Churchlands
With 61.4% of adults holding university qualifications, Churchlands sits 31.3 percentage points above the national figure, making it one of Perth's most educated suburbs. Household income lands in the 88th percentile nationally, yet the area occupies just 1.67 square kilometres with 3,638 residents. All four SEIFA indexes score decile 10, the top advantage tier, and the overseas-born share at 47.5% runs 25.9 points above national, reflecting a strongly international community built around English and Chinese ancestry groups. Population grew 19.4% over the decade, and overseas migration adds roughly 292 residents per year.
Population
3,638
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,314/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Median House
$550K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $550,000 is moderate compared to other decile-10 Perth suburbs, partly because the stock is mixed rather than purely detached housing. Separate houses account for 63.5% of dwellings, apartments 28.4% and semi-detached 8.1%, so buyers have options across formats. The dominant dwelling size is 4-plus bedrooms at 52.1%, which drives family demand. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income runs at just 15.8%. Outright ownership at 38.0% slightly edges mortgage holders at 36.0%, a pattern typical of established wealth suburbs rather than rapid-turnover markets.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $550,000 is moderate compared to other decile-10 Perth suburbs, partly because the stock is mixed rather than purely detached housing. Separate houses account for 63.5% of dwellings, apartments 28.4% and semi-detached 8.1%, so buyers have options across formats. The dominant dwelling size is 4-plus bedrooms at 52.1%, which drives family demand. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, and rent-to-income runs at just 15.8%. Outright ownership at 38.0% slightly edges mortgage holders at 36.0%, a pattern typical of established wealth suburbs rather than rapid-turnover markets.
For Investors
The rental market carries some risk: the vacancy rate sits at 7.7%, above comfortable investment levels, even though 26.0% of dwellings are rented and weekly rent reaches $365. Against the $550,000 median that implies a gross yield near 3.5%, reasonable by Perth standards but undercut by elevated vacancies. Overseas migration of 292 persons per year is the strongest demand driver, and the population grew 1.26% annually in recent years, with medium forecasts adding roughly 211 persons per year through 2031. Development activity is low at 9 approvals in 12 months, nearly all alterations to existing houses, so new supply is not the cause of vacancies.
Development Activity
Total DAs
13
Last 12 Months
13
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
Schools in Churchlands iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Newman College
PP-12 · 1824 students
Churchlands Senior High School
7-12 · 2221 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 matches the national figure precisely, sitting at 1.0 year above national in comparative terms, giving Churchlands a balanced rather than aging or youthful profile. The overseas-born share of 47.5% is 25.9 points above national, driven by strong Chinese representation: Chinese ancestry at 854 is the second-largest group after English at 989. The top non-English language is Mandarin at 219 speakers, followed by Cantonese at 59. University qualifications at 61.4% are 31.3 points above national, the clearest signal of the suburb's professional class. Average household size of 2.6 is marginally above national at 0.1 points, consistent with the family-oriented 4-plus bedroom stock at 52.1% of dwellings.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
63.5%
Houses
8.1%
Townhouse
28.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is relatively stable: 38.0% own outright, 36.0% carry a mortgage and 26.0% rent, with outright owners the largest single group. This pattern reflects a suburb where established families hold long-term assets rather than one driven by investor churn. The stock leans heavily toward larger homes, with 4-plus bedroom dwellings at 52.1% and 3-bedroom at 20.9%, while 2-bedroom units account for 24.5%. Separate houses at 63.5% dominate but apartments at 28.4% provide a secondary segment. The 7.7% vacancy rate is the one pressure point, above typical Perth norms, which keeps rents at $365 per week despite the suburb's decile-10 SEIFA standing. Mortgage stress is absent: at 25.9% of income, repayments stay below the 30% threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wk
$365
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$1,015
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.7%
Unoccupied
112
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.3%
Couples, no children
3,045
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local industry mix at 19.4% of employed residents (285 workers), followed by Professional and Technical services at 15.9% (234) and Education at 11.9% (175). Mining contributes 8.0% (118 workers), reflecting Perth's broader resource economy, higher than in comparable eastern-seaboard knowledge suburbs. By occupation, Professionals dominate with 766 workers and Managers add 313, together accounting for roughly half the employed base. The unemployment rate is low at 3.8% and the full-time employment rate reaches 61.1%. All four SEIFA indexes sit at decile 10, confirming that the education and professional concentration translates directly into household advantage. Real incomes grew 12.1% over the decade.
