Gooseberry Hill
With 52.5% of residents owning their homes outright, Gooseberry Hill sits far above the national ownership norm, a sign of accumulated wealth rather than active debt-driven buying. Household income lands in the 82.7th percentile nationally, and the median age of 49 is 9 years above the national figure. The suburb is almost entirely detached housing at 96.8%, and only 7.2% of residents rent, compared to the national average of around 30%. Population growth is slow at 0.46% annually, and the demographic trajectory is clearly aging, with the senior share rising 6.8 points over a decade.
Population
3,323
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,169/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$535K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price sits at $535,000, below the WA state median for established outer-metropolitan locations. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,253, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.0%, which is below the 30% stress threshold, making repayments manageable compared to many other markets. Nearly all dwellings are separate houses at 96.8%, and 61.3% have 4 or more bedrooms, so buyers are primarily choosing large family homes on generous blocks. Only 40.4% of residents carry a mortgage, while 52.5% own outright, meaning the resale market is dominated by long-established owners rather than recent purchasers. The combination of lower entry cost and lower debt burden than inner-ring suburbs makes this an accessible owner-occupier market.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at $535,000, below the WA state median for established outer-metropolitan locations. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,253, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.0%, which is below the 30% stress threshold, making repayments manageable compared to many other markets. Nearly all dwellings are separate houses at 96.8%, and 61.3% have 4 or more bedrooms, so buyers are primarily choosing large family homes on generous blocks. Only 40.4% of residents carry a mortgage, while 52.5% own outright, meaning the resale market is dominated by long-established owners rather than recent purchasers. The combination of lower entry cost and lower debt burden than inner-ring suburbs makes this an accessible owner-occupier market.
For Investors
The rental market in Gooseberry Hill is very thin: only 7.2% of dwellings are rented, well below the national average, and the vacancy rate is 6.1%, indicating more supply than active demand at any given time. Weekly rent of $400 against a $535,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.9%, modest but not negligible. Overseas migration drives net population gains of 142 residents a year, but internal migration adds just 24 annually, suggesting limited organic churn. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, consistent with an established, low-turnover suburb. The low renter share and high vacancy rate point to an owner-occupier market where investment returns depend more on long-term capital appreciation than rental income.
Schools in Gooseberry Hill iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Mary's Mount Primary School
PP-6 · 196 students
Gooseberry Hill Primary School
K-6 · 429 students
Demographics
The median age of 49 is 9.0 years above the national figure, making Gooseberry Hill one of the older suburban demographics in WA. The senior share rose 6.8 points over a decade while the working-age share fell 4.0 points, reinforcing an aging trajectory. University-qualified residents reach 39.4%, which is 9.3 points above the national average, reflecting a professional and managerial household base. Overseas-born residents account for 33.2%, some 11.6 points above national. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,722), Scottish (461) and Irish (389). Average household size of 2.6 is modestly above the national figure, consistent with the large proportion of couples with children and the dominance of 4-plus bedroom homes. Volunteering reaches 25.5% of residents, above typical suburban rates.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.8%
Houses
2.6%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Gooseberry Hill is almost exclusively a detached-house suburb, with 96.8% of dwellings being separate houses and apartments making up just 0.6%, compared to the national average of around 14% apartments. The dominant configuration is large: 61.3% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, and 3-bedroom dwellings account for 30.3%. Tenure is heavily weighted toward outright ownership at 52.5%, with only 40.4% carrying a mortgage and 7.2% renting, the latter far below national norms. The median house price is estimated at $535,000, and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,253. Rent-to-income sits at 18.4%, below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 24.0% is also below stress levels, giving the suburb a financially stable owner-occupier profile.
Mortgage / mo
$2,253
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$918
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
81
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.4%
Couples, no children
2,861
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare and Education are the two largest employing industries at 15.3% and 14.5% respectively, together accounting for nearly 30% of local workers. Professional/Tech follows at 11.7%, Construction at 9.2% and Mining at 8.9%, the last reflecting WA's broader resources economy. By occupation, Professionals (476) and Managers (286) dominate, consistent with household incomes in the 82.7th percentile nationally. The unemployment rate is low at 3.9%, and 60.7% of employed residents work full-time. Participation at 57.7% is moderate, partly because 1,013 residents are not in the labour force, which reflects the older median age of 49. Real income growth over the decade was negative at -2.0%, meaning wage gains did not outpace inflation, though absolute income levels remain high.
