Dalkeith
High household wealth and a settled, older profile define Dalkeith: household income ranks at the 99.8th percentile, median age is 45, and 71.9% of residents have university qualifications. The suburb has 4,398 residents across 3.01 sq km, with 96.3% of dwellings separate houses and 75.8% containing four or more bedrooms. Compared with nearby Nedlands, Dalkeith presents a strongly family-home setting, while its 38.9% overseas-born share is 17.3 percentage points above the national level. The trade-off is an aging trajectory, with the senior share up 4.6 points.
Population
4,398
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$4,672/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Dalkeith suits buyers prioritising established detached housing, generous floor plans and long-term owner occupation. A median house price is not quoted, so a full entry-price comparison requires current sales evidence; the affordability signals are still clear. The monthly mortgage figure is $5,000, while mortgage-to-income is 24.7%, lower than the 55.2% outright ownership share. Separate houses make up 96.3% of dwellings, compared with 0.2% apartments, and 75.8% of homes have four or more bedrooms, well above the 18.6% share of three-bedroom homes. For buyers comparing Dalkeith with nearby Nedlands, the practical distinction is a family-home setting because couples with children represent 54.9% of families. Use current comparable sales and mortgage capacity when setting a budget.
For Buyers
Dalkeith suits buyers prioritising established detached housing, generous floor plans and long-term owner occupation. A median house price is not quoted, so a full entry-price comparison requires current sales evidence; the affordability signals are still clear. The monthly mortgage figure is $5,000, while mortgage-to-income is 24.7%, lower than the 55.2% outright ownership share. Separate houses make up 96.3% of dwellings, compared with 0.2% apartments, and 75.8% of homes have four or more bedrooms, well above the 18.6% share of three-bedroom homes. For buyers comparing Dalkeith with nearby Nedlands, the practical distinction is a family-home setting because couples with children represent 54.9% of families. Use current comparable sales and mortgage capacity when setting a budget.
For Investors
Investment appeal is anchored in high rents and a settled owner base, but the vacancy rate warrants caution. Weekly rent is $802, renting is 16.1%, and vacancy is 9.0%, so tenant demand should be tested property by property rather than assumed. The 55.2% outright ownership share is higher than the 16.1% renter share, while 82.0% of residents stayed at the same address and turnover was 18.0%. There were 0 developments recorded in the past 12 months, reducing near-term new-supply pressure, while rent growth is 7.1%. Compared with a higher-rental-share market, Dalkeith's case depends more on scarce detached stock, property selection and long-term value than on a large tenant pool.
Schools in Dalkeith
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
DALKEITH PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Dalkeith's demographic profile is older, highly educated and internationally connected. Median age is 45, which is 5 years above the national comparison, while university attainment reaches 71.9%, or 41.8 percentage points above the national level. Overseas-born residents account for 38.9%, 17.3 points above national, with English ancestry recorded at 1,483 people and Chinese ancestry at 846. Mandarin is the leading listed non-English language at 124 speakers. Couples with children make up 54.9% of families, higher than the 36.4% share of couples without children, because larger detached homes attract established family households. Dalkeith is less transient than many inner areas: 82.0% stayed at the same address, against 18.0% turnover.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.3%
Houses
3.5%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is overwhelmingly detached and oriented to larger households. Separate houses account for 96.3% of dwellings, compared with 0.2% apartments and 3.5% semi-detached homes; 4+ bedroom properties make up 75.8%, higher than the 18.6% share of three-bedroom homes. Tenure is also unusually secure: 55.2% own outright, higher than the 27.3% with a mortgage and 16.1% renting. Weekly rent is $802, the rent-to-income measure is 17.2%, and mortgage-to-income is 24.7%, with neither measure flagged for stress. For buyers comparing Dalkeith with nearby Nedlands, the central distinction is detached stock rather than apartment concentration. A median sale price is not quoted, so current comparable sales remain important.
