Connolly
With a median age of 47 and 52.1% of residents born overseas, Connolly reads differently from most Perth suburbs at the same price point. Household incomes sit in the 88.2nd percentile nationally, yet the median house price of $536,000 remains far below what that income rank typically commands in other capital cities. The suburb is almost entirely detached housing, with 85.9% separate houses and 70.7% of dwellings containing four or more bedrooms, pointing to family-scale living rather than investor-driven density. Population growth is slow at 0.38% per year, driven almost entirely by overseas arrivals averaging 169 a year, because internal migration runs at a net loss of 34 annually.
Population
3,675
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,304/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$536K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $536,000 is estimated from 2025 rental data, and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability is real because household incomes rank in the 88.2nd percentile nationally. The stock suits large households: 70.7% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 85.9% are separate houses, with semi-detached at 13.8% and apartments at just 0.3%. Ownership is strong, with 41.6% of residents owning outright and 44.8% carrying a mortgage, leaving only 13.5% renting. The low renter share combined with 82.5% of residents staying over five years signals an unusually stable owner-occupier base compared to higher-turnover Perth suburbs.
For Buyers
The median house price of $536,000 is estimated from 2025 rental data, and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability is real because household incomes rank in the 88.2nd percentile nationally. The stock suits large households: 70.7% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 85.9% are separate houses, with semi-detached at 13.8% and apartments at just 0.3%. Ownership is strong, with 41.6% of residents owning outright and 44.8% carrying a mortgage, leaving only 13.5% renting. The low renter share combined with 82.5% of residents staying over five years signals an unusually stable owner-occupier base compared to higher-turnover Perth suburbs.
For Investors
A 13.5% renter share is thin by investment standards, and weekly rent of $415 against a $536,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.0%, moderate but not high. The vacancy rate of 5.7% sits above typical landlord-comfort thresholds, suggesting the rental market carries more risk than the low renter volume alone implies. Overseas migration adds 169 residents a year, partially offsetting net internal outflow of 34, so demand growth is present but modest. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, meaning supply pressure is absent. The suburb scores IRSD decile 7 and IRSAD decile 6 nationally, middle-tier advantage, which limits capital growth driven by gentrification given the gentrification score of 0.
Schools in Connolly iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Connolly Primary School
K-6 · 384 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, the clearest single signal of Connolly's demographic character. The aging trajectory is confirmed by a senior share that rose 6.9 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 2.0 points. At the same time, 52.1% of residents were born overseas, which is 30.5 percentage points above the national average, an unusually large gap. Ancestry is led by English (2,002 residents), Irish (476) and Scottish (454), with Italian ancestry (127) also present. University qualifications reach 32.3%, which is 2.2 points above national. Average household size is 2.7, slightly above the national figure of 2.5, consistent with the prevalence of family-sized homes. Couples with children account for 1,119 families and couples without children 925, reflecting a broad mix of family stages.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.9%
Houses
13.8%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Connolly is one of the more detached-house-dominant suburbs in Perth's northern corridor, with 85.9% of dwellings being separate houses and only 0.3% apartments. Four-plus bedroom homes make up 70.7% of stock and three-bedroom dwellings 25.7%, meaning small dwellings are almost non-existent. Tenure leans strongly toward ownership: 41.6% own outright, 44.8% carry a mortgage and just 13.5% rent, a split that places ownership above the national average. Mortgage-to-income at 21.7% and rent-to-income at 18.0% both sit below standard stress thresholds, so neither buyer nor renter cohorts face material housing cost pressure relative to their incomes. Median weekly rent is $415, with a vacancy rate of 5.7%, above the typical 3% landlord comfort level.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$415
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$948
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.7%
Unoccupied
80
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.3%
Couples, no children
3,161
