Atwell
Household income at the 90.7th percentile ($2,404/week) paired with an estimated $500,000 median creates one of the strongest affordability ratios in this dataset, with mortgage-to-income at just 18.7%, roughly half the stress threshold. Nearly three-quarters (74.1%) of homes have four or more bedrooms, an extreme concentration of large family housing that ranks among the highest nationally. The suburb is 94.5% detached houses with 54.7% carrying mortgages, a classic mortgage-belt profile where young families leveraged Perth's affordable housing boom. With 33.1% born overseas and Chinese ancestry at 800 (the fourth-largest group), Atwell has a multicultural layer that distinguishes it from older Anglo-dominant Perth suburbs.
Population
9,287
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,404/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Median House
$500K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $500,000 estimated median, paired with household income at the 90.7th percentile, makes Atwell exceptionally affordable relative to earnings. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,950 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 18.7%, well below the national stress threshold. The housing stock is almost entirely detached (94.5%), with 74.1% of homes having four or more bedrooms, a concentration that exceeds most Australian suburbs. Three-bedroom homes account for 20.5%, while apartments (4.1%) and semi-detached (1.4%) are negligible. Car dependence is high at 85.4%, with public transport at 7.0% and walking/cycling at just 1.1%.
For Buyers
The $500,000 estimated median, paired with household income at the 90.7th percentile, makes Atwell exceptionally affordable relative to earnings. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,950 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 18.7%, well below the national stress threshold. The housing stock is almost entirely detached (94.5%), with 74.1% of homes having four or more bedrooms, a concentration that exceeds most Australian suburbs. Three-bedroom homes account for 20.5%, while apartments (4.1%) and semi-detached (1.4%) are negligible. Car dependence is high at 85.4%, with public transport at 7.0% and walking/cycling at just 1.1%.
For Investors
The renter share of 23.2% is below the national average, reflecting a suburb where most residents are owner-occupiers. Weekly rent of $400 against a $500,000 estimated median produces a gross yield around 4.2%, above average for Perth's southern corridor. The vacancy rate of 5.0% is moderate and sits below the level of concern. Only 3 development applications were lodged in 12 months (all swimming pools), confirming the suburb is fully built out with no new housing supply in the pipeline. Population data from the broader SA2 area is not directly available for Atwell specifically, but the young median age (35) and high mortgage share (54.7%) suggest a stable, growing household base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
8
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Atwell iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Harmony Primary School
K-6 · 501 students
Atwell Primary School
K-6 · 505 students
Atwell College
7-12 · 831 students
Demographics
English ancestry leads at 3,585, but Chinese (800) is the fourth-largest group after Scottish (907) and 'Other' (1,149), giving Atwell a distinctly multicultural profile for outer Perth. The 33.1% born overseas is 11.5 points above the national average. Mandarin (223 speakers) is the dominant non-English language, followed by Cantonese (54), Korean (52), Persian (29), and Afrikaans (24). University qualifications at 36.1% are 6.0 points above national, above what might be expected for a mortgage-belt suburb. Average household size of 3.0 is well above the national 2.5, consistent with the family-heavy, large-home composition.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.5%
Houses
1.4%
Townhouse
4.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Mortgaged households at 54.7% dominate tenure, well above the national average, while 22.1% own outright and 23.2% rent. The stock is almost uniformly detached at 94.5%, with semi-detached at 1.4% and apartments at 4.1%. Four-plus bedroom homes at 74.1% make this one of the most large-home-concentrated suburbs in Australia. The estimated $500,000 median places Atwell below Perth's inner-ring pricing but above many other outer suburbs. Mortgage-to-income at 18.7% is exceptionally low, reflecting high dual-income households in affordable housing purchased during Perth's mid-2010s price trough.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$939
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.0%
Unoccupied
158
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
16.4%
Couples, no children
8,129
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 17.3% (598 workers), followed by Education at 13.1% (451), Construction at 8.8% (304), Professional/Tech at 8.6% (298), and Public Admin at 7.5% (259). The Public Admin share is notable and likely reflects government employment accessible from Perth's southern corridor. Professionals (1,156) top occupations, followed by Clerical/Admin (768) and Community/Personal (631). The unemployment rate of 5.2% is slightly above the national average, but participation at 73.4% is well above, reflecting the young, dual-income family demographic. Full-time employment at 63.8% is solid.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.8%
Part-time
31.0%
Participation
73.4%
Employed
5,040
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.1%
Postgraduate
8.4%
Born Overseas
33.1%
Dwellings
3,013
Transport to Work
Three schools serve the suburb with solid ICSEA scores. Harmony Primary School (Government, ICSEA 1,063, 501 students) and Atwell Primary School (Government, ICSEA 1,047, 505 students) provide primary education above the national benchmark. Atwell College (Government, ICSEA 1,003, 831 students) covers secondary. Public transport at 7.0% is limited, and 85.4% drive to work, so car ownership is effectively mandatory. Rent-to-income at 16.6% and mortgage-to-income at 18.7% are both well below stress thresholds, making Atwell one of the most affordable suburbs relative to income in this analysis.
Drive
85.4%
Public Transport
7.0%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Atwell compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Atwell a good suburb to live in?
Atwell is strong for families seeking large, affordable housing in Perth's south. With 74.1% four-plus bedroom homes, a $500,000 median, and mortgage-to-income at just 18.7%, it is one of the most affordable suburbs relative to income in this dataset. Household income sits at the 90.7th percentile nationally. The trade-off is car dependence (85.4% drive) and limited public transport.
What is the median house price in Atwell?
The estimated median is $500,000 (derived from rent, 2025). Monthly mortgage repayments are $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Median weekly rent is $400. No PSI price history is available for trend analysis.
What schools are in Atwell?
Three government schools serve the suburb. Harmony Primary School (ICSEA 1,063, 501 students) and Atwell Primary School (ICSEA 1,047, 505 students) provide primary options, both above the national 1,000 benchmark. Atwell College (ICSEA 1,003, 831 students) is the local secondary school.
Is Atwell safe?
Crime data is not available for Atwell in the current dataset. The high residential stability (82.0% stayed at the same address) and family-oriented demographics (median age 35, household size 3.0) are typically associated with lower crime areas. The 54.7% mortgage share and 74.1% four-plus bedroom homes indicate an established family community.
Is Atwell good for property investment?
Gross yield is approximately 4.2% ($400/week on $500,000), above the Perth metro average. The 5.0% vacancy rate is manageable. However, the 23.2% renter share is below national average, limiting tenant pool depth. Only 3 DAs were lodged in 12 months, confirming no new supply pressure. The low mortgage stress ratio suggests stable owner-occupier demand underpins values.
How is Atwell's population changing?
With a median age of 35 (5 years below national), household size of 3.0, and 82.0% residential stability, Atwell is in a settled family-formation phase. The suburb is fully built out with just 3 development approvals in 12 months. The 33.1% born overseas (11.5 points above national) reflects ongoing multicultural diversification, with Chinese ancestry (800) as the fourth-largest group.
What languages are spoken in Atwell?
With 33.1% born overseas (11.5 points above national), Atwell has a distinctly multicultural language mix. Mandarin (223 speakers) leads, followed by Cantonese (54), Korean (52), Persian (29), and Afrikaans (24). Chinese ancestry (800) is the fourth-largest ancestry group after English (3,585), implying a growing Asian-Australian community.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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