Dudley Park
A median age of 53 sits 13 years above the national figure, and that single number shapes most of what follows in this Mandurah suburb. Household income lands in the 24.9th percentile nationally, well below average, because 2,815 residents are not in the labour force and participation is only 43.5%, both signs of a retiree-heavy base. The $390,000 median house price is roughly a third of inner-city alternatives, keeping the area affordable despite a 15.8% vacancy rate that is far higher than a healthy rental market. Detached houses make up 84.7% of stock, and 46.6% carry four or more bedrooms, reflecting older family homes now occupied by downsizing couples without children, who account for 40.9% of families.
Population
6,957
Median Age
53.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,193/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$390K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $390,000 median house price is the headline draw, costing far less than metropolitan Perth and most coastal WA alternatives. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,530, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.6%, just under the 30% stress threshold and manageable on local incomes. Stock skews large and detached: 84.7% are separate houses, 46.6% have four or more bedrooms and 42.3% have three, while apartments are only 3.9%. That makes the suburb a fit for families and downsizers wanting land rather than units. Tenure is owner-dominated, with 41.8% owning outright and 31.7% holding mortgages, so 73.5% of homes are owner-occupied, well above the renter share of 26.4%. The trade-off is car dependence: 84.6% drive, against just 4.7% on public transport.
For Buyers
The $390,000 median house price is the headline draw, costing far less than metropolitan Perth and most coastal WA alternatives. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,530, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.6%, just under the 30% stress threshold and manageable on local incomes. Stock skews large and detached: 84.7% are separate houses, 46.6% have four or more bedrooms and 42.3% have three, while apartments are only 3.9%. That makes the suburb a fit for families and downsizers wanting land rather than units. Tenure is owner-dominated, with 41.8% owning outright and 31.7% holding mortgages, so 73.5% of homes are owner-occupied, well above the renter share of 26.4%. The trade-off is car dependence: 84.6% drive, against just 4.7% on public transport.
For Investors
Renters make up 26.4% of households, a shallow tenant pool compared with owner-occupiers who hold 73.5% of stock. Weekly rent of $310 against the $390,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.1%, stronger than premium metro suburbs because entry prices are low. The risk sits in the 15.8% vacancy rate, far above a balanced market of roughly 2-3%, which signals oversupply and weak rental demand. Rent-to-income runs at 26.0%, below the 30% stress line, so tenants can absorb current rents but there is little headroom to push them higher. Development activity was zero approvals over the past 12 months, indicating no new supply pressure but also limited investor or builder interest. The aging resident base and 43.5% participation rate point to demand driven by retirees rather than working renters.
Demographics
The median age of 53 is 13 years above the national median, the defining trait here. University qualifications at 16.8% sit 13.3 points below national, consistent with an older, less tertiary-educated workforce. Born-overseas residents at 29.9% are 8.3 points above national, but ancestry is overwhelmingly Anglo-Celtic: English leads at 3,279, with Scottish (712) and Irish (699) following. Top non-English languages are Afrikaans (23), Punjabi (16) and Italian (13), small counts confirming a predominantly English-speaking population. Average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below national, and couples without children at 40.9% outnumber couples with children (27.2%), reflecting retirees and empty-nesters rather than young families. Christianity dominates religion at 3,392 adherents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.7%
Houses
11.3%
Townhouse
3.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupiers dominate, with 41.8% owning outright and 31.7% on mortgages, leaving renters at 26.4%, a tenure profile typical of an older, settled population. The stock is 84.7% separate houses and just 3.9% apartments, with 11.3% semi-detached. Homes are large: 46.6% have four or more bedrooms and 42.3% have three, while two-bedroom dwellings are only 9.9%, so the suburb offers little compact housing for singles or downsizers. The $390,000 median is affordable relative to most WA coastal markets. Mortgage-to-income at 29.6% and rent-to-income at 26.0% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, indicating housing costs track local incomes. The 15.8% vacancy rate is the standout concern, far above a healthy market, pointing to surplus rental and holiday stock common in Mandurah waterfront areas.
Mortgage / mo
$1,530
Rent / wk
$310
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$590
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.8%
Unoccupied
537
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.9%
Couples, no children
4,940
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 21.2% (337 workers), more than double the next industry, reflecting demand from an older population. Construction (9.5%, 151), Mining (9.4%, 150), Education (9.3%, 147) and Manufacturing (7.6%, 121) follow, a blue-collar and services mix. Occupations are led by Community and Personal Service workers (396) and Professionals (322), with Labourers (319) close behind, a broad spread rather than a professional concentration. The unemployment rate of 7.8% is above the national average, and participation at 43.5% is well below typical levels because 2,815 residents are not in the labour force, driven by the retiree base. Full-time employment makes up 59.7% of workers. Household income in the 24.9th percentile nationally confirms a lower-earning, services-anchored local economy.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.7%
Part-time
32.5%
Participation
43.5%
Employed
2,431
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.8%
Postgraduate
3.0%
Born Overseas
29.9%
Dwellings
2,844
Transport to Work
Car dependence defines daily life here: 84.6% drive to work while only 4.7% use public transport and 2.4% walk or cycle, all reflecting a low-density layout at 977.6 people per square kilometre. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on neighbouring Mandurah catchments for education. The volunteering rate of 12.4% indicates moderate community engagement among the older population. Affordability is a genuine strength: the $390,000 median and $310 weekly rent keep costs well below metropolitan WA, and rent-to-income at 26.0% sits below the 30% stress line. The 9.9% of residents needing assistance with daily activities, 654 people, is consistent with the elevated median age of 53 and signals demand for accessible housing and care services.
Drive
84.6%
Public Transport
4.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Dudley Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dudley Park a good suburb to live in?
Dudley Park suits retirees and downsizers more than young professionals. Affordability is the main draw, with a $390,000 median house price and $310 weekly rent, both well below metropolitan WA. The median age of 53 is 13 years above national, and 84.6% drive to work, so the lifestyle is quiet and car-dependent rather than walkable.
What is the median house price in Dudley Park?
The median house price is $390,000, far below most metropolitan Perth and coastal WA markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,530, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.6%, just under the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $310, producing a gross rental yield near 4.1%.
What schools are in Dudley Park?
No schools are recorded within the Dudley Park suburb boundary, so the 1,345 families with children rely on schools in neighbouring Mandurah catchments. With 46.6% of homes having four or more bedrooms, the area suits families willing to commute, given 84.6% of residents already drive to work.
Is Dudley Park safe?
Suburb-level crime statistics are not available in this dataset for Dudley Park, so a safety rating cannot be quantified here. The population of 6,957 sits at a low density of 977.6 people per square kilometre, and 74.3% of residents stayed put over the period, a stability often associated with settled residential areas.
Is Dudley Park good for property investment?
The low $390,000 entry price lifts gross yield to roughly 4.1% on $310 weekly rent, stronger than premium metro suburbs. The key risk is a 15.8% vacancy rate, far above a balanced market of 2-3%, signalling oversupply. With only 26.4% of households renting and zero development approvals in 12 months, demand is thin.
How is Dudley Park's population changing?
The population of 6,957 is aging, with a median age of 53 that is 13 years above national. Couples without children (40.9%) outnumber couples with children (27.2%), and average household size is 2.2, below the national figure. A turnover rate of 25.7% means 74.3% stayed put, reinforcing an aging-in-place pattern.
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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