Cannington
Two numbers define Cannington: a median age of 30, which is 10 years below the national figure, and an overseas-born share of 66.5%, which runs 44.9 points above national. The two are linked, because the suburb pulls in young migrants faster than it ages, with overseas migration adding roughly 1,045 residents a year against net internal outflow of 546. At a $415,000 median house price the market sits well below WA capital-city levels, and renters make up 58.8% of households. University qualifications reach 45.8%, which is 15.7 points above national, an unusually educated profile for a market this affordable. SEIFA places it mid-pack, decile 6 on IEO but decile 3 on economic resources, reflecting a young, qualified but still asset-light population.
Population
6,875
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,558/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$415K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $415,000 the median house price sits far below Perth's premium markets, and entry costs stay manageable: average monthly mortgage repayments of $1,512 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.4%, well under the 30% stress threshold. Stock favours families over downsizers, with three-bedroom dwellings at 56.9% and four-plus-bedroom homes at 17.2%, while one and two-bedroom options together make up only 25.9%. Separate houses account for 46.4% of dwellings and semi-detached 36.2%, so detached buyers compete with a large medium-density segment. Outright owners are thin at 18.9% versus 22.3% holding a mortgage, because the 58.8% renter base leaves owner-occupiers a minority. For first-home buyers the combination of sub-stress repayments and a young median age of 30 makes this an accessible entry point compared with most metropolitan suburbs.
For Buyers
At $415,000 the median house price sits far below Perth's premium markets, and entry costs stay manageable: average monthly mortgage repayments of $1,512 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.4%, well under the 30% stress threshold. Stock favours families over downsizers, with three-bedroom dwellings at 56.9% and four-plus-bedroom homes at 17.2%, while one and two-bedroom options together make up only 25.9%. Separate houses account for 46.4% of dwellings and semi-detached 36.2%, so detached buyers compete with a large medium-density segment. Outright owners are thin at 18.9% versus 22.3% holding a mortgage, because the 58.8% renter base leaves owner-occupiers a minority. For first-home buyers the combination of sub-stress repayments and a young median age of 30 makes this an accessible entry point compared with most metropolitan suburbs.
For Investors
Renters make up 58.8% of households, one of the deepest tenant pools available, and weekly rent of $350 against the $415,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.4%, far higher than premium suburbs return. The catch is a 13.3% vacancy rate, which signals real softness in placing tenants despite the demand base. Population support is strong, with overseas migration adding about 1,045 residents annually and the suburb growing 2.5% a year, though net internal outflow of 546 trims that gain. Rent climbed 6.1% over the period and real incomes rose 5.9%, so rents are tracking earnings rather than outpacing them. No development applications were lodged in the past 12 months in this dataset, meaning little new supply is in the pipeline to compete with existing stock. The investment case rests on yield and migration-led demand more than scarcity.
Schools in Cannington iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Cannington Community College
K-10 · 819 students
Sevenoaks Senior College
11-12 · 439 students
Demographics
The median age of 30 is 10.0 years below national, marking one of the younger populations in metropolitan Perth, and the trajectory reinforces it: the working-age share rose 2.5 points and the senior share fell 0.4 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 66.5%, which is 44.9 points above national, making the migrant share roughly two-thirds of the suburb. Ancestry leans toward Chinese (1,096) and Indian (751) communities alongside English (1,041), and the top non-English languages are Punjabi (451), Mandarin (301) and Urdu (117). University qualifications at 45.8% run 15.7 points above national, high for an affordable market. Islam (838 residents) is a substantial second faith behind Christianity (1,997), consistent with the South Asian and Middle Eastern migration that drives the language mix.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
46.4%
Houses
36.2%
Townhouse
16.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is renter-dominated: 58.8% rent, 22.3% carry a mortgage and only 18.9% own outright, so the suburb churns tenants rather than building owner equity, which fits a 33.1% annual turnover rate. The stock splits between 46.4% separate houses and 36.2% semi-detached, with apartments a smaller 16.9%, and bedroom counts skew family-sized at 56.9% three-bedroom against 5.9% in the studio and one-bedroom band. The $415,000 median keeps the market affordable, and both housing-cost ratios stay comfortable, with mortgage-to-income at 22.4% and rent-to-income at 22.5%, neither flagged for stress. Affordability has improved from 54.6% in 2011 to 44.5% in 2021, a 10.1-point gain that reflects incomes rising faster than housing costs over the decade.
