WA 6022 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Hamersley

Detached living dominates Hamersley to a degree few Perth suburbs match: 90.6% of dwellings are separate houses and just 0.3% are apartments, across a 3.31 km2 footprint holding 5,209 residents. The $492,000 median house price keeps the suburb affordable, with the mortgage-to-income ratio at 24.9% and rent-to-income at 20.5%, both below the 30% stress threshold. Household income sits in the 67.1st percentile nationally, and 35.5% of residents hold a university qualification, which is 5.4 points above the national figure. All four SEIFA indexes land on decile 6, a consistently mid-to-upper advantage profile rather than an extreme on either end.

Hamersley urban fabric map

Population

5,209

Median Age

39.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,856/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

27

Median House

$492K

Estimated from rent (2025)

3.31 km²· 1,575.4 people/km²· Family income $2,227/wk

At a $492,000 median, Hamersley reads as a family house market rather than an apartment one, because 90.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 49.3% carry four or more bedrooms, with another 47.7% holding three. Monthly mortgage repayments average about $2,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress line and well under what buyers face in pricier Perth suburbs. Tenure leans toward ownership: 43.3% of households carry a mortgage and 40.5% own outright, so 83.8% are owner-occupiers versus only 16.2% renting. That ownership weight, combined with a low turnover rate of 15.3%, points to a settled buyer base that holds rather than trades, which tends to limit listing supply and steady prices.

For Buyers

At a $492,000 median, Hamersley reads as a family house market rather than an apartment one, because 90.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 49.3% carry four or more bedrooms, with another 47.7% holding three. Monthly mortgage repayments average about $2,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress line and well under what buyers face in pricier Perth suburbs. Tenure leans toward ownership: 43.3% of households carry a mortgage and 40.5% own outright, so 83.8% are owner-occupiers versus only 16.2% renting. That ownership weight, combined with a low turnover rate of 15.3%, points to a settled buyer base that holds rather than trades, which tends to limit listing supply and steady prices.

For Investors

The investor case here is thin on tenant volume but stable. Only 16.2% of households rent, one of the smaller pools you will find, and weekly rent averages $380 against the $492,000 median, implying a gross yield near 4.0%, healthier than inner-city markets. The 5.2% vacancy rate is moderate and rent grew 9.4% over the period, so cash flow holds up better than capital plays in dearer suburbs. Demand support comes from overseas migration averaging 298 residents a year, well above the net internal outflow of 37, and 21 development applications were lodged in 12 months, mostly single-house, patio and carport works rather than new rental stock. With detached houses at 90.6% of dwellings, the suburb suits a buy-and-hold family-rental strategy more than yield-chasing density.

Development Activity

Total DAs

27

Last 12 Months

27

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

New Dwelling
10
Garage / Carport / Shed
6
Deck / Pergola / Patio
4
Renovation / Extension
3
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
2
Other
1
Granny Flat / Secondary Dwelling
1

Schools in Hamersley iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Glendale Primary School

ICSEA 1066 Primary Government

K-6 · 317 students

East Hamersley Primary School

ICSEA 1051 Primary Government

K-6 · 248 students

Demographics

The median age of 39 sits 1.0 year below the national figure, a modestly younger profile reinforced by the young-resident share rising 0.8 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 29.1%, which is 7.5 points above national, yet day-to-day language use stays largely English, with Italian (35 speakers), Macedonian (32) and Cantonese (24) the most common non-English tongues. University qualifications at 35.5% run 5.4 points above national, supporting a professional workforce. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic and Southern European, led by English (2,085), Irish (619), Scottish (476) and Italian (374). Average household size is 2.6, just 0.1 above national, and couples with children (1,915 families) outnumber couples without (1,224), consistent with the larger four-bedroom housing stock.

Age Distribution

0-14
19.7%
15-24
9.5%
25-44
27.4%
45-64
22.3%
65+
21.0%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.4%
2 bed
2.6%
3 bed
47.7%
4+ bed
49.3%

Dwelling Structure

90.6%

Houses

9.2%

Townhouse

0.3%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 40.5% Mortgage 43.3% Rent 16.2%

Tenure tilts firmly to owners: 40.5% own outright and 43.3% carry a mortgage, leaving renters at just 16.2%. Outright owners and mortgage holders being so close, at 83.8% combined, signals a market of long-settled families rather than churn. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 90.6% separate houses, with semi-detached at 9.2% and apartments a negligible 0.3%, so buyers compete almost entirely for standalone homes. Bedroom counts skew large: 49.3% have four or more and 47.7% have three, while one and two-bedroom dwellings together total only 3.0%. At a $492,000 median the price-to-income picture stays manageable, with the mortgage-to-income ratio at 24.9% and rent-to-income at 20.5%, both below the 30% stress threshold, which keeps affordability ahead of most metropolitan Perth.

