East Fremantle
A gentrification score of 64 (active), the highest in this batch, with population surging 43% since 2011 and net internal migration running positive at 338/year, marks East Fremantle as a suburb people are actively choosing to move into rather than simply staying. University qualifications at 52.1% are 22.0 points above the national average, and the IRSAD decile 9 confirms top-tier socioeconomic standing. The 41.6% outright ownership rate alongside family weekly income of $3,178 suggests accumulated wealth rather than leveraged purchasing. Italian ancestry (707) is the fourth-largest group, a Fremantle-specific heritage marker that distinguishes this suburb from Perth's northern corridor.
Population
7,819
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,288/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$588K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated $588,000 median appears low for a decile-9 suburb, likely reflecting the apartment and semi-detached mix (14.6% and 18.9% respectively) pulling the median below the pure house price. Three-bedrooms at 40.9% form the largest category, with 4+ bedrooms at 33.3%. Monthly mortgage at $2,600 yields a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.2%, below the stress threshold. Houses at 66.3% remain the majority but less dominant than typical Perth suburbs. Richmond Primary School (ICSEA 1,156, 461 students, government) scores 156 points above benchmark, placing it among Perth's top government primary schools.
For Buyers
The estimated $588,000 median appears low for a decile-9 suburb, likely reflecting the apartment and semi-detached mix (14.6% and 18.9% respectively) pulling the median below the pure house price. Three-bedrooms at 40.9% form the largest category, with 4+ bedrooms at 33.3%. Monthly mortgage at $2,600 yields a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.2%, below the stress threshold. Houses at 66.3% remain the majority but less dominant than typical Perth suburbs. Richmond Primary School (ICSEA 1,156, 461 students, government) scores 156 points above benchmark, placing it among Perth's top government primary schools.
For Investors
The 22.8% renter share is moderate. Weekly rent of $420 against the $588,000 estimated median produces gross yield of approximately 3.7%. Vacancy at 9.2% is very high, suggesting oversupply, possibly influenced by seasonal or short-stay letting near Fremantle's tourist precinct. Zero DAs in 12 months means no new supply pipeline, which could eventually correct the vacancy imbalance. Population grows at 1.84% annually (376 persons), projected to reach 21,795 by 2031. Both internal migration (+338/year) and overseas migration (+416/year) are positive, a rare dual-inflow pattern that drives strong demand.
Schools in East Fremantle iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Richmond Primary School
K-6 · 461 students
Demographics
The median age of 44 is 4 years above national. English ancestry (3,542) leads, followed by Irish (1,143), Scottish (961), and Italian (707), reflecting Fremantle's Anglo-Italian heritage. Overseas-born at 25.3% is 3.7 points above national. University qualifications at 52.1% are 22.0 points above the national average. Italian speakers (71) lead non-English languages, with German (28) and French (22) following, a European language profile distinct from Perth's South Asian-weighted northern suburbs. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure. Couples with children (2,599) slightly outnumber childless couples (1,603).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
66.3%
Houses
18.9%
Townhouse
14.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners at 41.6% lead tenure, with mortgage holders at 35.6% and renters at 22.8%. The combined owner-occupier share of 77.2% is well above average. Stock is 66.3% separate houses, 18.9% semi-detached, and 14.6% apartments, a more diverse mix than most suburbs in this dataset. Three-bedrooms at 40.9% and 4+ bedrooms at 33.3% cover the family segment, while two-bedrooms at 21.5% serve downsizers. Mortgage-to-income at 26.2% and rent-to-income at 18.4% are both comfortable. The SEIFA profile is uniformly strong: IEO decile 9, IER decile 9, IRSD decile 9, IRSAD decile 9.
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,075
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.2%
Unoccupied
296
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.6%
Couples, no children
6,022
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 19.6% (600 workers), followed by Education at 14.3% (440), Professional/Tech at 13.8% (422), Mining at 7.5% (231), and Public Admin at 6.9% (212). Professionals (1,509) overwhelmingly dominate occupations, with Managers (772) a distant second. The Professional/Tech share of 13.8% is characteristic of Perth's knowledge-economy suburbs. Mining at 7.5% reflects FIFO workers based in Fremantle's coastal corridor. Unemployment at 4.3% is near the national average, and participation at 62.2% is moderate. Full-time employment at 59.6% is slightly below average, with part-time at 1,548 reflecting the professional-class flexibility typical of affluent suburbs.
