Dalkeith
Only about 1 in 500 Australian households earns at the level typical in Dalkeith, where household income sits in the 99.8th percentile nationally and all four SEIFA indexes score decile 10. The suburb's 4,398 residents occupy one of Perth's most affluent riverside enclaves: 96.3% of dwellings are separate houses, 75.8% have four or more bedrooms, and 56% of homes are owned outright with no mortgage. The university qualification rate of 71.9% is 41.8 percentage points above the national average, making it one of the most highly educated suburbs in Australia. Median age is 45, five years above the national figure, reflecting an established, wealth-holding resident base rather than a young, mobile one.
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
Median House
$1.1M
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $1,128,000, and the suburb's housing stock is almost uniformly detached: 96.3% separate houses with just 3.5% semi-detached and 0.2% apartments. Buyers are not choosing between property types here, they are competing within a single, scarce category. Monthly mortgage repayments average around $5,000, translating to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.7%, which is below the 30% stress threshold despite the high price point because household incomes are in the 99.8th percentile. Weekly rent is $802 for the small 16.3% renter cohort. The dominant dwelling is four or more bedrooms at 75.8% of stock, with three-bedroom homes at 18.6%. Outright ownership at 56% significantly exceeds the national average, a clear sign of long-held, debt-free wealth.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $1,128,000, and the suburb's housing stock is almost uniformly detached: 96.3% separate houses with just 3.5% semi-detached and 0.2% apartments. Buyers are not choosing between property types here, they are competing within a single, scarce category. Monthly mortgage repayments average around $5,000, translating to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.7%, which is below the 30% stress threshold despite the high price point because household incomes are in the 99.8th percentile. Weekly rent is $802 for the small 16.3% renter cohort. The dominant dwelling is four or more bedrooms at 75.8% of stock, with three-bedroom homes at 18.6%. Outright ownership at 56% significantly exceeds the national average, a clear sign of long-held, debt-free wealth.
For Investors
The investment case is primarily capital-oriented rather than yield-driven. Weekly rent of $802 against an estimated $1,128,000 median implies a gross yield below 4%, typical for high-end Perth riverside suburbs. The rental pool is thin at 16.3% of dwellings, and the 9.0% vacancy rate signals moderate supply slack. Demand fundamentals are solid: overseas migration drives a net inflow of 778 people per year into the broader SA2, while internal migration is negative at 121 outflows annually. Population growth of 0.86% per year in the broader area is steady rather than speculative. With 82% of residents having stayed put for five years or more, turnover is low and stock rarely comes to market, which historically supports price stability rather than rapid yield compression.
Schools in Dalkeith iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Dalkeith Primary School
K-6 · 330 students
Demographics
The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, and the population is aging: the senior share rose 4.6 points and the working-age share fell 3.1 points over the decade. The overseas-born share of 38.9% is 17.3 percentage points above the national average. English ancestry leads at 1,483 residents, followed by Chinese at 846 and Irish at 491. Mandarin is the most common non-English language with 124 speakers, consistent with the Chinese ancestry count. University qualifications reach 71.9%, which is 41.8 points above national and among the highest of any suburb in Australia. Average household size is 3.0, above the national average by 0.5 persons, matching the preponderance of four-plus bedroom family homes. Volunteering at 27.3% is high, reflecting an engaged, time-rich and financially secure resident population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.3%
Houses
3.5%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.3%, with semi-detached at 3.5% and apartments barely present at 0.2%. This near-total absence of apartment stock is unusual even within Perth's premium suburbs, and it means buyers face limited substitution options. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 75.8% of all dwellings, compared to 18.6% three-bedroom. Tenure is firmly owner-occupier: 56.0% own outright and 27.7% carry a mortgage, while only 16.3% rent. Outright ownership at 56% is well above the national average, meaning much of the suburb's housing has been held for decades. The rent-to-income ratio of 17.2% and mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.7% are both below stress thresholds, reflecting household incomes in the 99.8th national percentile absorbing what are nonetheless very high absolute costs.
