Champion Lakes
With a SEIFA disadvantage decile of 1, Champion Lakes ranks among the most economically constrained suburbs nationally, yet household income sits at the 64.3rd percentile, an unusual split explained by a workforce concentrated in healthcare (18.5%) and education (12.8%) rather than high-income professional sectors. The suburb is overwhelmingly owner-occupied detached housing: 93.4% separate houses and 75.7% of residents owning or paying off their home. At 40.4% overseas-born, the community sits 18.8 percentage points above the national average, and its gentrification score of 42 signals active change driven by strong internal migration of 146 residents per year.
Population
1,355
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,812/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$469K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $469,000 reflects an affordable detached-house market well below the Perth metropolitan average, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9% sits comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses make up 93.4% of stock, so buyers rarely compete for scarce dwelling types. The bedroom profile skews large: 42.8% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 44.6% have 3, making Champion Lakes well suited to families who need space. The 29.2% outright ownership rate, versus 46.5% with a mortgage, suggests a relatively young buyer cohort still working through their loans rather than long-settled owners. Affordability has improved since 2011, with the housing cost burden declining from 48.7% to 45.6% of income by 2021.
For Buyers
The median house price of $469,000 reflects an affordable detached-house market well below the Perth metropolitan average, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9% sits comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses make up 93.4% of stock, so buyers rarely compete for scarce dwelling types. The bedroom profile skews large: 42.8% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 44.6% have 3, making Champion Lakes well suited to families who need space. The 29.2% outright ownership rate, versus 46.5% with a mortgage, suggests a relatively young buyer cohort still working through their loans rather than long-settled owners. Affordability has improved since 2011, with the housing cost burden declining from 48.7% to 45.6% of income by 2021.
For Investors
A rental vacancy rate of 5.4% is elevated and warrants attention, sitting above the typical 3% equilibrium for healthy demand. Weekly rent of $355 against a $469,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.9%, modest but positive compared to most capital city suburbs. The 24.3% renter share is below the national average, reflecting the owner-occupier character of the suburb. Net internal migration of 146 residents per year and overseas migration of 57 per year provide a steady demand base, and the annual population growth rate of 1.22% outpaces many established Perth suburbs. Rent-to-income at 19.6% keeps tenants well below stress levels, reducing default risk. The active gentrification stage, driven by a 27% population rise since 2011, supports medium-term price growth.
Schools in Champion Lakes iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kelmscott John Calvin School
PP-6 · 183 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 matches the national figure almost exactly, but the composition differs. At 40.4% overseas-born, Champion Lakes sits 18.8 percentage points above the national average, with English (483), Irish (105) and Scottish (94) ancestries dominant, alongside Punjabi (24) and Malayalam (19) speakers reflecting a South Asian cohort. University qualifications reach 27.5%, which is 2.6 points below national, consistent with the healthcare and trades-heavy workforce. Average household size is 2.6, marginally above national, and 41.2% of families are couples with children. The volunteering rate of 18.2% indicates a community with moderate civic engagement. The population trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 6.7 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 1.5 points.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.4%
Houses
1.0%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupation dominates: 29.2% own outright and 46.5% carry a mortgage, leaving only 24.3% renting, well below the national renter share. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 93.4%, with apartments at just 0.6% and semi-detached at 1.0%. Four-plus bedroom dwellings account for 42.8% and three-bedroom for 44.6%, a bedroom profile more generous than most Perth suburbs at this price point. The median house price of $469,000 represents an estimated figure based on 2025 rent data, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9% is below the stress threshold, meaning most owner-occupiers carry manageable debt relative to income. Rent stress is also absent, with rent-to-income at 19.6%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$355
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$766
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.4%
Unoccupied
28
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.0%
Couples, no children
1,089
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local industry mix at 18.5% (78 workers), followed by Education at 12.8% (54) and Construction at 9.7% (41), a profile typical of outer-suburban WA communities rather than inner-city professional hubs. By occupation, Professionals lead at 128 workers, ahead of Community/Personal services (84) and Clerical/Admin (82), with Machinery and Drivers (62) reflecting the construction and trades component. The unemployment rate of 7.0% is above the national average, and the participation rate of 57.7% is low, with 368 residents not in the labour force. Real income growth of negative 8.5% over the decade indicates residents have lost purchasing power in real terms. The SEIFA IEO decile of 1 ranks the suburb in the lowest 10% nationally on education and occupation advantage, while the household income percentile of 64.3 shows moderate aggregate earnings.
