Chittering
At 6.1 people per sq km across 170.44 sq km, Chittering has a distinctly rural housing pattern: 100.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 55.6% contain 4 or more bedrooms. The 1,034 residents have a median age of 44, which is 4.0 years above the national figure, while household income sits at the 74.1st percentile. Car dependence is high because only 2.4% use public transport and 77.9% drive. Compared with nearby Bindoon and Muchea, Chittering is best understood as a spacious, mortgage-led market with an aging trajectory rather than a compact commuter centre.
Local council: Chittering
Population
1,034
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,972/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
For buyers, the key decision is land, dwelling type and borrowing capacity rather than a published suburb median. Chittering is 100.0% separate-house stock, with 55.6% of homes at 4 or more bedrooms and 31.5% at 3 bedrooms, so upkeep and commuting can matter as much as the building. Monthly mortgage costs are $2,000, equal to 23.4% of household income, while weekly rent is $335. Mortgage stress is flagged false, although the 63.4% mortgage tenure means interest-rate changes still matter. Compared with denser markets, the 16.4% vacancy rate may give buyers more time to inspect, negotiate and test travel routes before committing.
For Buyers
For buyers, the key decision is land, dwelling type and borrowing capacity rather than a published suburb median. Chittering is 100.0% separate-house stock, with 55.6% of homes at 4 or more bedrooms and 31.5% at 3 bedrooms, so upkeep and commuting can matter as much as the building. Monthly mortgage costs are $2,000, equal to 23.4% of household income, while weekly rent is $335. Mortgage stress is flagged false, although the 63.4% mortgage tenure means interest-rate changes still matter. Compared with denser markets, the 16.4% vacancy rate may give buyers more time to inspect, negotiate and test travel routes before committing.
For Investors
Chittering presents a thin rental market rather than a deep investor pool. Only 5.2% of occupied dwellings are rented, weekly rent is $335, and vacancy is 16.4%, so leasing outcomes may be more sensitive to tenant turnover and property presentation than in higher-renting suburbs. Development activity counted 0 in the past 12 months, limiting an immediate new-supply signal. The growth trend is 2.34% annually and is driven by internal migration, while rent growth is 6.7%. Compared with established rental corridors, the combination of low renter share and high vacancy calls for conservative yield, vacancy and maintenance assumptions.
Demographics
Chittering's demographic profile is older and less university-qualified than national benchmarks: median age is 44, or 4.0 years above national, and university attainment is 17.2%, 12.9 percentage points below national. Overseas-born residents account for 25.7%, which is 4.1 points above the national comparison, while average household size is 2.7, or 0.2 above national. English ancestry is the largest recorded group at 521 people, followed by Scottish at 101 and Irish at 88. No religion accounts for 531 people and Christianity for 395. A 76.3% stay rate suggests relative residential stability, although the aging trajectory may reflect fewer younger households over time. Compared with Bindoon and Muchea, these patterns point to a settled rural community with mixed household backgrounds rather than a highly transient population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Chittering's housing stock is unusually detached and family-sized: 100.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 55.6% have 4 or more bedrooms, and 31.5% have 3 bedrooms. Tenure is dominated by mortgages at 63.4%, followed by outright ownership at 30.3%, while only 5.2% rent. That pattern fits a mortgage-belt locality because households are more likely to occupy larger homes than apartments. Monthly mortgage cost is $2,000 and mortgage payments equal 23.4% of household income; weekly rent is $335 and rent equals 17.0%. Compared with Bindoon and Muchea, buyers should focus on land size, dwelling condition and comparable sales because a suburb-wide median house price is not available.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$335
Census 2021
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$828
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.4%
Unoccupied
70
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.3%
Couples with children
47.8%
Couples, no children
7.7%
Single parent
312
Total families
Economy & Employment
Chittering's economy combines construction at 12.7% with mining at 11.8%, education at 10.6%, healthcare at 9.4% and professional or technical work at 7.4%. The leading occupation groups are trades at 111 people, managers and clerical or administrative workers at 69 each, machinery or drivers at 66, and professionals at 63. Labour-force participation is 63.7%, unemployment is 4.6%, and full-time work accounts for 62.7% of employment. Household income ranks at the 74.1st percentile. SEIFA is uneven: economic resources reach decile 10, while the education and occupation index sits at decile 4 and overall advantage at decile 6. Compared with national benchmarks, this suggests solid household resources but a less credential-heavy workforce because trades, transport and site-based industries carry substantial weight.
Unemployment
4.6%
Labour Force
540
Unemployed
25
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.7%
Part-time
28.5%
Participation
63.7%
Employed
515
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.2%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
25.7%
Dwellings
357
Transport to Work
Livability in Chittering is built around space and private vehicles. Public transport is used by 2.4% of residents, while 77.9% drive, 2.7% walk or cycle and 12.7% work from home, so daily convenience depends on road access and trip planning. Volunteering is 18.2%, which supports local participation, and 4.9% of residents need assistance. The IRSAD decile is 6, placing overall advantage around the middle compared with higher-decile Perth locations. Chittering's density of 6.1 people per sq km can support privacy, but it also means services are more spread out. Check school options and enrolment zones by exact address, since rural catchments can vary.
Drive
77.9%
Public Transport
2.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
12.7%
Growth Outlook
Chittering's growth outlook is positive but shaped by age and migration. The annual trend is 2.34%, with internal migration identified as the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 33.8% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is labelled Aging: the senior share has risen 4.3 percentage points and the young share has fallen 3.2 points. Gentrification signals are mixed but meaningful, with a score of 56 and stage Active, alongside a shift score of 41 and stage Early signs. Real income growth is 15.2%, while rent growth is 6.7%, so household purchasing capacity has improved even as housing costs continue to rise. Compared with slower rural markets, the 2.34% trend points to continued pressure on services and commuting capacity.
Population trend: Chittering council area
Chittering sits in the Chittering council area. These are the council area's residents, not Chittering's.
Residents 2025
7,039
Growth, 5 yr average
+3.4%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+3.9%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Chittering compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chittering a good suburb to live in?
Chittering can suit buyers wanting space, detached housing and a low-density setting. It has 1,034 residents across 170.44 sq km, but 77.9% drive and only 2.4% use public transport, so it is better for households comfortable with car-based travel than for transit-first living.
What is the median house price in Chittering?
A current median house price is not available, so buyers should compare recent sales for the exact property type. Chittering is 100.0% separate-house stock, and 55.6% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, making like-for-like comparisons important when assessing value.
What schools are in Chittering?
School options should be confirmed by exact address and enrolment zone because Chittering covers 170.44 sq km and has a rural settlement pattern. Families should check current nearby-school availability, travel times and sector details before buying, rather than assuming one catchment applies across the locality.
Is Chittering safe?
A current suburb-level crime rate is not available for Chittering, so safety should be checked using up-to-date police information and the exact street. Chittering has a low density of 6.1 people per sq km and a population of 1,034, but density alone cannot establish whether an address is safe.
Is Chittering good for property investment?
Chittering may suit investors seeking a rural market with growth exposure, but the rental numbers require caution. Weekly rent is $335, vacancy is 16.4%, renting households represent only 5.2%, and development activity was 0 in 12 months. Compared with higher-renting markets, conservative vacancy assumptions are sensible.
How is Chittering's population changing?
Chittering has 1,034 residents today. Population change across the wider area is 33.8% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 2.34% driven by internal migration. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 4.3 percentage points and the young share down 3.2 points.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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