Cockburn Central
With 72.2% of dwellings being apartments and 64.1% of residents renting, Cockburn Central reads as one of Perth's most distinctly urban rental precincts in the southern corridor. The suburb covers just 2.76 km2 yet houses a population that has grown 11% since 2011, tracking overseas migration as its primary engine at 180 net arrivals per year. The median age of 31 sits 9 years below the national figure, and 45.5% of residents were born overseas, which is 23.9 percentage points above the national rate. SEIFA deciles sit at 5 across IRSD and IRSAD, indicating moderate advantage compared to the national distribution, neither disadvantaged nor affluent.
Population
1,521
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,626/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$419K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $419,000 is well below the Perth median, making Cockburn Central one of the more affordable entry points on the southern rail corridor. Stock is overwhelmingly apartments at 72.2%, while separate houses make up only 26.6% of dwellings. Two-bedroom configurations dominate at 51.8%, followed by one-bedroom at 20.4% and four-plus bedrooms at 17.9%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership stands at just 9.5%, lower than most Perth suburbs, because the apartment-heavy, younger-resident profile means most owner-occupiers are still paying down mortgages rather than holding debt-free.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $419,000 is well below the Perth median, making Cockburn Central one of the more affordable entry points on the southern rail corridor. Stock is overwhelmingly apartments at 72.2%, while separate houses make up only 26.6% of dwellings. Two-bedroom configurations dominate at 51.8%, followed by one-bedroom at 20.4% and four-plus bedrooms at 17.9%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Outright ownership stands at just 9.5%, lower than most Perth suburbs, because the apartment-heavy, younger-resident profile means most owner-occupiers are still paying down mortgages rather than holding debt-free.
For Investors
A 64.1% renter majority is among the higher renter concentrations in Perth, giving landlords consistent tenant demand against a $419,000 median. Weekly rent of $355 implies a gross yield near 4.4%, above average for Perth apartments in the southern suburbs. The 13.2% vacancy rate is elevated and signals oversupply in the apartment segment, so tenant selection and timing matter. Overseas migration adds 180 net residents per year, the primary population driver, supporting ongoing rental demand. Internal migration is a net negative at minus 40 per year, so the tenant base replaces rather than compounds. Development activity sits at 7 applications in the past 12 months, modest for a suburb of this density, suggesting new supply is not the near-term risk.
Development Activity
Total DAs
18
Last 12 Months
18
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 Cockburn Central iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Havenport MSL College
3-11 · 37 students
Demographics
The median age of 31 is 9 years below the national figure, and the suburb's trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 4.9 points over the decade while the young share declined 2.7 points. Overseas-born residents at 45.5% run 23.9 percentage points above the national rate, making this one of the more internationally composed suburbs in the Cockburn LGA. English ancestry leads at 508 residents, followed by Scottish, Chinese and Irish. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (29 speakers), Korean (14) and Cantonese (12). University qualifications reach 37.4%, which is 7.3 percentage points above national. Average household size is 1.9, which is 0.6 below national, consistent with the apartment-dominant, younger, couples-without-children profile that makes up 46% of all families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
26.6%
Houses
1.2%
Townhouse
72.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership is low across all metrics: only 9.5% own outright, 26.3% hold a mortgage and 64.1% rent, compared to national owner-occupier rates that exceed 65%. The apartment share of 72.2% explains most of this, since apartments in this precinct attract renters rather than owner-occupiers. Two-bedroom units make up 51.8% of stock, with four-plus bedroom units at 17.9% mostly in townhouse configurations. The 13.2% vacancy rate is well above the 3% threshold that signals a balanced market, pointing to oversupply in the apartment segment. Rent-to-income sits at 21.8% and mortgage-to-income at 21.5%, both below stress thresholds, so residents who do own or rent are carrying manageable costs relative to local income levels.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$355
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,020
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.2%
Unoccupied
115
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
46.0%
Couples, no children
911
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 18.4% of local workers (123 people), followed by Education at 11.4% and Professional and Technical services at 10.0%. Retail accounts for 8.2% and Construction for 7.8%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 234 workers, followed by Clerical and Admin at 144 and Community and Personal Services at 116. Full-time employment runs at 70.4% of those employed, with 651 full-time and 274 part-time workers. The unemployment rate sits at 5.3%, above the national average, and the participation rate is 71.4%. Household income at the 56.3rd percentile nationally sits slightly above the median, consistent with a working-age, professionally employed but not high-earning resident base. Real income growth was negative at minus 0.8% over the decade.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
7,853
Unemployed
422
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.4%
Part-time
24.3%
Participation
71.4%
Employed
925
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.4%
Postgraduate
9.3%
Born Overseas
45.5%
Dwellings
753
Transport to Work
Public transport use at 15.6% is moderate and reflects Cockburn Central station's position on the Mandurah rail line, one of Perth's busiest. Car driving remains dominant at 75.6%. Walking and cycling account for 4.7%, higher than typical outer suburban rates. No schools are recorded within the Cockburn Central boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs such as Success, Bibra Lake and South Lake. The suburb earns a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 5, placing it at the national median for relative advantage and disadvantage combined. The IRSD decile of 5 similarly indicates moderate disadvantage compared to the national distribution. Only 3.3% of residents need daily assistance, consistent with the young median age of 31. Volunteering at 12.8% is below national norms, typical for a high-turnover rental precinct.
