Cockburn Central
A 1,521-person apartment hub, Cockburn Central has a density of 550.2 people per sq km and a median age of 31, which is 9 years below the national average. Overseas-born residents account for 45.5%, 23.9 percentage points above the national figure, while 63.1% of dwellings are rented. Compared with nearby Success and Beeliar, its compact form is more pronounced, supporting a mobile population but leaving vacancy at 13.2%. The 1.9-person average household is below the national average because apartments comprise 72.2% of homes and two-bedroom dwellings account for 51.8%.
Local council: Cockburn
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
52
Homebuyers should treat Cockburn Central as an apartment market, not assume a detached-house benchmark. Apartments comprise 72.2% of dwellings, while 51.8% have 2 bedrooms and 20.4% have 0 or 1 bedroom, suiting singles, couples and downsizers more than large families. The mortgage figure is $1,517 per month, with mortgage costs at 21.5% of household income and no mortgage stress flag. With 9.4% owning outright and 25.9% paying a mortgage, ownership is lower than in many established detached suburbs. Compare strata fees, parking and recent sales by building, since no suburb-wide median house price is available.
For Buyers
Homebuyers should treat Cockburn Central as an apartment market, not assume a detached-house benchmark. Apartments comprise 72.2% of dwellings, while 51.8% have 2 bedrooms and 20.4% have 0 or 1 bedroom, suiting singles, couples and downsizers more than large families. The mortgage figure is $1,517 per month, with mortgage costs at 21.5% of household income and no mortgage stress flag. With 9.4% owning outright and 25.9% paying a mortgage, ownership is lower than in many established detached suburbs. Compare strata fees, parking and recent sales by building, since no suburb-wide median house price is available.
For Investors
Investors have a clear rental-demand base, but vacancy is the main caution. Renters represent 63.1% of dwellings, weekly rent is $355 and vacancy is 13.2%, a higher-risk combination than a tightly held rental market because unleased apartments can compete on price. Development activity reached 48 applications in 12 months, so new supply and construction disruption warrant review. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while the annual trend is 0.73%, slower than a high-growth corridor. Efficient 1 and 2-bedroom layouts may lease well, but strata levies, parking and tenant turnover of 43.5% should shape return assumptions.
Development Activity
Total DAs
52
Last 12 Months
52
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
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
HAVENPORT MSL COLLEGE
Demographics
Cockburn Central has a young, internationally connected profile: median age is 31, or 9 years below national average; university attainment is 37.4%, 7.3 points above national; and 45.5% were born overseas, 23.9 points above national. Average household size is 1.9, 0.6 below national, reflecting 55.8% couples without children and 26.0% couples with children. English, Other, Scottish, Chinese and Irish are the largest reported ancestries. No religion leads at 695 people, ahead of Christianity at 517 and Hinduism at 55. Turnover is 43.5%, because apartment renting supports more movement than settled owner-occupied areas.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
26.6%
Houses
1.2%
Townhouse
72.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Property choice is concentrated in compact formats. Apartments represent 72.2% of dwellings, separate houses 26.6% and semi-detached homes 1.2%; bedroom supply is led by 2-bedroom homes at 51.8%, followed by 0 or 1-bedroom homes at 20.4%. Tenure is renter-led, with 63.1% renting, 25.9% paying a mortgage and just 9.4% owning outright. That mix is more rental-dependent than a conventional detached-house suburb and helps explain the 43.5% turnover rate. Costs are moderate at current incomes: rent equals 21.8% of household income and mortgage payments 21.5%, with neither stress flag active. Compared with nearby Success and Beeliar, check strata, parking and maintenance because land size is less decisive.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$355
Census 2021
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
26.0%
Couples with children
55.8%
Couples, no children
12.9%
Single parent
373
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest industry at 18.4% or 123 workers, followed by education at 11.4% or 76, professional and technical services at 10.0% or 67, retail at 8.2% or 55, and construction at 7.8% or 52. Occupations include 234 professionals, 145 trades workers and 144 clerical or administrative workers. Participation is 74.9%, full-time employment 66.8% and unemployment 5.1%; weekly household income is $1,626, at the 56.3rd percentile. SEIFA deciles are IEO 5, IER 6, IRSD 5 and IRSAD 5. The higher IER result fits moderate incomes, while the other measures place the suburb around the national middle rather than the top decile.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
1,026
Unemployed
52
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.8%
Part-time
28.1%
Participation
74.9%
Employed
974
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.4%
Postgraduate
9.3%
Born Overseas
45.5%
Dwellings
753
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented despite the compact urban form: 71.0% travel as car drivers, compared with 14.6% using public transport, 4.5% walking or cycling and 6.1% working from home. Density is 550.2 people per sq km across 2.76 sq km, so shops and services can be close, but parking and peak-time access matter. The local school mix includes 1 non-government school, HAVENPORT MSL COLLEGE; confirm year levels and enrolment zones before relying on it. An IRSAD decile of 5 is around the national middle. Check current police reporting, lighting and street activity for the exact address, since suburb-wide assumptions can be misleading.
