Clarkson
More than two in five Clarkson residents were born overseas (44.7%), while the suburb's median age of 34 is 6 years below the national comparison. Its 13,904 residents occupy a dense 6.5 square kilometre area, and 52.4% of households are paying a mortgage. In the same northern corridor as Mindarie and Merriwa, Clarkson combines detached family housing with a 31.0% renting share. Household income sits at the 61.9th percentile, above the midpoint, but the 4th IRSAD decile points to more mixed socioeconomic conditions than affluent coastal pockets.
Population
13,904
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,761/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Clarkson suits buyers seeking detached space, with 89.3% separate houses and 53.2% of homes containing four or more bedrooms. A current median house price is not available, so monthly carrying costs are a practical guide: the typical mortgage figure is $1,733, while mortgage payments equal 22.7% of household income. The 53.2% four-plus-bedroom share is higher than the 40.1% three-bedroom share, reflecting a family-oriented stock profile. With 52.4% of dwellings mortgaged, compared with 15.8% owned outright, buyers should allow for ongoing loan costs and maintenance on larger blocks.
For Buyers
Clarkson suits buyers seeking detached space, with 89.3% separate houses and 53.2% of homes containing four or more bedrooms. A current median house price is not available, so monthly carrying costs are a practical guide: the typical mortgage figure is $1,733, while mortgage payments equal 22.7% of household income. The 53.2% four-plus-bedroom share is higher than the 40.1% three-bedroom share, reflecting a family-oriented stock profile. With 52.4% of dwellings mortgaged, compared with 15.8% owned outright, buyers should allow for ongoing loan costs and maintenance on larger blocks.
For Investors
Clarkson's rental case rests on an established, detached-heavy market rather than a large development pipeline. Renting accounts for 31.0% of occupied dwellings, weekly rent is $350, and vacancy is 6.7%, a higher vacancy measure than a tightly supplied market would normally signal. The 89.3% separate-house share can support family tenant demand because 43.7% of families are couples with children and 23.4% are one-parent families. However, 0 developments were recorded in the past 12 months, so investors should focus on existing stock, maintenance and tenant appeal. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while annual growth is 2.1%, above a flat-growth outcome.
Schools in Clarkson
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
ST ANDREW'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
YOUTH FUTURES COMMUNITY SCHOOL
CLARKSON PRIMARY SCHOOL
SOMERLY PRIMARY SCHOOL
CLARKSON COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
Demographics
Clarkson's demographic mix is younger than the national comparison, with a median age of 34, 6 years below national. Its trajectory is nevertheless aging, as the senior share has risen 4.8 percentage points and the young share has fallen 3.6 points. Overseas-born residents make up 44.7%, which is 23.1 points above the national comparison. English ancestry is recorded for 5,539 people, followed by Irish and Scottish ancestry at 1,279 each. No religion is the largest reported affiliation at 6,439, ahead of Christianity at 5,314 and Islam at 444. Because overseas migration is the primary growth driver, languages such as Afrikaans at 108 and Punjabi at 102 add to the suburb's cultural mix. Household size is 2.6, 0.1 above national, with 77.3% staying at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.3%
Houses
9.8%
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Clarkson's housing stock is strongly detached: separate houses make up 89.3%, compared with 9.8% semi-detached dwellings and 0.9% apartments. Larger homes dominate, with 53.2% containing four or more bedrooms versus 40.1% with three bedrooms. Tenure is mortgage-led: 52.4% are mortgaged, above 31.0% renting and 15.8% owned outright. That pattern fits a family-oriented mortgage belt because 43.7% of families are couples with children and average household size is 2.6, 0.1 above national. Housing stress indicators are moderate, with mortgage payments at 22.7% of household income and rent at 19.9%, while 6.7% vacancy gives renters more choice than a very tight market.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$350
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$828
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.7%
Unoccupied
360
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.7%
Couples with children
31.3%
Couples, no children
23.4%
Single parent
3,845
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Clarkson's leading industry at 19.0% with 876 workers, followed by construction at 10.7% and 491, education at 9.1% and 420, retail at 7.4% and 342, and professional and tech at 6.9% and 316. This mix is broader than a suburb dependent on one trade because occupations also span trades at 1,196, professionals at 1,152, community and personal services at 1,079, clerical and administration at 941, and labourers at 781. Labour-force participation is 69.8%, above the 60.1% full-time employment share, while unemployment is 6.5%. Household income ranks at the 61.9th percentile, but IRSAD and IRSD both sit in the 4th decile, lower than higher socioeconomic areas.