Mortgage / mo
$5,000
Rent / wk
$802
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
23.2%
Couples, no children
3,881
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest industry sector at 31.4% of employed residents (517 workers), well above most comparable suburbs, likely due to proximity to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Professional and Technical Services follows at 18.5% (305 workers), Education at 7.3%, Mining at 7.1% and Finance at 5.2%. By occupation, Professionals lead with 1,012 workers and Managers contribute 433, together accounting for a majority of the employed workforce. The unemployment rate is 3.2%, the full-time employment rate is 55.4%, and real income grew 10.2% over the decade. All four SEIFA indexes score decile 10, the maximum national rank, covering education and occupation (IEO), economic resources (IER), relative disadvantage (IRSD) and overall socioeconomic advantage (IRSAD). Only 2.9% of residents, about 123 people, need daily assistance.
Unemployment
2.1%
Labour Force
11,888
Unemployed
250
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.4%
Part-time
41.4%
Participation
58.9%
Employed
2,044
Occupations
Top Industries
University
71.9%
Postgraduate
22.6%
Born Overseas
38.9%
Dwellings
1,423
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 82.4% driving to work, with only 5.8% using public transport and 3.9% walking or cycling. This reflects the suburb's layout as a predominantly low-density residential area with limited transit infrastructure compared to inner-city Perth. SEIFA IRSAD decile 10 confirms top-tier advantage nationally with minimal disadvantage. Rent stress (17.2% of income) and mortgage stress (24.7%) are both below conventional thresholds, so financial pressure on residents is low despite high absolute housing costs. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families use institutions in neighbouring suburbs including Claremont, Nedlands and Swanbourne. Only 123 residents, or 2.9%, need daily assistance, a low figure given the aging median age of 45 years.
Drive
82.4%
Public Transport
5.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.86%/yr
(+191 people/yr)
EstablishedThe broader SA2 population grew 18% since 2011 and the 10-year rate stands at 7.9%, supported primarily by overseas migration averaging 778 net arrivals per year. Internal migration is negative at 121 outflows annually, consistent with an expensive suburb that retains long-term owners while younger or more mobile residents gravitate elsewhere. Annual growth is forecast at 0.86%, adding around 191 persons per year under the medium scenario, reaching approximately 22,521 by 2031. The gentrification score of 31 places the suburb at the early signs stage, which here means selective renovation and gradual stock upgrading rather than a wave of displacement. Affordability improved from 61.9% in 2011 to 48.9% in 2021, trending in the right direction. Rent grew 7.1% over the recent period, above the state median growth rate.
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 scores decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes nationally, with household income in the 99.8th percentile. University qualifications reach 71.9%, which is 41.8 points above the national figure. Housing is overwhelmingly separate houses at 96.3% of stock, and 56% are owned outright. The main trade-off is a high entry price, with the median estimated at $1,128,000.
What is the median house price in Dalkeith?
The median house price is estimated at $1,128,000 based on 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average around $5,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.7%. Weekly rent averages $802 for the 16.3% of residents who are tenants.
What schools are in Dalkeith?
No schools are recorded inside the Dalkeith suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Nedlands and Claremont. The local population is exceptionally educated, with 71.9% holding university qualifications, which is 41.8 points above the national average.
Is Dalkeith safe?
Specific crime statistics for Dalkeith are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on IRSD, the national index of relative disadvantage, placing it in the least-disadvantaged tier in Australia. Only 2.9% of residents, around 123 people, require daily assistance.
Is Dalkeith good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $802 against a $1,128,000 estimated median implies a gross yield below 4%, so the investment case is capital-focused rather than yield-driven. The rental pool is small at 16.3% and the vacancy rate is 9.0%. Overseas net migration of 778 per year supports underlying demand. Rent grew 7.1% over the recent period.
How is Dalkeith's population changing?
The broader area grew 7.9% over 10 years with annual growth of 0.86%, adding around 191 people per year. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 778 arrivals annually, while internal migration shows an outflow of 121 per year. The resident base is aging, with the senior share up 4.6 points and the working-age share down 3.1 points over the decade.
What languages are spoken in Dalkeith?
About 38.9% of residents were born overseas, which is 17.3 percentage points above the national average. Mandarin is the most common non-English language with 124 speakers, followed by Cantonese with 40. Chinese ancestry accounts for 846 residents, the second-largest ancestry group after English at 1,483.
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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