East Cannington
A median age of 31 sits 9 years below the national figure, and that youth drives much of what makes this Perth suburb distinctive. With 57.4% of residents born overseas, which is 35.8 points above national, the area reads as a migrant-majority arrival point rather than an established neighbourhood. University qualifications reach 44.7%, running 14.6 points above national, yet the median house price stays accessible at $440,000. Detached houses dominate at 76.8% of dwellings across a compact 2.75 km2, and 45.7% of homes carry 4-plus bedrooms, a family-scaled stock that pairs with an average household size of 2.9, above the national average.
Population
6,512
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,828/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$440K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $440,000 median house price, entry costs sit well below most of metropolitan Perth, and the monthly mortgage of $1,733 is modest against a household income in the 65.9th percentile. That affordability shows in the stress numbers: mortgage-to-income runs 21.9%, comfortably under the 30% strain threshold, which is why owner-occupiers can take on family-sized stock without overextending. The dwellings suit households over couples, with 42.1% three-bedroom and 45.7% four-plus-bedroom homes, and separate houses making up 76.8% of stock versus just 2.5% apartments. Mortgage holders at 38.6% already outnumber outright owners at 21.1%, a sign of active recent buying rather than a settled, debt-free base.
For Buyers
At a $440,000 median house price, entry costs sit well below most of metropolitan Perth, and the monthly mortgage of $1,733 is modest against a household income in the 65.9th percentile. That affordability shows in the stress numbers: mortgage-to-income runs 21.9%, comfortably under the 30% strain threshold, which is why owner-occupiers can take on family-sized stock without overextending. The dwellings suit households over couples, with 42.1% three-bedroom and 45.7% four-plus-bedroom homes, and separate houses making up 76.8% of stock versus just 2.5% apartments. Mortgage holders at 38.6% already outnumber outright owners at 21.1%, a sign of active recent buying rather than a settled, debt-free base.
For Investors
Renters make up 40.4% of households, above the typical owner-occupier suburb, giving landlords a deep tenant pool drawn largely from the migrant intake. Weekly rent of $350 against the $440,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, stronger than the sub-2% returns common in premium Perth pockets, because the low purchase price does the heavy lifting. The 6.9% vacancy rate is the caution flag, looser than a tight market would show, so tenant turnover of 24% annually needs managing. Rent-to-income at 19.1% sits well below the stress line, meaning tenants have room to absorb increases. With no development applications recorded in the past 12 months, supply is static, which supports existing landlords more than new entrants chasing scale.
Schools in East Cannington iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Gibbs Street Primary School
K-6 · 602 students
Demographics
The standout figure is 57.4% born overseas, fully 35.8 points above the national share, marking this as a migrant-majority suburb. The median age of 31 runs 9 years below national, and university qualifications at 44.7% are 14.6 points higher, an educated young-arrival profile. Ancestry leans toward English (1,113), Chinese (862) and Indian (703), and the top non-English languages are Punjabi (283 speakers), Mandarin (240) and Arabic (104). Religion reflects the mix: Christianity leads at 2,138 residents, but Islam (922) and Hinduism (559) hold significant second and third places, unusual against the national norm. Average household size of 2.9 sits 0.4 above national, consistent with the family-and-extended-household pattern that overseas-born populations often bring.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.8%
Houses
20.7%
Townhouse
2.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward debt and renting rather than outright ownership: 40.4% rent, 38.6% carry a mortgage and only 21.1% own outright. Mortgage holders outnumbering outright owners points to a younger buyer cohort still paying down loans rather than a settled base. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 76.8%, with semi-detached at 20.7% and apartments a marginal 2.5%, so the suburb offers houses where much of metro Perth offers units. Bedrooms skew large, with 45.7% of homes at four-plus and 42.1% at three. At a $440,000 median against household income in the 65.9th percentile, the price-to-income ratio stays low, which is why both mortgage-to-income (21.9%) and rent-to-income (19.1%) land well under the 30% stress threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$801
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.9%
Unoccupied
161
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.2%
Couples, no children
5,127
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare anchors local employment at 18.7% (422 workers), followed by Hospitality at 10.0% (225) and Professional/Tech at 9.1% (206), with Retail at 8.3% and Transport at 7.2%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 608, but Community/Personal (444) and Labourers (423) sit close behind, a broader skill spread than the 44.7% university rate alone would suggest. Unemployment runs 6.2%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 64.7% with a 61.1% full-time rate reflects a workforce still establishing itself, consistent with the young migrant base. The blend of high-skill healthcare and tech alongside labouring and transport roles signals a suburb where new arrivals take both professional and entry-level work as they settle.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.1%
Part-time
32.7%
Participation
64.7%
Employed
3,121
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.7%
Postgraduate
13.1%
Born Overseas
57.4%
Dwellings
2,154
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 81.5% driving to work and only 10.4% using public transport, well above the national lean on cars, while just 1.3% walk or cycle across the compact 2.75 km2 footprint. Crime and SEIFA index figures are not recorded for the suburb in this dataset, so disadvantage is read indirectly: only 2.9% of the 6,512 residents (180 people) need daily assistance, a low share consistent with the young median age of 31. Volunteering runs at 11.4%, below the rates seen in long-settled communities, which fits a high-turnover migrant suburb where social roots are still forming. Affordability is the practical anchor here, with rent-to-income at 19.1% giving households real breathing room compared with tighter Perth markets.
Drive
81.5%
Public Transport
10.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How East Cannington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Cannington a good suburb to live in?
It suits younger households and families seeking value, with a $440,000 median house price and rent-to-income at just 19.1%, well below the 30% stress line. The median age of 31 is 9 years below national and 57.4% of residents were born overseas, so it reads as a young, multicultural arrival suburb rather than an established one.
What is the median house price in East Cannington?
The median house price is $440,000, accessible by Perth standards. Weekly rent averages $350 and the typical monthly mortgage runs $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9% against a household income in the 65.9th percentile nationally, comfortably under the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in East Cannington?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.75 km2 East Cannington boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The resident base is relatively educated, with university qualifications at 44.7%, which is 14.6 points above the national figure.
Is East Cannington safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for East Cannington in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, only 2.9% of the 6,512 residents (180 people) need daily assistance, a low share that, alongside the young median age of 31, is consistent with a lower-need population profile.
Is East Cannington good for property investment?
Rent of $350 a week against the $440,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.1%, stronger than premium Perth suburbs that sit below 2%. The renter share is 40.4%, a deep tenant pool, but the 6.9% vacancy rate and 24% annual turnover mean returns depend on careful tenant management.
How is East Cannington's population changing?
The suburb of 6,512 residents shows arrival-suburb dynamics: a median age of 31, which is 9 years below national, and 57.4% born overseas, 35.8 points above national. Annual resident turnover of 24% means about one in four households moves each year, typical of a high-churn migrant intake area.
What languages are spoken in East Cannington?
With 57.4% of residents born overseas, 35.8 points above national, language diversity is high. English dominates, while the most common non-English languages are Punjabi (283 speakers), Mandarin (240), Arabic (104), Malayalam (96) and Nepali (73), reflecting strong South Asian and Chinese communities.
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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