Glen Iris
At $402,000, the median house price in Glen Iris sits well below the national average, yet 66.1% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, giving buyers large family homes at a fraction of capital-city costs. The suburb scores IRSAD decile 2 and IEO decile 1 nationally, placing it among the lowest-advantage areas on education and occupation measures. Household income lands at the 53rd percentile nationally, a middle-income result, though the workforce tilts toward trade and blue-collar roles rather than professional ones. Residents are notably younger, with a median age of 35, five years below the national figure, pointing to a younger family cohort drawn by affordability.
Population
3,143
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,620/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Median House
$402K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $402,000 median house price makes Glen Iris one of the more accessible markets in regional WA, with mortgage repayments estimated at $1,517 per month. Mortgage-to-income sits at 21.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, which is lower than many metropolitan markets. The stock is almost entirely detached houses, with 95% of dwellings separate houses, and 66.1% having four or more bedrooms, meaning buyers typically get generous space. Semi-detached homes account for 3.7% and apartments just 1.3%. Of current residents, 46.2% carry a mortgage, 23.9% own outright, and 30% rent, a profile consistent with an established mortgage-belt suburb. The vacancy rate of 9.6% indicates some surplus in the rental market, which could put downward pressure on prices in the short term.
For Buyers
The $402,000 median house price makes Glen Iris one of the more accessible markets in regional WA, with mortgage repayments estimated at $1,517 per month. Mortgage-to-income sits at 21.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, which is lower than many metropolitan markets. The stock is almost entirely detached houses, with 95% of dwellings separate houses, and 66.1% having four or more bedrooms, meaning buyers typically get generous space. Semi-detached homes account for 3.7% and apartments just 1.3%. Of current residents, 46.2% carry a mortgage, 23.9% own outright, and 30% rent, a profile consistent with an established mortgage-belt suburb. The vacancy rate of 9.6% indicates some surplus in the rental market, which could put downward pressure on prices in the short term.
For Investors
A 30% renter share and weekly rent of $330 give investors a reasonable tenant base, though the gross yield picture depends heavily on entry price. Against the $402,000 estimated median, $330 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 4.3%, higher than inner-city benchmarks. The 9.6% vacancy rate is elevated compared to the national average and signals current oversupply in the rental pool, which may slow rent growth. Development activity is low, with only 8 approvals in the past 12 months, mostly patios and sheds rather than new dwellings, so supply additions are not a near-term concern. The suburb's affordability relative to metro Perth and its younger median age of 35 support ongoing owner-occupier and rental demand from families seeking large detached homes at below-average prices.
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
$66K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Glen Iris iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Grace Christian School
PP-12 · 609 students
Picton Primary School
K-6 · 153 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is five years below the national figure, suggesting Glen Iris attracts younger families rather than retirees. Overseas-born residents make up 21.9% of the population, marginally above the national average by 0.3 percentage points. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,391 residents) leads by a wide margin, followed by Irish (281), Scottish (266) and Italian (235). University qualifications reach just 18.8%, which is 11.3 percentage points below the national figure, the single largest negative gap in the comparison data. Average household size is 2.7, slightly above the national figure by 0.2. Volunteering runs at 13.8% of residents and 4.8% require some form of daily assistance. The household composition shows 42% of families are couples with children, consistent with the suburb's younger age and large-bedroom housing.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.0%
Houses
3.7%
Townhouse
1.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Glen Iris is defined by large detached family homes: 95% of dwellings are separate houses and 66.1% have four or more bedrooms, with three-bedroom homes at 29.9% and only 2.9% two-bedroom. This profile is unusual compared to most suburbs where smaller dwellings make up a larger share. Tenure splits into 46.2% carrying mortgages, 23.9% owning outright and 30% renting. Mortgage-to-income at 21.6% and rent-to-income at 20.4% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes. The median house price is estimated at $402,000, well below the national median for detached homes, driven by the regional WA location. Weekly rent at $330 is moderate, and the 9.6% vacancy rate reflects some excess rental stock compared to tighter capital city markets.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$330
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$784
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.6%
Unoccupied
117
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.2%
Couples, no children
2,504
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 16.6% of the local workforce (144 workers), followed by Manufacturing at 10.8% (94) and Construction at 10.6% (92). Retail accounts for 9.8% and Education 8.7%, rounding out a mixed economy that leans on services, trades and production. By occupation, Labourers are the largest group at 261 workers, followed by Machinery and Drivers (187), Community and Personal services (181) and Clerical/Admin (163). The unemployment rate sits at 6.0%, above the national average, and the full-time employment rate of 64.9% reflects the blue-collar composition of the workforce. The SEIFA IEO score of decile 1 nationally confirms the low-education and low-occupation profile, while the IRSAD decile 2 indicates elevated disadvantage overall. The IER decile 4 on economic resources is somewhat higher, consistent with the affordability of owned family homes.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.9%
Part-time
29.1%
Participation
60.3%
Employed
1,383
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.8%
Postgraduate
2.0%
Born Overseas
21.9%
Dwellings
1,113
Transport to Work
Glen Iris is almost entirely car-dependent, with 86.9% of residents driving to work, well above the national average, and only 1.5% using public transport. This is consistent with a regional WA suburb where public transit infrastructure is limited compared to capital cities. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Bunbury areas. Crime data are not available in the current dataset, though the IRSAD decile 2 ranking suggests above-average disadvantage nationally. Rent-to-income at 20.4% and mortgage-to-income at 21.6% both sit below stress levels, keeping housing costs manageable. The suburb has a volunteering rate of 13.8% and only 4.8% of residents (144 people) need daily assistance. The near-absence of apartments (1.3% of dwellings) and dominance of detached houses on a 4.72 square kilometre footprint give the area a spacious residential character.
Drive
86.9%
Public Transport
1.5%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Glen Iris compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Glen Iris a good suburb to live in?
Glen Iris offers affordable family housing at a $402,000 median house price, with 95% detached houses and 66.1% of them having four or more bedrooms. Housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 21.6% and rent-to-income at 20.4%, both below the 30% threshold. The main trade-offs are an IEO decile 1 ranking nationally, limited public transport at 1.5%, and a 9.6% vacancy rate in the rental market.
What is the median house price in Glen Iris?
The median house price is estimated at $402,000 based on 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517 and weekly rent is $330. Mortgage-to-income sits at 21.6%, well below the 30% stress threshold, making the suburb more affordable than most capital city markets.
What schools are in Glen Iris?
No schools are recorded within the Glen Iris suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding Bunbury suburbs. University qualifications among residents reach 18.8%, which is 11.3 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the suburb's blue-collar workforce profile.
Is Glen Iris safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Glen Iris in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores IRSAD decile 2 nationally, meaning it sits among the higher-disadvantage areas in Australia. The IRSD decile 3 similarly suggests above-average relative disadvantage compared to the national average.
Is Glen Iris good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $330 against a $402,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.3%, higher than most inner-city benchmarks. The 9.6% vacancy rate is elevated and signals some current oversupply, which may slow rent growth. Development approvals totalled just 8 in the past 12 months, mostly sheds and patios, so supply additions are limited. The 30% renter share and younger median age of 35 support ongoing demand.
How is Glen Iris's population changing?
Forward population forecasts are not available for Glen Iris in the current brief. The suburb has 3,143 residents across 4.72 square kilometres, giving a density of 667 per square kilometre. Resident stability is high, with 73.7% of people having stayed in the same location for five years, compared to higher-turnover suburbs.
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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