Unemployment
2.1%
Labour Force
4,991
Unemployed
106
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.6%
Part-time
36.1%
Participation
62.2%
Employed
3,830
Occupations
Top Industries
University
52.1%
Postgraduate
13.6%
Born Overseas
25.3%
Dwellings
2,907
Transport to Work
Richmond Primary School (government, ICSEA 1,156, 461 students) scores 156 points above the national benchmark, placing it in Perth's top tier. The IRSAD decile 9 and IRSD decile 9 confirm elite-level advantage. Walking/cycling at 5.1% is above average, reflecting the suburb's proximity to Fremantle's amenity strip. Car driving at 84.3% remains dominant, with public transport at 6.3%. Volunteering at 23.5% is the highest in this batch, well above the national average, indicating strong civic engagement. Mortgage stress at 26.2% and rent stress at 18.4% are both comfortably below thresholds.
Drive
84.3%
Public Transport
6.3%
Walk / Cycle
5.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.84%/yr
(+376 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 1.84% annually (376 persons), the fastest in this batch among established suburbs. The 43% increase since 2011 and gentrification score of 64 (active) reflect genuine demographic upgrading. Both internal migration (+338/year) and overseas migration (+416/year) are positive, a dual-inflow pattern that signals strong pull factors. Projected population reaches 21,795 by 2031. The senior share expanded 3.9 points while the working-age share contracted 3.1 points, indicating aging within an active-gentrification context. Affordability improved from 41.1% in 2011 to 36.4% in 2021, well below the national median.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+416
Net Internal / yr
+338
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +43% since 2011, Net internal migration +338/yr, Strong overseas inflow +416/yr, Accelerating: 9% → 31%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How East Fremantle compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Fremantle a good suburb to live in?
East Fremantle ranks IRSAD decile 9 (top 10% nationally), with Richmond Primary School scoring 1,156 ICSEA (156 above benchmark). University qualifications at 52.1% are 22.0 points above national. Volunteering at 23.5% is exceptionally high. The trade-off is the 9.2% vacancy rate (suggesting short-stay rental influence) and limited housing diversity for non-family buyers.
What is the median house price in East Fremantle?
The estimated median is $588,000, which reflects the mixed stock of houses (66.3%), semi-detached (18.9%), and apartments (14.6%). Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.2%. Weekly rent is $420. The 41.6% outright ownership rate suggests established wealth beyond what the median price alone indicates.
What schools are in East Fremantle?
One government school serves the suburb: Richmond Primary School (ICSEA 1,156, 461 students). Its score of 1,156 is 156 points above the national benchmark of 1,000, placing it among Perth's top government primary schools. Secondary options are available in nearby Fremantle and surrounding suburbs.
Is East Fremantle safe?
Crime data is not available at suburb level for WA. However, the IRSD decile 9 (low disadvantage), 41.6% outright ownership, 4.3% unemployment, and 77.9% residential stability are strong proxy indicators that correlate with low crime rates nationally. The 23.5% volunteering rate, well above average, indicates active community oversight.
Is East Fremantle good for property investment?
Gross yield at approximately 3.7% ($420/week on $588,000) is moderate. The 9.2% vacancy rate is a significant concern, potentially driven by holiday or short-stay lets near the Fremantle tourist precinct. Zero development applications in 12 months means no new supply. Population growth at 1.84% annually (376 persons) is strong, with dual inflow from both internal (+338/year) and overseas (+416/year) migration, a rare pattern.
How is East Fremantle's population changing?
Population grew 43% since 2011, with current growth at 1.84% annually (376 persons). The gentrification score of 64 (active) is the highest in this batch. Uniquely, both internal (+338/year) and overseas (+416/year) migration are positive. The senior share expanded 3.9 points while the working-age share contracted 3.1 points. Medium projections reach 21,795 by 2031.
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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