Glendalough
With 65.2% of residents born overseas, Glendalough sits 43.6 percentage points above the national figure, making it one of Perth's most internationally diverse suburbs. The population of 2,628 is packed into just 0.72 square kilometres, giving a density of 3,633 per km2. A median age of 34 is six years below the national average, the workforce participation rate is 69.2%, and university qualifications reach 54.6%, which is 24.5 points above national. Despite this educated, working-age profile, household income sits near the 50th percentile nationally, reflecting the sector mix and high proportion of renters at 64.9% of all occupied dwellings.
Population
2,628
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,562/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$343K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $343,000 is well below the Perth metro median, making Glendalough accessible by WA standards. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 19.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. Apartment stock dominates at 56.8% of dwellings, compared to only 7.6% separate houses, so buyers seeking a detached home face limited supply and concentrated competition. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 59.2% of all stock, with three-bedroom at 25% and four-plus at just 3.1%. Outright owners are only 13.3%, lower than most Perth suburbs, because the renter-majority profile means fewer long-term owning households have accumulated in the area.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $343,000 is well below the Perth metro median, making Glendalough accessible by WA standards. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 19.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. Apartment stock dominates at 56.8% of dwellings, compared to only 7.6% separate houses, so buyers seeking a detached home face limited supply and concentrated competition. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 59.2% of all stock, with three-bedroom at 25% and four-plus at just 3.1%. Outright owners are only 13.3%, lower than most Perth suburbs, because the renter-majority profile means fewer long-term owning households have accumulated in the area.
For Investors
At 64.9%, the renter share is high relative to WA state norms, and weekly rent of $280 underpins a tenant pool driven by overseas arrivals, with net overseas migration of 713 per year into the broader area. The vacancy rate of 11.5% is elevated, which signals oversupply in apartment stock rather than weakness in demand, since the suburb is attracting 25.5% new arrivals annually. Only 6 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, suggesting limited new supply coming through. Population grew 15.3% over 10 years, and the gentrification stage shows early signs, with university-educated residents at 54.6% and real income growth of 3.2% over the period, factors that typically support medium-term rental demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
7
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 Glendalough iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Chrysalis Montessori School
PP-6 · 123 students
Demographics
The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national average, underpinning a young, working-age concentration. Overseas-born residents at 65.2% sit 43.6 points above national, the highest signal in the suburb profile. The top ancestry groups are English (533) and Indian (301), and the leading non-English languages are Gujarati (116), Nepali (53) and Hindi (38), reflecting a South Asian migration stream that is stronger here than in most Perth suburbs. University qualifications reach 54.6%, which is 24.5 points above the national figure, unusual given the relatively moderate household income at the 49.8th percentile. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, consistent with couples without children making up 35.9% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
7.6%
Houses
35.6%
Townhouse
56.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Glendalough's housing stock is dominated by apartments at 56.8%, with semi-detached dwellings at 35.6% and separate houses at only 7.6%, one of the lower detached-house shares in metropolitan Perth. Two-bedroom dwellings are the clear majority at 59.2%, reflecting the renter-heavy, smaller-household profile. Only 13.3% of residents own their home outright and 21.7% hold a mortgage, compared to 64.9% renting, a tenure split that is far more renter-weighted than the WA state average. Weekly rent of $280 implies a rent-to-income ratio of 17.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning most tenants are not under financial pressure. Mortgage holders also stay comfortable, with a 19.2% mortgage-to-income ratio.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$848
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.5%
Unoccupied
148
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.9%
Couples, no children
1,718
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 26.6% (312 workers), well above the share you would expect in a suburb of 2,628 people, likely driven by proximity to major hospitals and aged-care facilities north of Perth CBD. Admin follows at 13.1% (154) and Retail at 11.1% (130), with Hospitality at 9.4% and Professional/Tech at 8.6%. By occupation, Labourers lead at 348, followed by Professionals at 299 and Community/Personal service workers at 292. The unemployment rate is 4.2% and the full-time employment rate is 55.9%. Despite 54.6% university qualifications, a high proportion of graduates are working in service roles rather than professional ones, a pattern consistent with a newly arrived overseas-born workforce building local credentials.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
13,349
Unemployed
519
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.9%
Part-time
39.9%
Participation
69.2%
Employed
1,504
Occupations
Top Industries
University
54.6%
Postgraduate
20.4%
Born Overseas
65.2%
Dwellings
1,138
Transport to Work
Public transport use at 16.4% is moderate compared to national averages, and 72.1% of residents drive, a typical car-reliant Perth pattern. Walking and cycling account for 4.1% of commutes, reasonable for a 0.72 km2 suburb with good street connectivity. The suburb has no schools recorded within its boundary, so families depend on institutions in adjacent suburbs such as Innaloo, Scarborough and Osborne Park. Crime data is not available for Glendalough in this dataset. As a reference point, rent-to-income at 17.9% and mortgage-to-income at 19.2% are both below stress thresholds, pointing to residents managing costs without acute financial pressure. The volunteering rate of 13.0% and only 6.2% of residents needing daily assistance suggest a generally healthy, active community.
