East Perth
Few WA inner-city suburbs are as vertical as East Perth: 90.1% of dwellings are apartments and only 3.9% are separate houses. The suburb has 11,681 residents in 3.2 sq km, with density at 3,644.7 people per sq km, so daily life is shaped by towers, river edges and CBD access. Its 60.7% overseas-born share sits 39.1 percentage points above the national figure. Compared with Highgate or Burswood, ownership is lower and renting at 62.8% is the dominant tenure, while a 20.9% vacancy rate keeps supply risk visible.
Population
11,681
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,005/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Median House
$507K
Estimated from rent (2025)
East Perth suits buyers who want an apartment-first base rather than a conventional house market. Apartments make up 90.1% of stock, while separate houses are only 3.9%, so choice is concentrated in strata buildings. The typical dwelling is compact: 49.0% have 2 bedrooms and 24.0% have 0 or 1 bedroom. Ongoing costs look manageable relative to income, with mortgage payments at $1,950 a month and mortgage-to-income at 22.5%, below the stress flag. A missing house median matters less here than building quality, strata fees and parking.
For Buyers
East Perth suits buyers who want an apartment-first base rather than a conventional house market. Apartments make up 90.1% of stock, while separate houses are only 3.9%, so choice is concentrated in strata buildings. The typical dwelling is compact: 49.0% have 2 bedrooms and 24.0% have 0 or 1 bedroom. Ongoing costs look manageable relative to income, with mortgage payments at $1,950 a month and mortgage-to-income at 22.5%, below the stress flag. A missing house median matters less here than building quality, strata fees and parking.
For Investors
East Perth is clearly tenant-led, with 62.8% of homes rented and weekly rent at $410, but investors need to price vacancy risk carefully. The 20.9% vacancy rate is higher than a tight rental setting, so incentives, furnished competition and building-level supply can affect cash flow. Demand support comes from overseas migration, with +872 net people a year compared with -377 net internal migration. Development pressure is modest, with only 2 applications in 12 months, so near-term supply shock risk appears lower than in heavier construction corridors.
Development Activity
Total DAs
8
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$70K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in East Perth iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Trinity College
4-12 · 1347 students
Demographics
East Perth is younger, more educated and more internationally connected than the national profile. Median age is 35, which is 5.0 years lower than national, while 55.8% of residents hold a university qualification, 25.7 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 60.7%, 39.1 points above national, reflected in Chinese ancestry at 1,623 people and Mandarin spoken by 381 people. Average household size is 1.8, below national by 0.7, because many households are singles or couples without children in apartments.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
3.9%
Houses
6.1%
Townhouse
90.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in East Perth is a high-density tenure story rather than a detached-house price story. Compared with nearby Victoria Park or Mount Lawley, detached options are scarce at 3.9%, while apartments account for 90.1% and semi-detached homes 6.1%. Renting dominates at 62.8%, above ownership with a mortgage at 20.9% and outright ownership at 16.4%. The bedroom mix reinforces the apartment pattern: 49.0% are 2-bedroom homes and 24.0% have 0 or 1 bedroom. Rent-to-income at 20.4% sits below the stress flag despite the central location.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$410
HH Size
1.8
Personal Income / wk
$1,174
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.9%
Unoccupied
1,470
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
56.5%
Couples, no children
6,478
Total families
Economy & Employment
East Perth’s workforce is strongly white-collar, with Professionals the largest occupation group at 2,583 people and Managers next at 1,075. Professional and tech work accounts for 16.8% of employed residents, followed by healthcare at 13.6%, mining at 11.3%, hospitality at 10.0% and education at 7.0%. Full-time work is high at 71.7%, while unemployment is 5.5% and participation is 66.7%. SEIFA is mixed: IEO decile 9 and IRSAD decile 9 are high nationally, but IER decile 2 is lower because many skilled renters have less accumulated household resource.
Unemployment
5.0%
Labour Force
10,367
Unemployed
517
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
71.7%
Part-time
22.8%
Participation
66.7%
Employed
6,816
Occupations
Top Industries
University
55.8%
Postgraduate
17.5%
Born Overseas
60.7%
Dwellings
5,551
Transport to Work
East Perth’s livability is built around access rather than backyards. Public transport use is 32.1% and walking or cycling reaches 14.4%, both important because apartment density is high and car-driver commuting is still 47.6%. The local school base is limited but notable: Trinity College is a Catholic combined school with ICSEA 1113 and enrolment of 1,347. With only 1 listed school, families often compare nearby suburbs for primary options. IRSAD decile 9 sits above most national areas, supporting a high-service, high-education neighbourhood profile.
Drive
47.6%
Public Transport
32.1%
Walk / Cycle
14.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.73%/yr
(+395 people/yr)
EstablishedEast Perth is forecast to keep growing above a flat inner-city baseline, with annual growth of 2.73% or about 395 people a year. The medium trajectory rises from 14,840 residents in 2026 to 16,816 in 2031. Growth is migration-led: overseas migration is the primary driver at +872 net people a year, compared with -377 net internal migration. The shift profile is Aging, with senior share up 3.5 points and working share down 0.4 points. Gentrification is scored 10 and labelled Not gentrifying, so change is more about turnover and global inflow than classic price-led displacement.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+872
Net Internal / yr
-377
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -377/yr, Strong overseas inflow +872/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How East Perth compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Perth a good suburb to live in?
East Perth is a good fit for apartment living, CBD access and lower-car routines. It has 90.1% apartments, 32.1% public transport commuting and 14.4% walking or cycling, so it suits residents who value access over large blocks.
What is the median house price in East Perth?
A reliable median house price is not available for East Perth, which is unsurprising because only 3.9% of dwellings are separate houses. The more relevant market is apartments, which make up 90.1% of local homes.
What schools are in East Perth?
Trinity College is the listed local school in East Perth. It is a Catholic combined school with ICSEA 1113 and enrolment of 1,347, so families seeking government primary options often compare nearby suburbs as well.
Is East Perth safe?
A current crime rate per 1,000 residents is not available for East Perth, so building security and street choice matter. The suburb’s broader profile is supported by IRSAD decile 9 and strong active commuting at 14.4%.
Is East Perth good for property investment?
East Perth has investor appeal through its 62.8% renter share and $410 weekly rent, but the 20.9% vacancy rate is a key risk. The best results are likely to depend on building quality, outlook, parking and rental positioning.
How is East Perth's population changing?
East Perth is growing at a forecast 2.73% a year, equal to about 395 people annually. The medium projection moves from 14,840 residents in 2026 to 16,816 in 2031, driven mainly by overseas migration.
What languages are spoken in East Perth?
East Perth is highly international, with 60.7% of residents born overseas. Mandarin is the largest listed non-English language at 381 speakers, followed by Cantonese at 142, Japanese at 128, Hindi at 85 and Korean at 73.
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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