Unemployment
2.6%
Labour Force
8,793
Unemployed
230
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.7%
Part-time
35.4%
Participation
57.7%
Employed
1,541
Occupations
Top Industries
University
39.4%
Postgraduate
10.0%
Born Overseas
33.2%
Dwellings
1,247
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 89.9% of residents drive to work, and only 3.6% use public transport, lower than the national average of around 9%, reflecting the suburb's low-density, outer-metropolitan location in the Perth hills. Walking and cycling account for just 1.7% of commutes. No crime rate data is available in the dataset, though as an indirect indicator, the low renter share and high outright ownership rate are consistent with a stable, low-turnover community. Only 3.7% of residents need daily assistance, and housing stress is absent, with both rent-to-income (18.4%) and mortgage-to-income (24.0%) below standard stress thresholds. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring areas. Turnover is low at 13.3%, meaning 86.7% of residents stayed put, pointing to strong residential attachment.
Drive
89.9%
Public Transport
3.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.46%/yr
(+75 people/yr)
EstablishedGooseberry Hill grows slowly, at 0.46% annually or around 75 persons per year, and is classified as an established, slow-growth suburb. Over 10 years the population rose 4.2%, modest by comparison to fast-growing outer suburbs in WA. Overseas migration provides the larger driver at 142 net arrivals annually, versus 24 from internal migration. Medium forecasts project the broader area population reaching approximately 16,603 by 2031, broadly flat relative to current levels. The gentrification score is 0 and the suburb is classified as not gentrifying, with rent growth of 13.6% over the period but no compositional shift in demographics. Affordability improved slightly from 48.1% in 2011 to 45.3% in 2021, though the suburb remains in the higher-income tier with household income at the 82.7th percentile nationally.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+142
Net Internal / yr
+24
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Gooseberry Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gooseberry Hill a good suburb to live in?
Gooseberry Hill suits owner-occupiers who value space and stability. Household income sits in the 82.7th percentile nationally, 96.8% of homes are detached houses, and 52.5% of residents own outright. Housing stress is absent, with mortgage-to-income at 24.0% and rent-to-income at 18.4%, both well below stress thresholds. Car dependence is high given the outer-metropolitan location, with 89.9% driving to work.
What is the median house price in Gooseberry Hill?
The median house price is estimated at $535,000, below many established outer-metropolitan Perth markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,253, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.0% is below the 30% stress level. Weekly rent averages $400 for the small renter segment, which is just 7.2% of households.
What schools are in Gooseberry Hill?
No schools are recorded inside the Gooseberry Hill suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local adult population is well-educated, with 39.4% holding university qualifications, which is 9.3 percentage points above the national average.
Is Gooseberry Hill safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Gooseberry Hill are not available in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb has very low residential turnover at 13.3%, minimal renting at 7.2%, and only 3.7% of the 3,323 residents need daily assistance. These patterns are consistent with a stable, low-disadvantage community.
Is Gooseberry Hill good for property investment?
The investment case is modest. The renter pool is just 7.2% of dwellings, well below national averages, and the vacancy rate is 6.1%, meaning supply outpaces rental demand. Weekly rent of $400 against a $535,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.9%. Overseas migration adds 142 net arrivals annually, but population growth is only 0.46% per year, limiting near-term capital growth catalysts.
How is Gooseberry Hill's population changing?
Population is growing slowly at 0.46% annually, adding around 75 persons per year. The 10-year rise was 4.2%, and overseas migration of 142 net arrivals annually is the primary driver. The demographic profile is aging, with the senior share up 6.8 points and working-age share down 4.0 points over the decade. Medium projections hold growth broadly flat through 2031.
What languages are spoken in Gooseberry Hill?
About 33.2% of residents were born overseas, which is 11.6 percentage points above the national figure. English dominates day-to-day life, with Italian (13 speakers) and French (11) the most common non-English languages recorded. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,722), Scottish (461) and Irish (389) backgrounds.
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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