Carlisle
Sitting just 6 km from the Perth CBD with a $453,000 median house price, Carlisle pairs inner-suburban access with affordability that most established city-fringe markets have lost. The median age of 36 runs 4 years below the national figure, and 39.1% of residents were born overseas, 17.5 points above national, a younger and more international profile than the typical established suburb. University qualifications reach 44.5%, which is 14.4 points above national, yet household income sits only in the 62.1st percentile, because the renter-heavy 44.5% tenant base and a young workforce still building careers pull aggregate earnings below what the education level alone would imply.
Population
6,733
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,766/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$453K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $453,000 median house price keeps Carlisle within reach for buyers priced out of inner-Perth, and the stock favours families: 66.1% are separate houses against just 3.0% apartments, with 57.5% of dwellings holding three bedrooms and 19.1% holding four or more. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,900, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold even though household income only reaches the 62.1st percentile. That gap matters because it means a typical buyer can service a Carlisle mortgage without the strain seen in dearer Perth suburbs. Mortgage holders (33.0%) outnumber outright owners (22.5%), pointing to a market still being bought into rather than held debt-free, consistent with the younger median age of 36.
For Buyers
The $453,000 median house price keeps Carlisle within reach for buyers priced out of inner-Perth, and the stock favours families: 66.1% are separate houses against just 3.0% apartments, with 57.5% of dwellings holding three bedrooms and 19.1% holding four or more. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,900, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold even though household income only reaches the 62.1st percentile. That gap matters because it means a typical buyer can service a Carlisle mortgage without the strain seen in dearer Perth suburbs. Mortgage holders (33.0%) outnumber outright owners (22.5%), pointing to a market still being bought into rather than held debt-free, consistent with the younger median age of 36.
For Investors
A 44.5% renter share, well above the share in owner-dominated outer suburbs, gives landlords a deep tenant pool, and weekly rent of $340 against the $453,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.9%, healthier than the sub-2% returns common across premium Perth markets. The 7.6% vacancy rate is elevated, which tempers that yield by signalling some competition for tenants, though rent grew 11.5% over the recent period. Demand support is structural: net overseas migration adds 552 residents a year to the surrounding area while internal migration removes 165, leaving overseas inflow as the primary growth driver. With no development applications recorded in the past 12 months, new supply is thin, so existing rental stock faces little near-term dilution from fresh builds.
Development Activity
Total DAs
59
Last 12 Months
0
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4.0 years below national, marking Carlisle as younger than most established suburbs, and overseas-born residents reach 39.1%, which is 17.5 points above national. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,199), Irish (606) and Scottish (580), but Chinese (504) is the largest non-European group and Mandarin (129 speakers) the top non-English language ahead of Italian (46) and Cantonese (39). University qualifications at 44.5% run 14.4 points above the national figure, reinforcing a skilled younger cohort. Average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below national, consistent with the 32.3% of families being couples without children. Christianity (2,427) leads on religion, with Islam (305) and Buddhism (222) the notable minorities, mirroring the international resident mix.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
66.1%
Houses
30.9%
Townhouse
3.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward renting: 44.5% rent, 33.0% carry a mortgage and only 22.5% own outright, an unusually tenant-heavy split for a separate-house suburb and a sign of a market in transition rather than long-held ownership. The stock is 66.1% separate houses and 30.9% semi-detached, leaving apartments at just 3.0%, so density comes from townhouses and villas rather than towers. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 57.5%, with four-plus at 19.1% and two-bedroom at 18.0%. The $453,000 median house price stays affordable against a household income in the 62.1st percentile, and the affordability ratio improved from 44.5% in 2011 to 34.5% in 2021, a rare easing. Mortgage-to-income at 24.8% and rent-to-income at 19.3% both sit below stress thresholds, keeping the suburb genuinely livable on a moderate budget.
