Dianella
With 24,169 residents across 10.74 sq km, Dianella combines a detached-house base with a notably international population. The median age is 43, three years above the national figure, while 41.0% were born overseas, 19.4 percentage points higher than national. University attainment reaches 42.6%, 12.5 points above national, and density is 2,250.3 people per sq km. That mix helps explain why English, Italian and Chinese ancestry sit alongside a steady family profile. Compared with nearby Morley, Dianella reads as more house-led, with 71.6% separate houses and 24.4% semi-detached dwellings. Its profile suits households seeking established services and space rather than a high-rise setting.
Population
24,169
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,684/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
192
Homebuyers face a market where dwelling form is clearer than current price guidance because a median house price is not available. Separate houses account for 71.6%, semi-detached homes 24.4% and apartments 4.1%, so land and renovation decisions matter more than apartment amenity. Three-bedroom homes make up 42.7% and four-plus-bedroom homes 41.2%, supporting family-oriented demand. The typical mortgage repayment is $2,000 a month, with mortgage costs at 27.4% of household income, higher than the 20.2% rent-to-income figure. Weekly rent is $340, and 39.4% own outright versus 34.2% paying a mortgage. Compared with an apartment-led inner suburb, Dianella gives buyers more detached stock, but buyers should budget for upgrades and check zoning, parking and school enrolment boundaries.
For Buyers
Homebuyers face a market where dwelling form is clearer than current price guidance because a median house price is not available. Separate houses account for 71.6%, semi-detached homes 24.4% and apartments 4.1%, so land and renovation decisions matter more than apartment amenity. Three-bedroom homes make up 42.7% and four-plus-bedroom homes 41.2%, supporting family-oriented demand. The typical mortgage repayment is $2,000 a month, with mortgage costs at 27.4% of household income, higher than the 20.2% rent-to-income figure. Weekly rent is $340, and 39.4% own outright versus 34.2% paying a mortgage. Compared with an apartment-led inner suburb, Dianella gives buyers more detached stock, but buyers should budget for upgrades and check zoning, parking and school enrolment boundaries.
For Investors
Investors get a tenant market with 24.4% of households renting and a weekly rent of $340. Vacancy is 6.4%, which can mean more choice for renters and a need to compete on condition, parking and access rather than rely on scarcity alone. Rent growth is recorded at 9.7%, while 184 development applications in 12 months point to active property turnover and upgrade activity. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, widening the potential renter pool, although 39.4% of households own outright and 34.2% hold a mortgage. Rental tenure is lower than outright ownership, so investment demand is present but not the suburb's dominant tenure pattern. Detached and semi-detached stock, at 71.6% and 24.4%, gives investors a broad family-rental base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
192
Last 12 Months
192
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 Dianella
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
DIANELLA SECONDARY COLLEGE EDUCATION SUPPORT CENTRE
NORTH EAST METROPOLITAN LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
AUSTRALIAN ISLAMIC COLLEGE DIANELLA
BANKSIA MONTESSORI SCHOOL
CARMEL SCHOOL
Demographics
Dianella's 24,169 residents have a median age of 43, three years higher than national, pointing to an older profile than many metropolitan catchments. Overseas-born residents comprise 41.0%, 19.4 percentage points above national, while university attainment is 42.6%, 12.5 points higher than national. Average household size is 2.4, just 0.1 below national, with couples with children making up 45.0% of families and couples without children 38.9%. English, Italian, Chinese, Irish and other ancestry groups number 6,132, 3,215, 1,977, 1,738 and 4,181 respectively. Italian, Mandarin and Cantonese are prominent home languages, with 447, 318 and 261 speakers. With 80.4% staying at the same address and turnover of 19.6%, Dianella is more settled than a highly transient area. Compared with nearby Morley, this combination suggests a culturally international suburb where family, older-owner and migrant households overlap.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.6%
Houses
24.4%
Townhouse
4.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Dianella's housing profile is detached-dominant: 71.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 24.4% semi-detached and 4.1% apartments. The bedroom mix reinforces that pattern, with 42.7% containing 3 bedrooms and 41.2% containing 4 or more, compared with only 13.6% containing 2 bedrooms. This matters because household choice is concentrated in family-sized dwellings rather than compact apartments. Tenure is split between 39.4% owned outright, 34.2% mortgaged and 24.4% rented, giving owners a larger combined share than renters. Mortgage costs represent 27.4% of household income, higher than the 20.2% rent-to-income figure, while the affordability measure moved from 50.7 in 2011 to 41.6 in 2021. Compared with denser nearby Yokine, Dianella's stock supports more family layouts, but maintenance and redevelopment potential are likely to matter more than apartment supply.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$340
Census 2021
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$789
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.4%
Unoccupied
659
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.0%
Couples with children
38.9%
Couples, no children
14.3%
Single parent
6,619
Total families
Economy & Employment
