WA 6069 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Brigadoon

Household income in the 96.7th percentile nationally, yet median house prices at $738,000 remain far more accessible than comparably affluent suburbs in Sydney or Melbourne. Brigadoon spans 19.47 km2 in the Swan Valley fringe with a population of just 1,025, making it one of Perth's lower-density suburbs at 52.6 residents per km2. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.4%, and 75.1% of homes have four or more bedrooms, reflecting an area built for families rather than downsizers. Only 2.5% of residents rent, compared to the national average, because ownership here is the near-universal norm.

Brigadoon urban fabric map

Population

1,025

Median Age

43.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,901/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

25

Median House

$738K

Estimated from rent (2025)

19.47 km²· 52.6 people/km²· Family income $2,989/wk

The median house price of $738,000 is estimated from rental data, placing Brigadoon well below comparable high-income suburbs nationally. Mortgage repayments average $2,675 per month, and with household income at $2,901 per week, the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.4%, with 75.1% of homes having four or more bedrooms, so buyers looking for a large family home will find consistent supply. Outright owners account for 31.7% of households, with 65.8% carrying a mortgage, typical of a suburb where most residents are mid-career families who purchased within the last 10 to 15 years rather than retirees.

For Buyers

The median house price of $738,000 is estimated from rental data, placing Brigadoon well below comparable high-income suburbs nationally. Mortgage repayments average $2,675 per month, and with household income at $2,901 per week, the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.4%, with 75.1% of homes having four or more bedrooms, so buyers looking for a large family home will find consistent supply. Outright owners account for 31.7% of households, with 65.8% carrying a mortgage, typical of a suburb where most residents are mid-career families who purchased within the last 10 to 15 years rather than retirees.

For Investors

Brigadoon is not a rental market. At 2.5% renting, the tenant pool is extremely thin compared to the state average, and the vacancy rate of 5.9% signals limited rental demand even for the few properties available. Weekly rent of $623 against a $738,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.4%, modest but not negligible for a suburb where capital growth prospects depend on limited supply and high owner-occupier demand. Development activity sits at 14 applications in the past 12 months, low for a suburb of this size, and recent approvals include ancillary dwellings and sheds rather than medium-density infill. The 82.4% resident retention rate over five years signals low turnover, which limits transaction volume for investors seeking to buy below market.

Development Activity

Total DAs

25

Last 12 Months

25

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

Other
10
Garage / Carport / Shed
6
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
3
New Dwelling
2
Tree Removal
2
Renovation / Extension
1
Deck / Pergola / Patio
1

Demographics

The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, consistent with a suburb in which families are established rather than newly forming. Overseas-born residents make up 28.3% of the population, which is 6.7 percentage points above national. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (534 residents), Scottish (126) and Irish (90). Average household size is 3.1, which is 0.6 above the national average, because couples with children (405 families) are the dominant household type. University qualifications reach 29.3%, which is slightly below the national rate. The volunteering rate of 18.1% is notable for a suburb this small, suggesting strong community participation relative to population size.

Age Distribution

0-14
18.7%
15-24
12.6%
25-44
20.9%
45-64
33.0%
65+
14.9%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.6%
2 bed
4.1%
3 bed
19.2%
4+ bed
75.1%

Dwelling Structure

98.4%

Houses

1.6%

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 31.7% Mortgage 65.8% Rent 2.5%

The tenure split heavily favours ownership: 31.7% own outright, 65.8% hold a mortgage and only 2.5% rent, a profile that places this well below the national renting average. Separate houses dominate at 98.4%, with semi-detached at 1.6% and no apartment stock recorded. Four-plus bedroom homes make up 75.1% of all dwellings, with three-bedroom at 19.2%, meaning almost no small-dwelling supply exists. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,675, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.3% is below the national stress threshold, so most households are managing debt comfortably relative to income. The vacancy rate of 5.9% is elevated compared to tighter Perth markets, though this reflects the owner-occupier nature of the suburb rather than rental oversupply.