Unemployment
11.0%
Labour Force
3,413
Unemployed
375
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.9%
Part-time
26.1%
Participation
57.7%
Employed
595
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.5%
Postgraduate
7.6%
Born Overseas
40.4%
Dwellings
486
Transport to Work
Champion Lakes is highly car-dependent, with 88.4% of residents driving to work and only 4.2% using public transport, well below the national average for suburban areas. Walking and cycling account for 1.9% of commutes. The IRSAD decile of 1 places the suburb in the lowest 10% nationally on relative socioeconomic advantage, meaning access to services and economic resources is comparatively limited. The rent-to-income ratio of 19.6% keeps housing costs manageable for renters. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring areas. The need-for-assistance rate is 4.2%, covering 54 residents, which is proportionate to the aging population trajectory. The 75.6% residential stability rate, with residents staying put over 5 years, points to a settled community despite the suburb's ongoing growth.
Drive
88.4%
Public Transport
4.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.22%/yr
(+85 people/yr)
EstablishedChampion Lakes is on an active gentrification trajectory. Population rose 27% since 2011, driven by net internal migration of 146 residents per year and net overseas migration of 57. The annual growth rate of 1.22% translates to roughly 85 new residents per year, and medium forecasts project the broader area reaching approximately 7,100 by 2031. Rent has grown 5.4% over the measured period. The gentrification score of 42 is supported by three converging signals: sustained population growth, strong internal migration, and an accelerating influx from 3% to 23% of new arrivals. The affordability trend is improving, with the housing cost burden declining from 48.7% in 2011 to 45.6% in 2021, making the suburb more accessible relative to incomes than it was a decade ago.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+57
Net Internal / yr
+146
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +27% since 2011, Net internal migration +146/yr, Accelerating: 3% → 23%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Champion Lakes compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Champion Lakes a good suburb to live in?
Champion Lakes offers affordable detached housing at a $469,000 median, with 93.4% separate houses and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9% well below the stress threshold. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 1 indicates limited local amenity relative to national peers, but household income sits at the 64.3rd percentile nationally, and the suburb has a 75.6% residential stability rate, reflecting resident satisfaction.
What is the median house price in Champion Lakes?
The median house price is $469,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $355 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,950. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9% is below the 30% stress level, making ownership attainable for households at the 64.3rd income percentile.
What schools are in Champion Lakes?
No schools are recorded inside the Champion Lakes suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 27.5%, which is 2.6 percentage points below the national average, broadly consistent with a suburb where professional and trades employment share the workforce.
Is Champion Lakes safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Champion Lakes in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the IRSD decile of 1 places the suburb in the lowest 10% nationally on relative disadvantage, which historically correlates with higher crime rates in comparable areas. The residential stability rate of 75.6% and strong family-household composition may partially offset that pattern.
Is Champion Lakes good for property investment?
At $469,000 median and $355 weekly rent, the gross yield is approximately 3.9%, positive relative to many Perth suburbs. The vacancy rate of 5.4% is above the 3% equilibrium, suggesting some supply excess. Annual population growth of 1.22% and net internal migration of 146 residents per year support demand, and the active gentrification score of 42 points to medium-term price appreciation.
How is Champion Lakes's population changing?
The suburb grew 10.3% over 10 years and is growing at 1.22% annually, adding roughly 85 residents per year. Internal migration of 146 per year and overseas migration of 57 per year are the primary drivers. The population trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 6.7 points over the decade, while the working-age share declined 1.5 points.
What languages are spoken in Champion Lakes?
About 40.4% of residents were born overseas, which is 18.8 percentage points above the national average. English dominates, with Punjabi (24 speakers) and Malayalam (19) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a South Asian community presence. The major ancestry groups are English (483 residents), Irish (105) and Scottish (94).
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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