Drive
72.1%
Public Transport
16.4%
Walk / Cycle
4.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.3%/yr
(+285 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 15.3% over the past decade, ahead of many established Perth suburbs, and the forecast trajectory continues at roughly 1.3% per year, adding approximately 285 residents annually. The primary growth driver is overseas migration, with a net inflow of 713 per year, while net internal migration runs at negative 188 per year, meaning locals tend to move out as internationals move in. Gentrification indicators show early signs: the university-educated share is high at 54.6%, real incomes grew 3.2%, and the affordability ratio improved from 36.1% in 2011 to 28.4% in 2021. The young share rose 0.9 points while the senior share rose 3.0 points, a split that suggests the suburb is attracting young arrivals while also retaining some aging residents.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+713
Net Internal / yr
-188
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +24% since 2011, Net internal outflow -188/yr, Strong overseas inflow +713/yr, Accelerating: 5% → 17%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Glendalough compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Glendalough a good suburb to live in?
Glendalough suits young professionals and international residents well. The median age is 34, six years below the national average, and university qualifications reach 54.6%, which is 24.5 points above national. Housing costs are manageable, with rent-to-income at 17.9% and mortgage-to-income at 19.2%, both below stress thresholds. The main trade-off is the 11.5% vacancy rate in a largely apartment-dominated market.
What is the median house price in Glendalough?
The estimated median house price is $343,000, below the Perth metro median, making it one of the more accessible options in the inner-north corridor. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300. Weekly rent is $280, and the rent-to-income ratio of 17.9% keeps most tenants below financial stress levels.
What schools are in Glendalough?
No schools are recorded within the Glendalough boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers just 0.72 square kilometres, so families typically access schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Innaloo, Scarborough and Osborne Park. The local population is highly educated, with 54.6% holding university qualifications.
Is Glendalough safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Glendalough in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the rent-to-income ratio sits at 17.9% and mortgage-to-income at 19.2%, both below stress levels, and only 6.2% of the 2,628 residents need daily assistance. A 69.2% workforce participation rate and 4.2% unemployment also point to a working, economically stable population.
Is Glendalough good for property investment?
The fundamentals are mixed. Weekly rent of $280 against a $343,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.2%, competitive compared to many Perth inner suburbs. The renter share of 64.9% provides a wide tenant base. However, the 11.5% vacancy rate signals apartment oversupply, and net internal migration is negative at minus 188 per year. Overseas inflow of 713 per year supports demand, and early gentrification signals with real income growth of 3.2% may support medium-term appreciation.
How is Glendalough's population changing?
The population has grown 15.3% over the past decade and is forecast to expand at roughly 1.3% per year. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 713 arrivals per year, while net internal migration is negative 188 per year. The suburb attracted a younger cohort, with the young share rising 0.9 points, though the senior share also grew 3.0 points over the decade.
What languages are spoken in Glendalough?
About 65.2% of residents were born overseas, which is 43.6 points above the national figure. The top non-English languages are Gujarati (116 speakers), Nepali (53), Hindi (38), Mandarin (22) and Punjabi (22), reflecting a strong South Asian and East Asian migration stream that distinguishes Glendalough from most other Perth 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.
Explore Glendalough on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map