Dianella has a service-heavy employment base led by healthcare at 17.1% or 1,424 workers, professional and technical services at 11.9% or 994, education at 11.6% or 965, construction at 8.9% or 746, and public administration at 7.2% or 598. The occupation mix is headed by professionals at 3,235, followed by clerical and administrative workers at 1,648, trades at 1,536, managers at 1,530 and community and personal service workers at 1,360. Participation is 62.4%, unemployment 4.7% and full-time employment 59.1%. University attainment is 42.6%, 12.5 points higher than national, yet household income sits at the 58.5th percentile, likely because care, education, public administration, clerical and trade roles broaden the earnings mix. SEIFA places IEO in decile 7, IER in 6, IRSD in 6 and IRSAD in 6, indicating relative advantage above the midpoint but not top-decile concentration.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
12,757
Unemployed
596
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
36.1%
Participation
62.4%
Employed
12,161
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.6%
Postgraduate
9.5%
Born Overseas
41.0%
Dwellings
9,569
Transport to Work
Dianella is practical for households that drive: 76.3% travel as car drivers, compared with 6.8% using public transport and 1.3% walking or cycling. A further 9.4% work from home, so reliable parking and home workspace can matter more than rail proximity. School access spans 10 providers, including 5 primary schools, a government senior high school, an education support centre, a language development centre and 2 non-government schools. Check enrolment zones against the exact address, since they can cross suburb boundaries. Density is 2,250.3 people per sq km and the IRSAD decile is 6, placing Dianella above the middle deciles for relative advantage but below the highest tier. Compared with a transit-oriented inner suburb, its lower active and public transport shares make local shops, buses and car access more important to daily convenience.
Drive
76.3%
Public Transport
6.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
9.4%
Population Forecast
+1.13%/yr
(+170 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth looks positive but measured rather than explosive. The annual trend is 1.13%, above zero, and overseas migration is the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 11.5% over 10 years, while the trajectory is Stable, so demand is more likely to build through gradual household replacement and infill than a sudden demographic reset. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 32; a separate shift score is 25, also labelled Early signs. Rent growth of 9.7% adds pressure for investors and tenants, while affordability is recorded at 50.7 in 2011 and 41.6 in 2021. Compared with a high-growth fringe corridor, Dianella's established pattern should favour incremental renovations and redevelopment, because overseas-led inflows meet an already settled housing base.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+332
Net Internal / yr
+18
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +20% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +332/yr, Accelerating: 4% → 16%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Dianella compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dianella a good suburb to live in?
Many households will find Dianella liveable because 71.6% of homes are separate houses, 5 primary schools and a government senior high school are available, and 76.3% commute by car. The median age is 43 and 41.0% of residents were born overseas, so the suburb suits established family and multicultural household needs. Check exact school zones and transport preferences before buying.
What is the median house price in Dianella?
There is no reliable current median house price to quote for Dianella here. For budgeting, the typical mortgage repayment is $2,000 per month, weekly rent is $340, and 71.6% of dwellings are separate houses. Use recent comparable sales and current listings before setting an offer, especially because detached homes make up most of the stock.
What schools are in Dianella?
School options include 5 primary schools, Dianella Secondary College, an education support centre, a language development centre and 2 non-government schools. Names include Dianella Heights Primary School, Dianella Primary College, Dianella Secondary College, Australian Islamic College Dianella and Banksia Montessori School. Confirm the catchment for the exact address because enrolment boundaries can differ.
Is Dianella safe?
A precise current crime rate should be checked through WA Police or local safety reporting before purchase or renting. Dianella has 24,169 residents and a density of 2,250.3 people per sq km, but those figures describe scale rather than personal risk. Visit the street at different times, compare nearby roads and ask insurers or residents about the exact pocket.
Is Dianella good for property investment?
Dianella can suit an investor seeking established family housing, with $340 weekly rent, 6.4% vacancy and 24.4% renting households. Rent growth is 9.7%, and 184 development applications in 12 months indicate active renewal. However, 39.4% own outright, a higher share than renters, so tenant demand should be tested against property condition, parking, zoning and competing listings.
How is Dianella's population changing?
Dianella has 24,169 residents today. Population change across the wider area is 11.5% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 1.13% and overseas migration as the primary driver. The trajectory is Stable, while the gentrification score is 32 at the Early signs stage. That points to gradual change rather than a sudden shift in the suburb's housing role.
What languages are spoken in Dianella?
Italian, Mandarin, Canton, Macedon and Greek are recorded as home languages with 447, 318, 261, 217 and 154 speakers. Overseas-born residents account for 41.0%, which is 19.4 percentage points higher than national. These patterns support culturally varied services and community networks, though language needs differ by household.
Is Dianella undergoing much development?
Dianella has seen 184 development applications in 12 months, including residential outbuildings and full-house demolitions. That pattern is consistent with an established suburb where owners renew or replace housing rather than rely only on broad new estates. Buyers should check planning approvals, lot boundaries, demolition conditions, parking and any future construction nearby before committing.
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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