Mortgage / mo

$2,675

Rent / wk

$623

HH Size

3.1

Personal Income / wk

$1,002

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

5.9%

Unoccupied

20

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

21.5%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

21.3%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
534
Scottish
126
Irish
90
Other
71
Italian
60
German
59

Household Composition

27.2%

Couples, no children

907

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the leading employer at 15.2% of workers (55 people), followed by Construction at 12.1% (44), Education at 11.6% (42), Professional/Technical services at 10.5% (38) and Mining at 10.2% (37). The Mining presence is consistent with WA's regional economy and likely reflects FIFO workers based in Brigadoon. By occupation, Professionals (108) and Managers (103) together account for the two largest groups, aligning with the household income sitting in the 96.7th percentile nationally. Unemployment is 3.2% and the full-time employment rate is 65.3%, with 186 residents in part-time work. The participation rate of 66.7% is solid, with 214 residents not in the labour force, partly explained by the older median age of 43.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

65.3%

Part-time

31.5%

Participation

66.7%

Employed

536

Occupations

Professionals 108
Managers 103
Clerical/Admin 68
Community/Personal 56
Sales 50
Machinery/Drivers 36
Labourers 29

Top Industries

Healthcare 15.2%
Construction 12.1%
Education 11.6%
Professional/Tech 10.5%
Mining 10.2%

University

29.3%

Postgraduate

7.1%

Born Overseas

28.3%

Dwellings

317

Transport to Work

Car dependence is near-total at 90.0% of residents driving to work, with only 2.4% using public transport, lower than comparable outer-Perth suburbs. This reflects Brigadoon's rural-residential setting and limited public transport infrastructure. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on schools in neighbouring areas such as Middle Swan and Upper Swan. The rent-to-income ratio of 21.5% and mortgage-to-income of 21.3% are both below the national stress benchmark of 30%, indicating that housing costs are manageable for local income levels. Only 3.7% of residents (36 people) need daily assistance, below average for a suburb with a median age of 43. The 18.1% volunteering rate is higher than many comparable WA outer suburbs.

Drive

90.0%

Public Transport

2.4%

Walk / Cycle

0.9%

Work from Home

N/A

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Brigadoon compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 28%
Household Income
Top 3%
Rent Level
Top 2%
Renters
Bottom 0%
Uni Educated
Top 36%
Public Transport
Bottom 39%
Born Overseas
Top 16%
Density
Top 30%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brigadoon a good suburb to live in?

Brigadoon suits families wanting large homes on generous lots with above-average incomes. Household income sits at the 96.7th percentile nationally, mortgage costs at 21.3% of income are well below the stress threshold, and 82.4% of residents stay long-term. The trade-off is near-total car dependence at 90% and no schools inside the suburb boundary.

What is the median house price in Brigadoon?

The median house price is estimated at $738,000 based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $623, and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,675, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.3% against the suburb's $2,901 weekly household income.

What schools are in Brigadoon?

No schools are recorded within the Brigadoon suburb boundary in this dataset. With 1,025 residents across 19.47 km2, the suburb is small and sparsely settled, so families typically use schools in neighbouring Middle Swan, Upper Swan or Ellenbrook, all within a short drive.

Is Brigadoon safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Brigadoon in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low (mortgage-to-income 21.3% and rent-to-income 21.5%), household income sits in the 96.7th percentile nationally, and only 3.7% of residents need daily assistance, all consistent with a low-disadvantage community.

Is Brigadoon good for property investment?

The investment case is limited by the very thin rental market, with only 2.5% of residents renting and a vacancy rate of 5.9%. Gross yield is estimated around 4.4% against a $738,000 median and $623 weekly rent. Low turnover at 17.6% over 5 years restricts buying opportunities, but the high-income owner base supports long-term price stability.

How is Brigadoon's population changing?

No population forecast is published for Brigadoon, but the resident retention rate of 82.4% signals a stable community with low churn. Development activity runs at 14 approvals per year, mostly single houses and ancillary dwellings, suggesting modest incremental growth. The suburb's 1,025 residents are spread across 19.47 km2, leaving room for further rural-residential development.

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.

Explore Brigadoon on the Map

View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.

Open Interactive Map

More Suburbs in WA