Coolbinia
Household incomes place Coolbinia at the 98.2nd percentile nationally, the standout fact in this compact suburb of 1,751 residents. The median age is 40, while university attainment reaches 60.8%, or 30.7 percentage points above the national comparison. Housing is strongly detached, with 85.4% separate houses and 57.3% containing 4 or more bedrooms, supporting established family occupancy. Coolbinia sits among inner-northern Perth neighbourhoods such as Yokine and Menora, but its high income profile and 41.8% mortgage share give it a clear mortgage-belt character. Growth is forecast at 1.16% annually, driven primarily by overseas migration, while gentrification remains at the Early signs stage with a score of 32. That combination suggests a settled base with selective renewal rather than a wholesale change in identity.
Local council: Stirling
Population
1,751
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,229/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Homebuyers need to approach Coolbinia through dwelling type and holding costs because a current median house price is not available. Separate houses account for 85.4% of homes, and 57.3% have 4 or more bedrooms, so the stock favours buyers seeking established family layouts over compact apartments, which make up 11.1%. The estimated mortgage payment is $2,600 per month, compared with rent of $350 per week, making borrowing capacity and deposit size central to the decision. Ownership is split between 41.2% outright and 41.8% with a mortgage, while mortgage costs equal 18.6% of household income and rent 10.8%. Those ratios are below the larger tenure shares, suggesting less pressure than the raw commitment might imply, but buyers should still test repayments against rate changes and renovation costs.
For Buyers
Homebuyers need to approach Coolbinia through dwelling type and holding costs because a current median house price is not available. Separate houses account for 85.4% of homes, and 57.3% have 4 or more bedrooms, so the stock favours buyers seeking established family layouts over compact apartments, which make up 11.1%. The estimated mortgage payment is $2,600 per month, compared with rent of $350 per week, making borrowing capacity and deposit size central to the decision. Ownership is split between 41.2% outright and 41.8% with a mortgage, while mortgage costs equal 18.6% of household income and rent 10.8%. Those ratios are below the larger tenure shares, suggesting less pressure than the raw commitment might imply, but buyers should still test repayments against rate changes and renovation costs.
For Investors
Coolbinia's investment case is shaped by a small renter base and an established housing supply. Renting accounts for 15.3% of households, below the 41.2% owning outright, while weekly rent is $350 and vacancy is 6.3%. The smaller tenant share can limit depth of demand, even though rent growth is forecast at 8.3%. Development activity reached 27 applications in 12 months, including residential demolitions and a 1-dwelling building plan, which may create selective replacement opportunities rather than a broad apartment pipeline. Annual growth is forecast at 1.16%, with overseas migration the primary driver. Investors should compare achievable rent, vacancy risk and renovation costs against the suburb's high-income profile, because rental yield may not track owner-occupier demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
30
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$14K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Coolbinia
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
SIR DAVID BRAND SCHOOL
COOLBINIA PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Coolbinia has a median age of 40, matching the national comparison, but its education profile is much higher: 60.8% have university qualifications, 30.7 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 23.1%, only 1.5 points above the national figure, which fits an Anglo-leaning profile alongside English ancestry at 560 people, Italian at 269, Irish at 195 and Scottish at 177. Household size averages 2.8 people, 0.3 above national, with couples with children representing 60.5% of families and couples without children 31.4%. Residential stability is notable: 82.8% stayed at the same address, while turnover was 17.2%. Christianity counts 732 and no religion 711, so civic and service planning needs to accommodate both faith-based and secular preferences.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.4%
Houses
3.4%
Townhouse
11.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Coolbinia's housing is more detached than apartment-oriented: separate houses account for 85.4%, compared with 11.1% apartments and 3.4% semi-detached dwellings. The bedroom mix reinforces that pattern, with 57.3% of homes at 4 or more bedrooms, 24.0% at 3 bedrooms and 16.8% at 2 bedrooms. Tenure is divided between 41.2% owned outright and 41.8% mortgaged, both higher than the 15.3% renting share, because the suburb is dominated by long-term owner households. Mortgage-to-income is 18.6%, versus 10.8% for rent-to-income, and neither stress flag is raised. Vacancy is 6.3%, so turnover exists but is lower than the owner base. Compared with nearby Yokine and Menora, buyers should focus on Coolbinia's established family housing, where renovation or replacement potential is more relevant than apartment density.
