Ellenbrook
At 24,668 residents, Ellenbrook combines a young median age of 32 with a strongly detached-house base: 89.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 57.1% have four or more bedrooms. Household income sits at the 66.8th percentile, while 33.5% of residents were born overseas, 11.9 percentage points above the national figure. That mix supports a family-oriented mortgage-belt profile, although the 20.7% university share is 9.4 points below national levels. Compared with nearby Aveley and The Vines, Ellenbrook reads as the more established and substantial local centre, with car-led access and a broad service catchment.
Population
24,668
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,846/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
184
Homebuyers are choosing a low-rise, family-sized stock profile: 89.4% separate houses, 57.1% with four or more bedrooms and 32.5% with three bedrooms. The typical mortgage repayment is $1,833 a month, while weekly rent is $350, so owner-occupier affordability needs to be tested against both deposit size and borrowing costs. Mortgage payments equal 22.9% of household income and rent equals 19.0%, with neither flagged as stressed. Compared with apartment-oriented precincts, Ellenbrook gives buyers more detached-house choice, but the absence of a current median house price makes address-level sales evidence essential. The 58.9% mortgage share versus 15.3% owned outright also points to a suburb still dominated by active borrowers.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing a low-rise, family-sized stock profile: 89.4% separate houses, 57.1% with four or more bedrooms and 32.5% with three bedrooms. The typical mortgage repayment is $1,833 a month, while weekly rent is $350, so owner-occupier affordability needs to be tested against both deposit size and borrowing costs. Mortgage payments equal 22.9% of household income and rent equals 19.0%, with neither flagged as stressed. Compared with apartment-oriented precincts, Ellenbrook gives buyers more detached-house choice, but the absence of a current median house price makes address-level sales evidence essential. The 58.9% mortgage share versus 15.3% owned outright also points to a suburb still dominated by active borrowers.
For Investors
Rental investors get a 24.9% renting share, weekly rent of $350 and a 5.9% vacancy rate, creating an established tenant base without a current median purchase price for yield calculations. The 131 development applications recorded over 12 months indicate active property activity, but application volume is not the same as completed dwellings. Balanced migration should spread demand across more than one source, while the 2.39% annual growth trend is supportive. Compared with a tightly held owner-occupier market, the renting share is meaningful, yet tenant demand is likely to remain car-oriented because 83.3% drive to work and only 2.7% use public transport. Falling rent growth of -2.8% argues for conservative rent assumptions.
Development Activity
Total DAs
184
Last 12 Months
184
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$4.2M
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ellenbrook
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
ELLENBROOK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
HOLY CROSS COLLEGE
ST HELENA'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
ANNE HAMERSLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL
ARBOR GROVE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Ellenbrook's median age is 32, 8 years below the national figure, but its trajectory is maturing as the senior share has risen 4.3 points and the young share has fallen 4.1 points. Families are prominent: couples with children account for 51.4% of families, average household size is 2.9 people, and one-parent families represent 20.0%. Overseas-born residents make up 33.5%, 11.9 points above national levels, with English ancestry recorded for 9,134 people and Punjabi the largest listed language group at 301. No religion counts 10,845 residents, compared with 9,609 identifying with Christianity. Compared with nearby Aveley and The Vines, Ellenbrook's population of 24,668 and established housing base give these demographic patterns more local weight, while university participation at 20.7% remains 9.4 points below national levels.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.4%
Houses
9.0%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Ellenbrook is overwhelmingly a detached-house market: 89.4% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 1.6% apartments and 9.0% semi-detached homes. Larger formats dominate, with 57.1% of dwellings containing four or more bedrooms and 32.5% containing three. Tenure explains the mortgage-belt character: 58.9% of households are paying a mortgage, 15.3% own outright and 24.9% rent. Mortgage costs equal 22.9% of household income, while rent equals 19.0%, with neither marked as stressed. Compared with apartment-led parts of Perth, this form suits families and car ownership, but it can limit entry options when detached supply is tight. The average household size of 2.9 and 51.4% couples-with-children share help explain demand for four-bedroom stock.