Mortgage / mo
$1,512
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$781
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.3%
Unoccupied
394
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.3%
Couples, no children
4,552
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in service sectors rather than knowledge industries: Healthcare leads at 16.3% (421 workers), Hospitality follows at 13.6% (353), and Retail and Transport tie at 8.7% each, with Professional and Technical services at just 7.0%. By occupation, Professionals (660) edge out Community and Personal Service workers (549) and Labourers (523), a broader spread than high-income suburbs show. Unemployment sits at 6.6%, above typical metro rates, and participation is 63.2% with a 59.3% full-time rate. SEIFA captures the tension: IEO reads decile 6 on the strength of 45.8% university qualifications, yet economic resources (IER) fall to decile 3, because the 58.8% renter base and asset-light young population depress wealth measures even where education runs above average.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
14,946
Unemployed
676
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.3%
Part-time
34.1%
Participation
63.2%
Employed
3,430
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.8%
Postgraduate
14.7%
Born Overseas
66.5%
Dwellings
2,564
Transport to Work
Residents lean heavily on cars, with 79.3% driving to work against 11.3% on public transport and 3.3% walking or cycling, a higher car reliance than denser inner suburbs show. SEIFA places the area mid-range, decile 4 on IRSD for relative disadvantage and decile 5 on IRSAD, so it sits near the national midpoint rather than at either extreme. Only 3.3% of residents (210 people) need daily assistance, low given the population of 6,875, and volunteering runs at 11.0%. No schools are recorded inside the 4.02 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a trade-off offset by the suburb's affordability and central position. Housing costs stay manageable, with rent-to-income at 22.5%, well below stress levels.
Drive
79.3%
Public Transport
11.3%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.5%/yr
(+617 people/yr)
EstablishedCannington is firmly in expansion, with annual population growth of 2.5% and a 38.2% rise over 10 years, classifying it as a high-growth established suburb rather than a stable one. Overseas migration is the engine, adding about 1,045 residents a year, while net internal migration removes 546, so without inbound arrivals growth would stall. The gentrification reading is Active at a score of 44, with signals including population up 56% since 2011 and an accelerating renter-to-owner shift from 19% to 31%. Real incomes grew 5.9% and rents 6.1% over the period, a balanced move that keeps affordability improving even as numbers climb. The young median age of 30 and migrant inflow point to continued demand pressure rather than the flat trajectory typical of mature suburbs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+1,045
Net Internal / yr
-546
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +56% since 2011, Net internal outflow -546/yr, Strong overseas inflow +1045/yr, Accelerating: 19% → 31%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cannington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cannington a good suburb to live in?
Cannington offers affordability and access, with a $415,000 median house price and a young median age of 30, which is 10 years below national. SEIFA places it mid-range at decile 5 on IRSAD. The main trade-offs are a 13.3% vacancy rate and 79.3% car reliance for commuting.
What is the median house price in Cannington?
The median house price is $415,000, well below Perth's premium markets. Weekly rent averages $350 and average monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,512, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.4%, comfortably under the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Cannington?
No schools are recorded inside the 4.02 km2 Cannington boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 45.8%, which is 15.7 points above the national figure.
Is Cannington safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Cannington in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 4 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage and only 3.3% of its 6,875 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a mid-range area.
Is Cannington good for property investment?
Rent of $350 a week against a $415,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.4%, well above premium suburbs, and renters make up 58.8% of households. The risk is a 13.3% vacancy rate, though overseas migration of about 1,045 residents a year supports tenant demand.
How is Cannington's population changing?
Population is growing 2.5% a year and rose 38.2% over the past decade, a high-growth trajectory. Overseas migration drives it, adding about 1,045 residents annually, while net internal migration removes 546, so inbound arrivals are the main engine of growth.
What languages are spoken in Cannington?
About 66.5% of residents were born overseas, 44.9 points above national. English is the main language, with Punjabi (451 speakers), Mandarin (301), Urdu (117) and Arabic (115) the most common non-English languages, reflecting strong South Asian and Chinese communities.
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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