Mortgage / mo

$2,000

Rent / wk

$380

HH Size

2.6

Personal Income / wk

$892

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

5.2%

Unoccupied

109

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

20.5%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

24.9%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Italian
35
Macedon
32
Canton
24
Mandarin
20
Arabic
18
French
14

Ancestry

English
2,085
Other
625
Irish
619
Scottish
476
Italian
374
Chinese
170

Household Composition

27.9%

Couples, no children

4,383

Total families

Economy & Employment

Employment concentrates in service and trade sectors rather than finance: Healthcare leads at 16.6% (306 workers), Education follows at 14.2% (262) and Construction at 13.9% (256), with Professional/Tech at 9.8% and Public Admin at 8.1%. By occupation, Professionals (712) and Clerical/Admin (342) dominate, ahead of Managers (285), which fits the decile 6 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 4.5% and the full-time rate is 63.8%, while participation reads 60.7%, held down by 1,341 residents not in the labour force. Real incomes grew 10.4% over the decade. All four SEIFA indexes sit at decile 6, IRSD at 1,019 the strongest, indicating a balanced economic base with relatively few residents facing disadvantage rather than concentrated wealth.

Unemployment

3.1%

Labour Force

10,279

Unemployed

321

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
6
Disadvantage
6
Economic resources
6
Education & occupation
6

Full-time

63.8%

Part-time

31.7%

Participation

60.7%

Employed

2,425

Occupations

Professionals 712
Clerical/Admin 342
Managers 285
Community/Personal 281
Labourers 185
Sales 182
Machinery/Drivers 119

Top Industries

Healthcare 16.6%
Education 14.2%
Construction 13.9%
Professional/Tech 9.8%
Public Admin 8.1%

University

35.5%

Postgraduate

6.5%

Born Overseas

29.1%

Dwellings

1,978

Transport to Work

Hamersley is car-dependent: 87.2% of residents drive to work while only 5.8% take public transport and 1.4% walk or cycle, above the national reliance on cars and consistent with a low-density layout of 1,575 residents per km2. No schools are recorded inside the 3.31 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a trade-off for the detached, suburban setting. On advantage measures the suburb scores decile 6 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, a mid-to-upper tier, and only 4.4% of residents (220 people) need daily assistance. Volunteering runs at 17.8% and housing stays comfortable, with rent-to-income at 20.5%, below the 30% pressure line, all pointing to a stable, ownership-heavy residential community.

Drive

87.2%

Public Transport

5.8%

Walk / Cycle

1.4%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+0.84%/yr

(+152 people/yr)

Established

Hamersley is an established suburb on a steady upward path: annual population growth registers 0.84%, about 152 people a year, and the 10-year change is 7.0%, classifying it as slow but positive expansion. The main driver is overseas migration, averaging 298 residents a year, which more than offsets the net internal outflow of 37. The gentrification score reads 30, an early-signs stage, supported by a 14% population rise since 2011 and rent growth of 9.4%. Affordability improved markedly, from 52.4% of income in 2011 to 42.2% in 2021, an improving trend that, combined with real income growth of 10.4%, helps explain why the suburb keeps drawing families despite no COVID dip in its trajectory.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+298

Net Internal / yr

-37

30

Gentrification Signal

Early signs

Population +14% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +298/yr, Accelerating: 1% → 13%

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Hamersley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 11%
Household Income
Top 33%
Rent Level
Top 21%
Apartments
Bottom 4%
Renters
Bottom 38%
Uni Educated
Top 24%
Public Transport
Top 28%
Born Overseas
Top 15%
Density
Top 11%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hamersley a good suburb to live in?

Hamersley scores decile 6 on all four SEIFA indexes, a mid-to-upper advantage tier, with household income in the 67.1st percentile nationally. University qualifications reach 35.5%, 5.4 points above national, and housing stays affordable with a $492,000 median. The main trade-off is heavy car reliance at 87.2% of commuters.

What is the median house price in Hamersley?

The median house price is $492,000, affordable by metropolitan Perth standards. Weekly rent averages $380 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. The implied gross rental yield sits near 4.0%.

What schools are in Hamersley?

No schools are recorded inside the 3.31 km2 Hamersley boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 35.5%, which is 5.4 points above the national figure.

Is Hamersley safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Hamersley in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 6 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, a mid-to-upper tier, and only 4.4% of its 5,209 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a stable, low-disadvantage area.

Is Hamersley good for property investment?

Rent of $380 a week against a $492,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.0%, healthier than inner-city markets, and the vacancy rate is a moderate 5.2%. Renters are only 16.2% of households, so the tenant pool is small, but overseas migration of 298 a year supports steady demand for family rentals.

How is Hamersley's population changing?

Population growth is 0.84% annually, about 152 people a year, with a 7.0% rise over 10 years. The main driver is overseas migration averaging 298 residents annually, offsetting a net internal outflow of 37. The profile is modestly younger, with the young-resident share up 0.8 points over the decade.

What languages are spoken in Hamersley?

About 29.1% of residents were born overseas, 7.5 points above the national figure. English dominates daily use, with Italian (35 speakers), Macedonian (32), Cantonese (24) and Mandarin (20) the most common non-English languages, reflecting an Anglo-Celtic and Southern European resident mix.

How much development is happening in Hamersley?

There were 21 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, modest for the area. Most are single-house builds, patios and carports on existing lots rather than new dwellings, consistent with an established, detached suburb where 90.6% of homes are separate houses and growth runs at 0.84% a year.

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 Hamersley on the Map

View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.

Open Interactive Map

More Suburbs in WA