Mortgage / mo
$5,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$802
Census 2021
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,403
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.0%
Unoccupied
141
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
54.9%
Couples with children
36.4%
Couples, no children
7.6%
Single parent
1,243
Total families
Economy & Employment
Dalkeith's economy is led by skilled, service-based work, consistent with very high household purchasing power. Healthcare accounts for 31.4% of listed employment, higher than Professional/Tech at 18.5%, followed by Education at 7.3%, Mining at 7.1% and Finance at 5.2%. Professionals number 1,012 and managers 433, together exceeding clerical/admin at 225, which helps explain household income of $4,672 a week and its 99.8th-percentile position. Labour-force participation is 61.1%, unemployment is 3.1%, and 53.3% work full time, while 912 work part time. The education and occupation SEIFA measures both sit in decile 10, reinforcing the suburb's advantage, although mining's 7.1% share is lower than healthcare's 31.4%.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
2,190
Unemployed
67
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.3%
Part-time
43.0%
Participation
61.1%
Employed
2,123
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
71.9%
Postgraduate
22.6%
Born Overseas
38.9%
Dwellings
1,423
Transport to Work
Dalkeith is practical for households that drive, work from home and want a local government primary school, but less suited to commuters relying on public transport. Car drivers account for 66.9% of travel, compared with 4.7% using public transport and 3.2% walking or cycling; 18.8% work from home, which may reduce daily commuting needs. Dalkeith Primary School is a government primary school in the suburb. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries. The 3.01 sq km area and density of 1,463.2 people per sq km create a compact residential setting, while 27.3% volunteering indicates strong participation. IRSAD is in decile 10, higher than the national midpoint, but current police information and street-level checks are still important because no crime rate is quoted.
Drive
66.9%
Public Transport
4.7%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
18.8%
Population Forecast
+0.86%/yr
(+191 people/yr)
EstablishedDalkeith is an established suburb with measured growth rather than a high-volume expansion profile. The annual trend is 0.86%, and population change across the wider area is 7.9% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased 4.6 points and the working share has fallen 3.1 points. The 4.6-point senior increase is higher in absolute terms than the working-share decline, supporting an aging outlook. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 31, and rent growth is 7.1%. Compared with a fast-growth development area, Dalkeith's growth is more likely to come through migration, retention and gradual household change than substantial new supply.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+778
Net Internal / yr
-121
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +18% since 2011, Net internal outflow -121/yr, Strong overseas inflow +778/yr, Accelerating: 3% → 14%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Dalkeith compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dalkeith a good suburb to live in?
Dalkeith can suit households seeking established detached housing, high incomes and a settled community. It has 4,398 residents, 96.3% separate houses and 75.8% homes with four or more bedrooms. Median age is 45, higher than the national comparison by 5 years, so it may appeal more to established families than people seeking a youthful apartment precinct.
What is the median house price in Dalkeith?
A current median house price is not quoted for Dalkeith, so buyers should compare recent comparable sales rather than rely on a headline estimate. The market is 96.3% separate houses, weekly rent is $802 and the monthly mortgage figure is $5,000. The 55.2% outright ownership share is higher than the 27.3% mortgage share, indicating a strongly established ownership base.
What schools are in Dalkeith?
Dalkeith Primary School is a government primary school in the suburb. Families should check the exact enrolment zone and confirm current places, because school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries. Dalkeith has 4,398 residents and a compact 3.01 sq km area, so nearby school options may also be relevant when comparing addresses.
Is Dalkeith safe?
No suburb-level crime rate is quoted, so safety should be checked using current WA Police information and an inspection at different times of day. Dalkeith covers 3.01 sq km and has 4,398 residents, but population density alone cannot establish safety. For broader context, 2.9% report needing assistance and 27.3% volunteer, measures that describe community conditions rather than crime.
Is Dalkeith good for property investment?
Dalkeith can suit an investor seeking a high-rent, low-rental-share market, but vacancy needs close attention. Weekly rent is $802, vacancy is 9.0%, and only 16.1% of households rent. There were 0 developments recorded in the past 12 months, while rent growth is 7.1%. The 55.2% outright ownership rate is higher than renting, so returns may depend more on scarce detached stock and property selection than on rapid supply growth.
How is Dalkeith's population changing?
Dalkeith's population is changing gradually, with an older trajectory rather than a youthful expansion pattern. Annual growth is 0.86%, and population change across the wider area is 7.9% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the senior share rose 4.6 points and the working share fell 3.1 points. The senior increase is higher in absolute terms than the working-share decline, supporting an aging outlook.
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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