Unemployment
1.3%
Labour Force
9,340
Unemployed
120
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.1%
Part-time
35.1%
Participation
64.4%
Employed
1,828
Occupations
Top Industries
University
61.4%
Postgraduate
19.3%
Born Overseas
47.5%
Dwellings
1,330
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 81.3% driving to work, well above what transit-oriented suburbs record, because Churchlands sits in inner Perth without a train station. Public transport use reaches 8.9% and walking or cycling 2.7%. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD, the top national advantage tier, and decile 10 on IRSD, meaning very few residents face deprivation. Only 3.0% of residents (104 people) need daily assistance, low for any age profile. Volunteering runs at 23.4%, meaningfully above typical suburban rates, reflecting the high education and professional base. No schools are recorded inside the 1.67 square kilometre boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a common trade-off in compact, high-density pockets.
Drive
81.3%
Public Transport
8.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.26%/yr
(+211 people/yr)
EstablishedChurchlands grew 19.4% over the ten years to 2021 and is projected to add about 211 persons per year under medium forecasts, reaching roughly 17,826 by 2031 at a 1.26% annual rate. Overseas migration at 292 net arrivals per year is the primary engine, with net internal migration near zero. Rent grew 20.0% over the recent period, and real incomes rose 12.1%, keeping affordability ratios broadly stable. The gentrification score of 33 places the suburb in the early signs stage, with signals including the 25% population rise since 2011 and the accelerating overseas inflow. The affordability ratio improved from 48.7% in 2011 to 42.4% in 2021, suggesting the suburb has become relatively more accessible than a decade ago despite price increases.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+292
Net Internal / yr
0
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +25% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +292/yr, Accelerating: 8% → 16%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Churchlands compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Churchlands a good suburb to live in?
Churchlands ranks decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes, the top national advantage tier. Household income is in the 88th percentile nationally, university qualifications at 61.4% are 31.3 points above national, and only 3.0% of residents need daily assistance. The main trade-offs are an 81.3% car-dependent commute profile and a 7.7% rental vacancy rate.
What is the median house price in Churchlands?
The estimated median house price is $550,000, based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $365 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,600, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the suburb's top-decile income profile.
What schools are in Churchlands?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.67 square kilometre Churchlands boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with 61.4% holding university qualifications, which is 31.3 points above the national figure.
Is Churchlands safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Churchlands are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier nationally, and only 3.0% of its 3,638 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage, low-crime profile.
Is Churchlands good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent of $365 against a $550,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.5%, reasonable for Perth. However the 7.7% vacancy rate signals oversupply in parts of the rental market. Overseas migration of 292 per year provides steady demand, and population grew 1.26% annually in recent years, reaching an estimated 16,742 in 2025.
How is Churchlands's population changing?
Population grew 19.4% over the decade to 2021 and reached an estimated 16,742 in 2025. Medium forecasts project growth of about 211 persons per year, reaching roughly 17,826 by 2031. Overseas migration at 292 net arrivals annually is the primary driver, with internal migration near zero.
What languages are spoken in Churchlands?
About 47.5% of residents were born overseas, which is 25.9 points above the national figure. Mandarin is the most spoken non-English language at 219 speakers, followed by Cantonese at 59 and Persian at 37. Chinese ancestry at 854 residents is the second-largest ancestry group after English at 989.
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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