East Fremantle
Household incomes place East Fremantle in the 87.7th percentile nationally, while its compact 3.14 square kilometres holds 7,819 residents at a density of 2,491.4 people per square kilometre. The median age is 44, or 4 years above the national figure, and 52.1% have university qualifications, 22 percentage points higher than national levels. This established, higher-income pocket has an aging trajectory alongside active gentrification. Compared with nearby Fremantle, East Fremantle presents a more residential profile, supported by 41.3% outright ownership and 77.9% of residents staying at the same address.
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
East Fremantle suits buyers prioritising established ownership patterns over a high-turnover rental market. Outright ownership is 41.3%, mortgage ownership is 35.3% and renting is 22.6%, so owner pathways are more common than renting. The reported mortgage figure is $2,600 per month, equal to 26.2% of household income, while rent represents 18.4% of income. Compared with apartments at 14.6%, separate houses at 66.3% and semi-detached homes at 18.9% provide the dominant stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 40.9% and four-plus-bedroom homes 33.3%, suiting households seeking space.
For Buyers
East Fremantle suits buyers prioritising established ownership patterns over a high-turnover rental market. Outright ownership is 41.3%, mortgage ownership is 35.3% and renting is 22.6%, so owner pathways are more common than renting. The reported mortgage figure is $2,600 per month, equal to 26.2% of household income, while rent represents 18.4% of income. Compared with apartments at 14.6%, separate houses at 66.3% and semi-detached homes at 18.9% provide the dominant stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 40.9% and four-plus-bedroom homes 33.3%, suiting households seeking space.
For Investors
East Fremantle requires careful due diligence because the rental market is smaller than the owner-occupier base. Weekly rent is $420 and 22.6% of dwellings are rented, compared with 41.3% owned outright, while vacancy is 9.2%. There were 0 developments in the past 12 months, reducing immediate construction competition but also limiting new supply. Forecast growth is 1.84% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver, supporting a longer-hold approach rather than a quick redevelopment thesis. Investors should compare net returns after strata, maintenance and insurance costs with comparable Fremantle and Bicton properties.
Schools in East Fremantle
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
RICHMOND PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
East Fremantle has an older and more highly educated profile than national benchmarks. The median age is 44, 4 years above the national figure, while 52.1% hold university qualifications, 22 percentage points higher than nationally. Overseas-born residents account for 25.3%, 3.7 points above the national share, adding migration depth without making the suburb migrant-majority. English ancestry counts 3,542, followed by Irish at 1,143, Scottish at 961 and Italian at 707. No religion is recorded for 3,834 people, compared with 3,270 identifying with Christianity. Compared with nearby Bicton, the established profile is reflected in the 2.5-person average household size and aging direction.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
66.3%
Houses
18.9%
Townhouse
14.6%
Apartment
Tenure
East Fremantle's tenure mix points to a mature owner-occupied market. Outright ownership at 41.3% is higher than renting at 22.6%, with a further 35.3% paying a mortgage and 0.9% in other tenure categories. Separate houses make up 66.3% of stock, compared with 18.9% semi-detached homes and 14.6% apartments. Larger homes are common: 40.9% have 3 bedrooms and 33.3% have 4 or more, versus 21.5% with 2 and 4.3% with 0 or 1. The 2.5-person average household size means the mix suits both families and couples seeking space. Mortgage costs equal 26.2% of household income, higher than rent at 18.4%.
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$420
Census 2021
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
47.6%
Couples with children
39.1%
Couples, no children
12.5%
Single parent
2,075
Total families
Economy & Employment
East Fremantle combines high household purchasing power with a professional employment base. Household income is $2,288 a week and sits at the 87.7th percentile, while professionals number 1,509 and managers 772. Healthcare leads the industry mix at 19.6% with 600 workers, followed by education at 14.3% and 440, professional and technical services at 13.8% and 422, mining at 7.5% and 231, and public administration at 6.9% and 212. Unemployment is 4.1% and participation is 65.1%, supporting local spending capacity. All four SEIFA measures sit in decile 9, higher than the middle of the national distribution, which helps explain the concentration of skilled roles.
Unemployment
4.1%
Labour Force
4,193
Unemployed
173
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.8%
Part-time
38.5%
Participation
65.1%
Employed
4,020
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
52.1%
Postgraduate
13.6%
Born Overseas
25.3%
Dwellings
2,907
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 71.4% drove as a car driver, compared with 5.3% using public transport and 4.3% walking or cycling. Work from home is 15.3%, which may reduce commuting pressure for some households. Richmond Primary School provides a government primary option, and families should compare enrolment zones, year levels and travel times with nearby schools because catchments can differ by street. The suburb's IRSAD score is 1,109 in decile 9, higher than the middle of the national distribution, consistent with strong access to resources. Safety should be assessed using current incident information and street-level inspection. Its 3.14 square kilometre footprint and density of 2,491.4 people per square kilometre make walking access address-dependent.
Drive
71.4%
Public Transport
5.3%
Walk / Cycle
4.3%
Work from Home
15.3%
Population Forecast
+1.84%/yr
(+376 people/yr)
EstablishedEast Fremantle is forecast to grow at 1.84% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 26.2% over 10 years, pointing to sustained momentum rather than a static established suburb. At the same time, the trajectory is labelled Aging: the senior share has risen 3.9 percentage points, while the working share has fallen 3.1 points. Gentrification is rated Active with a score of 64, indicating stronger change than an Early signs reading. Affordability is labelled Improving, with values of 41.1 in 2011 and 36.4 in 2021, while real incomes rose 10.7%. Compared with a purely mature market, the suburb combines demographic aging with active reinvestment.
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?
Yes, particularly for households seeking an established, higher-income setting with family-sized homes. The median age is 44, household income is $2,288 a week, and 66.3% of dwellings are separate houses. Compared with a denser apartment market, East Fremantle has stronger owner occupation, with 41.3% owning outright.
What is the median house price in East Fremantle?
A current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales and local agent evidence because prices can move quickly. Housing costs include a mortgage figure of $2,600 per month and rent of $420 per week. Separate houses account for 66.3% of dwellings, while 40.9% have 3 bedrooms, so compare similar homes rather than relying on one suburb-wide figure.
What schools are in East Fremantle?
Richmond Primary School provides a government primary option in East Fremantle. Families should compare enrolment zones, year levels and travel times with nearby schools because catchments can differ by street. The suburb covers 3.14 square kilometres at a density of 2,491.4 people per square kilometre, so exact-address checks matter more than assuming every nearby school is zoned locally.
Is East Fremantle safe?
Safety should be judged using current incident information for exact streets and travel routes, rather than inferred from demographics. East Fremantle has 7,819 residents and a median age of 44, but those figures do not establish crime risk. Compare recent reports, lighting, traffic and evening activity before deciding, especially because 71.4% of journeys are by car and 5.3% use public transport.
Is East Fremantle good for property investment?
It can suit a longer-term investor, but the numbers favour careful due diligence over a simple yield assumption. Rent is $420 a week, vacancy is 9.2%, and 22.6% of dwellings are rented, compared with 41.3% owned outright. There were 0 developments in the past 12 months, while forecast growth is 1.84% annually and driven by overseas migration. Compare net yield after costs with comparable Fremantle and Bicton stock.
How is East Fremantle's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is forecast at 26.2% over 10 years, with annual growth of 1.84% and overseas migration the primary driver. East Fremantle is also on an Aging trajectory: the senior share has increased by 3.9 percentage points while the working share has fallen 3.1 points. Compared with a static established suburb, this indicates growth alongside demographic change.
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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