Drive
71.0%
Public Transport
14.6%
Walk / Cycle
4.5%
Work from Home
6.1%
Growth Outlook
Growth is measured rather than explosive. The annual trend is 0.73%, below a high-growth corridor profile, and overseas migration is the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 6.1% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Aging: the young share is down 2.7 percentage points and the senior share is up 4.9 points, so overseas arrivals are supporting demand as the resident base matures. Gentrification is not flagged, with a score of 19 and a stage of Not gentrifying. Rent growth of 5.9% and 48 development applications in 12 months point to active, incremental change, while 13.2% vacancy may limit pricing power.
Population trend: Cockburn council area
Cockburn Central sits in the Cockburn council area. These are the council area's residents, not Cockburn Central's.
Residents 2025
139,499
Growth, 5 yr average
+3.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.8%
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 Cockburn Central compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cockburn Central a good suburb to live in?
It suits residents who prefer apartments and a younger setting: the median age is 31, which is 9 years below the national average, and density is 550.2 people per sq km. Public transport use is 14.6%, but 71.0% drive, so compare parking, noise and access before choosing a building. The 63.1% rental share also means the feel can be more mobile than in owner-occupier areas.
What is the median house price in Cockburn Central?
There is no suburb-wide median house price to quote for Cockburn Central. Compare recent sales by apartment size, building and condition instead: 72.2% of dwellings are apartments and 51.8% contain 2 bedrooms. Add mortgage costs of $1,517 per month, plus strata and maintenance charges, to judge the full cost rather than relying on a headline sale figure.
What schools are in Cockburn Central?
Cockburn Central has 1 identified non-government school, HAVENPORT MSL COLLEGE. Confirm its current year levels, enrolment requirements and catchment before relying on it, then compare travel times with schools in nearby suburbs. School boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries, and apartment households with an average size of 1.9 may have different needs from larger family households.
Is Cockburn Central safe?
Treat safety as address-specific rather than assuming it is higher or lower than nearby suburbs. Use at least 3 current checks, including police reporting, lighting and street activity, before renting or buying. Cockburn Central has 71.0% car-driver travel and density of 550.2 people per sq km, so inspect parking areas, building entries and busy access routes at different times.
Is Cockburn Central good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking apartment tenants: 63.1% of dwellings are rented, weekly rent is $355 and vacancy is 13.2%. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but 48 development applications in 12 months may add competing stock. Compare strata costs, vacancy assumptions and building quality before relying on gross yield, particularly for 1 and 2-bedroom apartments.
How is Cockburn Central's population changing?
The direction is gradual and aging. The annual trend is 0.73%, overseas migration is the primary driver, and population change across the wider area is 6.1% over 10 years. The young share fell 2.7 percentage points while the senior share rose 4.9, so growth is becoming older than the earlier profile. Gentrification is not flagged, with a score of 19.
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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