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Connolly's industry mix at 15.9% of employed residents (222 workers), followed closely by Education at 15.4% (215 workers) and Construction at 11.7% (164 workers). Professional/Technical services at 10.1% (141 workers) and Mining at 7.2% (100 workers) round out the top five, reflecting WA's resource economy visible even in a residential suburb. By occupation, Professionals are the largest group at 465 workers, followed by Managers (303) and Clerical/Admin (287). The unemployment rate is 4.2% and the full-time employment rate is 61.8%. The SEIFA IER decile of 8 indicates strong economic resources relative to most Australian suburbs, while the IEO decile of 6 reflects middle-tier education and occupation outcomes, an unusual divergence explained by the older workforce profile.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
7,116
Unemployed
254
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.8%
Part-time
34.0%
Participation
65.1%
Employed
1,931
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.3%
Postgraduate
7.4%
Born Overseas
52.1%
Dwellings
1,314
Transport to Work
Transport in Connolly is car-dependent, with 86.6% of residents driving to work, compared to a national average where car use is lower in most capital cities. Only 5.0% use public transport and 2.0% walk or cycle. Housing cost stress is low on both metrics: mortgage-to-income at 21.7% and rent-to-income at 18.0% are both below the 30% and 25% stress thresholds respectively. The IRSAD decile of 6 puts Connolly in the middle tier nationally for relative advantage and disadvantage, and only 3.0% of residents (106 people) need daily assistance. No crime rate data is available in this dataset. Schools are not listed within the suburb boundary, so families rely on schools in neighbouring northern Perth suburbs. Volunteering participation runs at 15.7%, above many comparable suburbs, reflecting the stable, long-term resident base.
Drive
86.6%
Public Transport
5.0%
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.38%/yr
(+45 people/yr)
EstablishedConnolly's population reached 11,852 in 2025, up from 11,386 in 2023, and medium forecasts show gradual growth to around 11,717 by 2031 at 0.38% per year. Overseas migration is the only net positive driver, averaging 169 arrivals annually, while internal migration runs at a net loss of 34 per year, suggesting the suburb attracts international residents but loses younger domestic movers to other areas. The 10-year population change was 1.4%, well below most growing Perth suburbs. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is classified as not gentrifying, which fits a suburb already at middle advantage tiers (IRSD decile 7, IRSAD decile 6) with an aging resident base. Real income growth of 2.7% and rent growth of 8.6% over the period are both modest compared to higher-growth WA corridors.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+169
Net Internal / yr
-34
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Connolly compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Connolly a good suburb to live in?
Connolly suits established families and owner-occupiers well. Household incomes rank in the 88.2nd percentile nationally, mortgage-to-income is just 21.7%, and 82.5% of residents stay five years or more. The suburb is 85.9% detached houses with 70.7% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms. The main practical trade-off is high car dependency at 86.6% for commuting and limited apartment or smaller dwelling options.
What is the median house price in Connolly?
The median house price is approximately $536,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $415 and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold. The vacancy rate is 5.7%.
What schools are in Connolly?
No schools are recorded within the Connolly suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding northern Perth suburbs. Despite the absence of local schools, 32.3% of Connolly residents hold university qualifications, which is 2.2 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Connolly safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Connolly in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 7 nationally, above the midpoint on the relative disadvantage index, and only 3.0% of its 3,675 residents require daily assistance. The low turnover rate, with 82.5% of residents staying 5 or more years, is consistent with a settled, low-disruption environment.
Is Connolly good for property investment?
Connolly presents a moderate investment case. Weekly rent of $415 against a $536,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.0%, but the 5.7% vacancy rate is elevated and the renter share is only 13.5%. Overseas migration adds 169 residents annually, but the gentrification score is 0 and 10-year population growth was just 1.4%, limiting upside from demand-driven capital growth.
How is Connolly's population changing?
Population grew from 11,386 in 2023 to 11,852 in 2025 and is forecast to reach around 11,717 by 2031 at 0.38% annually. Overseas migration drives all growth at 169 arrivals per year, while internal migration records a net loss of 34 per year. The population is aging, with the senior share up 6.9 points and the working-age share down 2.0 points over the decade.
What languages are spoken in Connolly?
About 52.1% of Connolly residents were born overseas, which is 30.5 percentage points above the national average and one of the higher overseas-born rates in Perth's northern suburbs. English is the dominant language in daily life, with Afrikaans recorded as a community language (32 speakers). Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,002), Irish (476) and Scottish (454) backgrounds.
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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