Unemployment
6.5%
Labour Force
7,626
Unemployed
497
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.1%
Part-time
33.4%
Participation
69.8%
Employed
7,129
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.1%
Postgraduate
5.1%
Born Overseas
44.7%
Dwellings
5,038
Transport to Work
Clarkson is practical for car-oriented households: 76.5% travel as car drivers, compared with 8.2% using public transport, 1.5% walking or cycling and 7.6% working from home. Five local schools span government and non-government sectors, covering primary, senior high and community settings, giving families more than one schooling format. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across the suburb. The suburb's IRSAD is in the 4th decile, lower than more advantaged areas, while 4.2% of residents need assistance. A current crime rate is not available for Clarkson, so compare recent police information and visit at different times before deciding.
Drive
76.5%
Public Transport
8.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
7.6%
Population Forecast
+2.1%/yr
(+334 people/yr)
EstablishedClarkson's wider-area outlook points to steady expansion at 2.1% annually, driven primarily by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 18.9% over 10 years, while the forecast trajectory is labelled Aging: the senior share is up 4.8 percentage points and the young share is down 3.6 points. Gentrification remains restrained, with a forecast score of 35 at the Early signs stage, while the shift assessment records 15 and Not gentrifying. Affordability improved from 51.0 in 2011 to 42.3 in 2021, but real income growth was -1.9%, lower than zero. The result is growth without a clear premium-market repositioning, because migration is lifting demand while the age structure shifts older.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+272
Net Internal / yr
-58
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +30% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +272/yr, Accelerating: 10% → 18%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Clarkson compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clarkson a good suburb to live in?
Clarkson can suit households wanting detached housing, schools and a car-oriented routine. It has 13,904 residents, 89.3% separate houses and 5 local schools. The median age is 34, below the national comparison, while 44.7% were born overseas, adding a broad cultural mix.
What is the median house price in Clarkson?
A current median house price is not available for Clarkson. Buyers can benchmark holding costs against a $1,733 monthly mortgage figure and $350 weekly rent. The 89.3% separate-house share is higher than the 0.9% apartment share, so recent comparable sales should be checked for the exact dwelling type.
What schools are in Clarkson?
Clarkson has 5 local schools across government and non-government sectors, covering primary, senior high and community settings. The mix includes 3 government schools compared with 2 non-government schools. Enrolment zones should be checked for each address because access can differ across boundaries.
Is Clarkson safe?
No suburb-level crime rate is available for Clarkson, so safety should be checked using current police information and an in-person visit. Clarkson has 13,904 residents across 6.5 square kilometres, meaning conditions can differ between streets. Compare recent incidents near the exact address rather than relying on a suburb-wide impression.
Is Clarkson good for property investment?
Clarkson may suit investors targeting established family rentals: 31.0% of dwellings are rented, weekly rent is $350 and vacancy is 6.7%. Vacancy is higher than a tightly supplied market would normally show. The 89.3% separate-house share supports family demand, while 0 developments in 12 months places more focus on existing homes and upkeep.
How is Clarkson's population changing?
Clarkson's wider-area growth trend is 2.1% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 18.9% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 4.8 points and the young share down 3.6 points. The median age of 34 remains below the national comparison.
What languages are spoken in Clarkson?
Overseas-born residents account for 44.7% of Clarkson's population, 23.1 points above the national comparison. Reported languages include Afrikaans, Punjabi, Mandarin, Arabic and Hindi, with 108 Afrikaans speakers and 102 Punjabi speakers. English ancestry is the largest reported ancestry at 5,539 people.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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