Mortgage / mo
$1,900
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$963
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.6%
Unoccupied
235
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.3%
Couples, no children
4,445
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in services rather than a single dominant employer: Healthcare leads at 15.7% (421 workers), Professional and Technical follows at 13.6% (364) and Education at 9.8% (263), with Mining and Public Administration tied at 7.9% (212 each). By occupation, Professionals (1,075) far outnumber Clerical and Admin staff (486) and Managers (419), aligning with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment sits at 5.7% with a 66.8% full-time rate and 63.5% participation. The SEIFA picture is mixed: IRSAD and IRSD both read decile 7 and IEO decile 8, yet the IER economic-resources index drops to decile 4, because the 44.5% renter base and younger residents still accumulating assets depress household wealth measures even where education is high. Real incomes grew 16.8% over the decade.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
12,919
Unemployed
434
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.8%
Part-time
27.5%
Participation
63.5%
Employed
3,457
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.5%
Postgraduate
10.9%
Born Overseas
39.1%
Dwellings
2,861
Transport to Work
Carlisle leans on cars: 78.5% drive to work, above the level in transit-rich inner suburbs, while 12.5% use public transport and only 2.6% walk or cycle, reflecting its position 6 km from the CBD with rail and arterial access rather than dense local amenity. The suburb scores decile 7 on IRSAD and IRSD, above the national midpoint and indicating relatively low disadvantage, while only 6.7% of residents (427 people) need daily assistance. Volunteering runs at 16.4%. No schools are recorded inside the 2.54 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off offset by the 44.5% university qualification rate, 14.4 points above national, that signals an education-focused resident base.
Drive
78.5%
Public Transport
12.5%
Walk / Cycle
2.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.41%/yr
(+281 people/yr)
EstablishedCarlisle is growing steadily rather than booming, with surrounding-area population rising 1.41% a year, roughly 281 people, and a 15% increase over the past decade. Overseas migration is the engine, adding 552 residents annually while net internal migration removes 165, so growth depends on international arrivals rather than locals relocating in. The gentrification reading is early signs at a score of 33, supported by signals the brief flags directly: population up 25% since 2011 and the pace accelerating from 8% to 16%. The affordability ratio improving from 44.5% to 34.5% over 2011 to 2021 sits alongside 11.5% rent growth, a combination that points to rising desirability without yet pricing out moderate-income households, which is what keeps the early-gentrification label rather than a fully gentrified one.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+552
Net Internal / yr
-165
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +25% since 2011, Net internal outflow -165/yr, Strong overseas inflow +552/yr, Accelerating: 8% → 16%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Carlisle compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carlisle a good suburb to live in?
Carlisle scores decile 7 on the IRSAD and IRSD indexes, above the national midpoint, with a $453,000 median house price that stays affordable against income in the 62.1st percentile. Mortgage-to-income runs 24.8% and rent-to-income 19.3%, both below stress thresholds, and it sits just 6 km from the Perth CBD.
What is the median house price in Carlisle?
The median house price is $453,000, affordable for a suburb 6 km from the Perth CBD. Weekly rent averages $340 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,900, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Carlisle?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.54 km2 Carlisle boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 44.5%, which is 14.4 points above the national figure.
Is Carlisle safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Carlisle in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 7 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, above the national midpoint, and only 6.7% of its residents (427 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a lower-disadvantage area.
Is Carlisle good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $340 against a $453,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.9%, well above the sub-2% returns in premium Perth suburbs. Net overseas migration adds 552 residents a year and rent grew 11.5%, though the 7.6% vacancy rate signals some tenant competition.
How is Carlisle's population changing?
Population is rising about 1.41% a year, roughly 281 people, and is up 15% over the past decade. Overseas migration drives the growth, adding 552 residents annually while net internal migration removes 165, with the suburb at an early-gentrification stage scoring 33.
What languages are spoken in Carlisle?
About 39.1% of residents were born overseas, 17.5 points above the national figure. English is dominant, with Mandarin (129 speakers), Italian (46), Cantonese (39), Hindi (37) and Korean (36) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a notably international resident mix.
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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