move inquiries since 2018, calculates a ratio by dividing the number of family moves into a region by those moving out. A ratio of one indicates equal movement in and out. Regional Western Australia recorded the second-highest ratio in the country at 2.15, surpassed only by regional Queensland.

Some of the fastest-growing areas in Australia were in WA, with the South West recording a ratio of 2.9, Mandurah at 2.7, and the Wheatbelt at 2.5. Nearly 60 percent of those relocating to regional WA came from greater Perth, while 9 percent were from Melbourne and 6 percent each from Brisbane and Sydney.

Muval CEO James Morrell attributed the trend to a growing number of families looking to downsize and move to more affordable locations. “We’re seeing more and more families downsize, move out of expensive inner-city areas, or relocate to more affordable parts of the country,” he said.

“In fact, over one in ten family moves are into smaller homes with fewer bedrooms, and one in four are selling properties worth significantly more than the homes they’re moving into. These aren’t always lifestyle moves; for many, it’s about making finances work in a challenging economic climate.”

Perth also saw a strong influx, with nearly 1.9 families moving to the city for every family that left. In contrast, some capital cities—such as Sydney, Melbourne, and the ACT—recorded ratios below one, indicating more families were moving away than settling there.

Mr Morrell also highlighted the influence of remote work on relocation trends. “Remote work flexibility has been a major driver of this trend, allowing more families to move away from city centres while still maintaining work-life balance without the burden of long commutes,” he said.

“While affordability is clearly a key factor in family moves, our research also suggests that lifestyle and space are important. Families are seeking homes that better align with their needs.”