Drive
75.6%
Public Transport
15.6%
Walk / Cycle
4.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.73%/yr
(+95 people/yr)
EstablishedThe suburb grew 11% from 2011 to 2021 and the 10-year population change of 6.1% is above many established Perth southern suburbs. Current pace is 0.73% per year adding about 95 people annually. Overseas migration drives this at 180 net arrivals per year, offsetting internal outflow of minus 40. Medium projections put the SA2 population at 13,361 by 2031, up from 13,071 in 2025. The gentrification score of 19 sits below the threshold for active gentrification, aligning with stable affordability: mortgage-to-income improved from 49.5% in 2011 to 43.0% in 2021. Rent growth of 5.9% ran ahead of real income growth of minus 0.8% over the decade.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+180
Net Internal / yr
-40
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +11% since 2011, Accelerating: 1% → 10%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cockburn Central compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cockburn Central a good suburb to live in?
Cockburn Central suits younger renters and professionals who value transit access and affordability. The Mandurah rail line, median age of 31, and a $419,000 median house price below the Perth average make it accessible. SEIFA deciles sit at 5 nationally, indicating a moderate rather than disadvantaged position. The 13.2% vacancy rate means rental choice is good, but turnover is high at 43.5%.
What is the median house price in Cockburn Central?
The median house price is estimated at $419,000 based on 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 21.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $355, implying a gross yield near 4.4% for investors.
What schools are in Cockburn Central?
No schools are recorded inside the Cockburn Central boundary in this dataset. Families rely on nearby schools in adjoining suburbs such as Success, Bibra Lake and South Lake. The suburb's 37.4% university qualification rate is 7.3 percentage points above the national figure, reflecting a well-educated adult population.
Is Cockburn Central safe?
Detailed suburb-level crime statistics are not available for Cockburn Central in this dataset. As a proxy, the SEIFA IRSD decile of 5 places the suburb at the national median for relative disadvantage, neither high-risk nor highly advantaged. Only 3.3% of residents require daily assistance, consistent with a generally healthy, young population with a median age of 31.
Is Cockburn Central good for property investment?
The investment case is yield-oriented rather than capital growth-led. A $419,000 median and $355 weekly rent produce a gross yield near 4.4%, above average compared to inner-city Perth apartments. The 64.1% renter majority provides a deep tenant pool and overseas migration adds 180 net residents per year. The 13.2% vacancy rate is a risk factor, indicating existing oversupply in the apartment segment.
How is Cockburn Central's population changing?
Population in the surrounding SA2 grew from 12,566 in 2023 to 13,071 in 2025 and is forecast to reach 13,361 by 2031. Annual growth runs at 0.73%, adding around 95 people per year. Overseas migration at 180 net arrivals annually is the primary driver, while internal migration is a net negative at minus 40 per year.
What languages are spoken in Cockburn Central?
About 45.5% of residents were born overseas, which is 23.9 percentage points above the national rate. The main non-English languages are Mandarin (29 speakers), Korean (14) and Cantonese (12). English ancestry leads at 508 residents, with Scottish (128) and Chinese (124) the next largest ancestry groups.
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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