Mortgage / mo
$1,833
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$350
Census 2021
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$840
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.9%
Unoccupied
509
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
51.4%
Couples with children
27.3%
Couples, no children
20.0%
Single parent
6,477
Total families
Economy & Employment
Ellenbrook's employment base is led by healthcare at 17.5% of workers, followed by education at 9.5%, construction at 8.9%, mining at 8.3% and retail at 8.3%. Those sectors align with the largest occupation groups: trades account for 1,955 workers, community and personal service 1,697, clerical and administration 1,660, professionals 1,446 and machinery or drivers 1,268. The labour force totals 12,489, participation is 68.7% and unemployment is 6.0%, while 62.7% of workers are full-time. Household income of $1,846 a week sits at the 66.8th percentile. Compared with the low education and occupation index at decile 2, the economic resources index is higher at decile 7, suggesting earnings are stronger than formal qualification levels. Overall disadvantage remains below the middle, with IRSAD decile 3 and IRSD decile 4.
Unemployment
6.0%
Labour Force
12,489
Unemployed
747
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.7%
Part-time
31.5%
Participation
68.7%
Employed
11,742
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.7%
Postgraduate
4.0%
Born Overseas
33.5%
Dwellings
8,053
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-led: 83.3% travel as car drivers, compared with 2.7% using public transport, 1.3% walking or cycling and 6.2% working from home. The pattern matters because dispersed family housing and a 1,909.1-person-per-square-kilometre density make trip planning more important than in compact, transit-oriented areas. Families have access to 10 nearby schools: 7 government schools across primary and senior-high settings, plus 3 non-government schools. Check enrolment zones against the exact address, since they can cross suburb boundaries. An IRSAD decile of 3 is below the middle and may increase the value of accessible services; 5.5% of residents need assistance and volunteering is 12.7%. A current crime rate is not available, so safety decisions should include recent police information and an in-person check.
Drive
83.3%
Public Transport
2.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
6.2%
Population Forecast
+2.39%/yr
(+523 people/yr)
EstablishedEllenbrook's forward trend is firm at 2.39% annual growth, with migration labelled Balanced rather than dependent on a single inflow. Across the wider area, population change is forecast at 27.1% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share is up 4.3 points and the young share is down 4.1 points. Gentrification is scored 46 and labelled Active, although the shift assessment records 15 and labels the stage Not gentrifying. That tension suggests growth is being driven more by continued expansion and changing household mix than by a simple inner-city uplift story. Affordability is labelled Improving, moving from 47.4 in 2011 to 42.9 in 2021, while rent growth is -2.8%. Compared with slower established suburbs, the 2.39% trend is strong, but ageing signals favour planning for services as well as new housing.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+216
Net Internal / yr
+180
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +40% since 2011, Net internal migration +180/yr, Strong overseas inflow +216/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ellenbrook compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ellenbrook a good suburb to live in?
Ellenbrook suits households seeking detached, family-sized housing, with 89.4% separate houses and a median age of 32. Car dependence is high at 83.3%, while public transport use is 2.7%, so lifestyle fit depends on accepting regular driving.
What is the median house price in Ellenbrook?
A current median house price is not stated, so buyers should not infer value from the $1,833 monthly mortgage figure alone. Use recent comparable sales, land size, renovation quality and exact address details, then test repayments against the 22.9% mortgage-to-income share.
What schools are in Ellenbrook?
Ellenbrook has access to 10 nearby schools, including 5 government primary schools, 2 government senior high schools and 3 non-government schools. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone, because school boundaries can differ from the suburb boundary.
Is Ellenbrook safe?
A current suburb-level crime rate is unavailable, so safety should be checked using current police information and an inspection at different times of day. Also review lighting, traffic and pedestrian conditions, particularly because 83.3% of workers drive and only 1.3% walk or cycle.
Is Ellenbrook good for property investment?
Ellenbrook can suit investors seeking family rentals: 24.9% of households rent, weekly rent is $350 and vacancy is 5.9%. However, no current median purchase price is available for a yield calculation. The 131 development applications in 12 months also warrant checking competing supply and the exact dwelling pipeline.
How is Ellenbrook's population changing?
Ellenbrook's current population is 24,668, and the wider area's 10-year population change is forecast at 27.1%. The annual growth trend is 2.39%, with migration labelled Balanced, but the trajectory is Aging: senior share is up 4.3 points and young share is down 4.1 points.
What languages are spoken in Ellenbrook?
English ancestry is recorded for 9,134 residents, while the largest listed language counts include Punjabi at 301, Arabic at 148 and Afrikaans at 119. Overseas-born residents represent 33.5%, so services and schools may need to cater for several language backgrounds.
What development is happening in Ellenbrook?
Development activity is high at 131 applications over the past 12 months, covering approvals such as patios and pergolas in the recent examples. That indicates ongoing household investment, but application counts do not confirm 131 new dwellings, so investors should check the type and status of each proposal.
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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