Fremantle
Population surged 26.2% over the decade and active gentrification is confirmed (score 64), yet Fremantle's estimated $511,000 median remains below the Perth metro average, a rare combination of strong growth momentum and relative affordability. The 14.3% vacancy rate is the third-highest in this batch, suggesting oversupply or short-stay leakage. University qualifications at 50.1%, 20 points above national, and IEO decile 8 confirm a highly educated population, yet IER decile 4 indicates surprisingly low economic resources. This education-wealth gap suggests a creative-class suburb where cultural capital exceeds financial capital: the volunteering rate of 22.1% is the second-highest in this dataset, consistent with a civic-minded, progressive community.
Population
9,251
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,822/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
22
Median House
$511K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated $511,000 median offers relative affordability for a suburb with Fremantle's heritage character and port-city amenity. Housing stock is evenly distributed: 40.0% detached, 32.2% semi-detached, and 27.5% apartment, giving buyers unusual choice across dwelling types. Three-bedroom homes (34.5%) and two-bedrooms (36.8%) dominate, while four-plus bedrooms are just 13.0%, well below the national average. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,167 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.5%, below the stress threshold. Walking/cycling at 14.6% is among the highest in this dataset, reducing transport cost burdens compared to car-dependent suburbs.
For Buyers
The estimated $511,000 median offers relative affordability for a suburb with Fremantle's heritage character and port-city amenity. Housing stock is evenly distributed: 40.0% detached, 32.2% semi-detached, and 27.5% apartment, giving buyers unusual choice across dwelling types. Three-bedroom homes (34.5%) and two-bedrooms (36.8%) dominate, while four-plus bedrooms are just 13.0%, well below the national average. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,167 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.5%, below the stress threshold. Walking/cycling at 14.6% is among the highest in this dataset, reducing transport cost burdens compared to car-dependent suburbs.
For Investors
The 42.7% renter share is well above the national average, providing a deep tenant pool for a suburb of this size. Weekly rent of $380 against a $511,000 estimated median produces a gross yield around 3.9%, reasonable for inner Perth. However, the 14.3% vacancy rate is concerning and ranks among the highest in this analysis, likely reflecting short-stay accommodation, seasonal tourism fluctuations, or heritage dwellings between tenancies. Only 16 development applications were lodged in 12 months, suggesting limited new supply. Population growth of 1.84% annually (376 persons) is strong, with both internal (338 net/year) and overseas (416 net/year) migration contributing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
22
Last 12 Months
22
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Fremantle iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Lance Holt School
PP-6 · 80 students
East Fremantle Primary School
K-6 · 409 students
Fremantle Primary School
K-6 · 201 students
John Curtin College Of The Arts
7-12 · 1768 students
Christian Brothers' College
7-12 · 954 students
Demographics
English ancestry leads at 3,895, with Irish (1,385) and Scottish (1,151) forming a strongly Anglo-Celtic base. The 32.9% born overseas is 11.3 points above the national average. Italian (119 speakers), French (56), German (42), Croatian (22), and Mandarin (16) top non-English languages, with the European language dominance reflecting historical migration patterns rather than recent Asian flows. University qualifications at 50.1% are 20.0 points above national, the highest in this WA batch. Average household size of 2.0 is well below the national 2.5, and 40.3% of families are couples without children, consistent with the small dwelling sizes and creative-professional demographic.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
40.0%
Houses
32.2%
Townhouse
27.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split across 29.2% owned outright, 28.1% mortgaged, and 42.7% renting, with renters forming the plurality. The dwelling mix of 40.0% detached, 32.2% semi-detached, and 27.5% apartment is unusually balanced. Two-bedroom homes (36.8%) lead, followed by three-bedrooms (34.5%), while studios/one-bedrooms at 15.7% reflect the apartment segment. Mortgage-to-income at 27.5% and rent-to-income at 20.9% are both below stress levels. The 14.3% vacancy rate stands out as a structural concern, well above the 2-3% considered healthy. This may partly reflect heritage properties requiring renovation or the seasonal nature of Fremantle's tourism economy.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,021
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.3%
Unoccupied
679
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.3%
Couples, no children
5,438
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 17.1% (662 workers), narrowly ahead of Professional/Tech at 15.4% (596) and Education at 14.6% (565). Public Admin at 7.2% and Hospitality at 6.5% follow. The Professional/Tech and Education shares are well above the national average, consistent with the IEO decile 8 profile. Professionals (1,980) dominate occupations at nearly triple the next group, Managers (740). Full-time employment at 61.7% is average, and participation at 61.2% is above national. The unemployment rate of 5.5% is slightly elevated. The IER decile 4 reading, despite high incomes ($1,021/week personal), reflects the high renter share and small household sizes depressing area-level wealth metrics.