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$350
Census 2021
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$1,192
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.3%
Unoccupied
39
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
10.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
60.5%
Couples with children
31.4%
Couples, no children
8.1%
Single parent
456
Total families
Economy & Employment
Coolbinia's economic profile is professional and service-led. Professional/Tech is the largest industry at 19.2% with 138 workers, followed by Healthcare at 16.6% and 119, Education at 10.0% and 72, Construction at 8.5% and 61, and Public Admin at 6.7% and 48. Occupations show 330 Professionals and 205 Managers, ahead of 128 Clerical/Admin workers, helping explain household income of $3,229 weekly and a 98.2nd percentile ranking nationally. Labour-force participation is 68.9%, unemployment is 3.3%, and full-time employment is 59.1%. SEIFA is strong but uneven: IEO is decile 8, IRSAD decile 8 and IRSD decile 7, while IER is decile 6. That lower economic-resources ranking suggests material advantage is less pronounced than education and occupation outcomes.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
961
Unemployed
32
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.1%
Part-time
36.6%
Participation
68.9%
Employed
929
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
60.8%
Postgraduate
14.6%
Born Overseas
23.1%
Dwellings
584
Transport to Work
Coolbinia is practical for households comfortable with driving. Car-driver travel accounts for 70.2%, compared with 8.3% using public transport, 2.9% walking or cycling and 13.4% working from home, so daily convenience is likely to depend on private vehicle access and home-based work flexibility. There are 2 local government schools, covering primary education and education support, giving families nearby options without implying a performance ranking. Check enrolment zones against the exact address, since boundaries can cut across suburb lines. The IRSAD score sits in decile 8 and the IRSD score in decile 7, both above the national midpoint, consistent with relatively strong amenity conditions. Safety decisions should still include recent local reporting and visits at different times, rather than relying on socioeconomic deciles alone.
Drive
70.2%
Public Transport
8.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
13.4%
Growth Outlook
Coolbinia is an established area with a forecast annual trend of 1.16%, and overseas migration is the primary growth driver. Across the wider area, population change is 15.1% over 10 years, while the forecast shift trajectory is Mixed. Affordability is marked as Improving, moving from 43.2% in 2011 to 34.9% in 2021, although rent growth of 8.3% shows that housing pressure can still build. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 32, so renewal is more likely to arrive through incremental redevelopment than sudden reinvention. The 27 development applications in 12 months, including demolitions and a 1-dwelling plan, support that reading. Compared with the affordability position in 2011, the 2021 measure is lower, while real income growth reached 8.9%, giving established owners more resilience than new entrants.
Population trend: Stirling council area
Coolbinia sits in the Stirling council area. These are the council area's residents, not Coolbinia's.
Residents 2025
254,821
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.6%
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 Coolbinia compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coolbinia a good suburb to live in?
Coolbinia suits households seeking established detached housing, high incomes and access to local schools. The median age is 40, 85.4% of dwellings are separate houses, and IRSAD is decile 8, above the national midpoint. Car use is common at 70.2%, so it suits drivers more than car-free households.
What is the median house price in Coolbinia?
A reliable current median house price is not available for Coolbinia. For context, 85.4% of homes are separate houses and 57.3% have 4 or more bedrooms. Compared with the 24.0% share of 3-bedroom homes, the housing stock is weighted towards larger family dwellings. Request recent comparable sales before making an offer.
What schools are in Coolbinia?
Coolbinia has 2 local government schools: 1 primary school and 1 education support school. School choice depends on the address and enrolment zone, so confirm eligibility directly with each school before relying on proximity. No performance conclusion should be drawn from sector or location alone.
Is Coolbinia safe?
Coolbinia has 1,751 residents, but population size is not a safety measure. A suburb-level crime rate is not available for Coolbinia, so check recent WA Police information, council updates and the street around a prospective address at different times before deciding.
Is Coolbinia good for property investment?
Coolbinia may suit investors seeking an established owner-occupier market, but renting is only 15.3%, below the 41.2% outright ownership share. Weekly rent is $350, vacancy is 6.3%, annual growth is forecast at 1.16%, and 27 development applications were recorded in 12 months. Compare yield with renovation and vacancy risk.
How is Coolbinia's population changing?
Coolbinia has 1,751 residents today. Across the wider area, population change is 15.1% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 1.16% driven primarily by overseas migration. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 32, so change is gradual rather than a late-stage transformation.
What development is occurring in Coolbinia?
There were 27 development applications in 12 months, including full residential demolitions and a building plan for 1 dwelling. The pattern points to ongoing replacement and renewal rather than a confirmed wave of large apartment projects. Check current approvals and conditions before assuming a project will proceed.
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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