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
61.7%
Part-time
32.8%
Participation
61.2%
Employed
4,784
Occupations
Top Industries
University
50.1%
Postgraduate
16.0%
Born Overseas
32.9%
Dwellings
4,056
Transport to Work
Walking/cycling at 14.6% is among the highest in this dataset, reflecting Fremantle's compact, walkable streetscape. Public transport captures 10.9%, and car driving at 69.9% is well below the WA average. Six schools serve the area: Lance Holt School (Independent, ICSEA 1,158, 80 students) and East Fremantle Primary (Government, ICSEA 1,149, 409 students) lead on ICSEA. John Curtin College of the Arts (Government, ICSEA 1,129, 1,768 students) is a large specialist secondary school. All 6 schools sit above the national 1,000 benchmark. IRSAD decile 8 confirms above-average socio-economic advantage. The volunteering rate of 22.1% is the second-highest in this batch.
Drive
69.9%
Public Transport
10.9%
Walk / Cycle
14.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.84%/yr
(+376 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 1.84% per year (376 persons), one of the fastest in this analysis. The 10-year change of 26.2% is well above the national average. Both internal migration (338 net/year) and overseas migration (416 net/year) contribute, with overseas flows slightly larger. Active gentrification (score 64) is confirmed with accelerating growth from 9% to 31%. The senior share grew 3.9 points while the working-age share contracted by 3.1 points, indicating aging despite rapid population growth. Affordability has improved slightly, from 41.1% in 2011 to 36.4% in 2021, as incomes grew faster than housing costs.
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 Fremantle compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fremantle a good suburb to live in?
Fremantle scores highly for walkability (14.6% walk/cycle), school quality (all 6 schools above ICSEA 1,000), and IRSAD decile 8 advantage. University qualifications at 50.1% are 20 points above national. The $511,000 estimated median is accessible by Perth standards. The 42.7% renter share and 14.3% vacancy rate indicate a transient component, but the 22.1% volunteering rate suggests strong civic engagement.
What is the median house price in Fremantle?
The estimated median is $511,000 (derived from rent, 2025). Monthly mortgage repayments are $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.5%, below the stress threshold. Median weekly rent is $380. No PSI price history is available for trend analysis.
What schools are in Fremantle?
Six schools serve the area, all above the 1,000 ICSEA benchmark. Lance Holt School (Independent, ICSEA 1,158, 80 students) and East Fremantle Primary (Government, ICSEA 1,149, 409 students) lead. John Curtin College of the Arts (Government, ICSEA 1,129, 1,768 students) is a large specialist secondary. Christian Brothers' College (Catholic, ICSEA 1,092, 954 students) offers Catholic secondary education.
Is Fremantle safe?
Crime data is not available for Fremantle in the current dataset. IRSD decile 6 places it in the mid-range. The port-city character and tourist/entertainment precinct typically generate higher incident counts than purely residential suburbs. The 31.2% turnover rate is among the highest in this analysis, reflecting population churn. IRSAD decile 8 indicates overall above-average advantage.
Is Fremantle good for property investment?
Gross yield is approximately 3.9% ($380/week on $511,000), reasonable for inner Perth. The deep 42.7% renter share ensures tenant demand, but the 14.3% vacancy rate is a significant concern. Population growth of 1.84% annually is strong, with active gentrification (score 64) confirmed. Only 16 DAs in 12 months suggest limited new supply, which could help tighten the market.
How is Fremantle's population changing?
Growth of 1.84% per year (376 persons) is among the fastest in this batch. The 26.2% ten-year change reflects both internal (338 net/year) and overseas (416 net/year) migration. Active gentrification (score 64) is accelerating. The senior share grew 3.9 points despite rapid overall growth, indicating aging within the existing resident base. Affordability improved slightly from 41.1% to 36.4% over the decade.
What languages are spoken in Fremantle?
With 32.9% born overseas (11.3 points above national), language diversity is moderate. Italian (119 speakers), French (56), German (42), Croatian (22), and Mandarin (16) reflect European heritage migration rather than the Asian-language dominance seen in many eastern Australian suburbs. English (3,895), Irish (1,385), and Scottish (1,151) ancestry confirm the Anglo-Celtic base.
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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