Helena Valley
Four in ten Helena Valley households own their home outright, a rate that reflects a stable, debt-light community rather than a transient one. With 94.2% of dwellings being separate houses and 63.5% having four or more bedrooms, this is one of Perth's more family-oriented outer suburbs, sitting at 582 persons per km2 across 7.09 km2. Household income lands in the 76.3rd percentile nationally, above most comparable WA suburbs, yet the estimated median house price of around $517,000 remains accessible compared to inner-ring markets. The median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure, and the senior share grew 8.9 points over the decade, signalling a gradually aging population base that still holds a strong working-age core at 60.6% participation.
Population
4,130
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,037/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$517K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $517,000 puts Helena Valley within reach for households earning above the national median, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $2,100 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 94.2%, with four-plus bedroom homes making up 63.5% of dwellings, making this a suburb suited to families rather than downsizers. Only 5.4% are semi-detached and 0.4% are apartments. Weekly rent averages $400, and rent-to-income sits at 19.6%, also below stress levels. With 40.7% of residents owning outright and 47.1% on a mortgage, tenure is stable and long-held, meaning new buyers compete for limited stock in a low-turnover market.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $517,000 puts Helena Valley within reach for households earning above the national median, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $2,100 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 94.2%, with four-plus bedroom homes making up 63.5% of dwellings, making this a suburb suited to families rather than downsizers. Only 5.4% are semi-detached and 0.4% are apartments. Weekly rent averages $400, and rent-to-income sits at 19.6%, also below stress levels. With 40.7% of residents owning outright and 47.1% on a mortgage, tenure is stable and long-held, meaning new buyers compete for limited stock in a low-turnover market.
For Investors
A 12.1% renter share is thin by investor standards, reflecting that Helena Valley is predominantly an owner-occupier suburb. Weekly rent of $400 against an estimated median price of $517,000 gives a gross yield near 4.0%, modest but reasonable for a low-vacancy outer Perth location. The vacancy rate of 6.5% is elevated, suggesting some slack in the rental pool. Net internal migration averages 84 residents a year and overseas migration adds 44, keeping underlying demand steady. Population grew 24.1% over the decade and is forecast to add roughly 108 persons annually, reaching around 7,153 by 2031 in the medium scenario. With only one-year rent growth of 12.5% recorded and low development activity in the past 12 months, the investment case leans on long-run capital growth and population expansion rather than short-term yield.
Schools in Helena Valley iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Helena Valley Primary School
K-6 · 334 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2 years above the national average, and the aging trajectory is clear: the senior share rose 8.9 points while the working-age share fell 3.6 points over the decade. University qualifications reach 24.7%, which is 5.4 points below the national figure, consistent with a skilled-trades and professional mix rather than a knowledge-industry concentration. Overseas-born residents make up 24.0%, which is 2.4 points above the national rate. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,971), Scottish (477) and Irish (390) lead, followed by Other (314) and Italian (282). Average household size of 2.6 is 0.1 above national. Couples with children account for 41.5% of families (1,417 households), while couples without children represent 29.4% (1,005 households), reflecting a suburb that still attracts young families despite its aging overall trend.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.2%
Houses
5.4%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Helena Valley's housing stock is emphatically detached: 94.2% separate houses, 5.4% semi-detached, and just 0.4% apartments. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 63.5%, followed by three-bedroom at 22.3% and two-bedroom at 10.7%. Tenure is weighted toward ownership, with 40.7% owning outright and 47.1% carrying a mortgage, leaving only 12.1% renting, one of the lower renter shares compared to Perth's broader market. The estimated median house price is $517,000, with monthly mortgage repayments around $2,100. Mortgage-to-income at 23.8% and rent-to-income at 19.6% both sit below stress thresholds, indicating the suburb is financially comfortable relative to incomes in the 76.3rd national income percentile. The 77.7% of residents who stayed at the same address over the five-year period confirms a low-turnover, stable community.
Mortgage / mo
$2,100
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$872
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.5%
Unoccupied
104
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.4%
Couples, no children
3,418
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 13.1% (177 workers), followed closely by Education at 12.5% (169), Construction at 10.3% (140) and Mining at 10.1% (136), with Professional and Technical services at 7.5% (101). The Mining component is notable and consistent with Helena Valley's proximity to Perth's eastern industrial and resource corridors. By occupation, Professionals (408) are the largest group, ahead of Clerical and Admin (321), Managers (265), Community and Personal service (217) and Sales (212). The unemployment rate is 3.6%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate is 63.7%. The IRSD decile of 7 indicates low-to-moderate disadvantage nationally, while the IER decile of 8 shows relatively strong economic resources, a gap explained by high home ownership rates lifting wealth measures above income-only comparisons.
Unemployment
2.9%
Labour Force
3,780
Unemployed
110
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.7%
Part-time
32.7%
Participation
60.6%
Employed
1,989
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.7%
Postgraduate
4.6%
Born Overseas
24.0%
Dwellings
1,497
Transport to Work
Helena Valley is a car-dependent suburb: 90.9% of residents drive to work, with only 2.8% using public transport and 1.6% walking or cycling. This is substantially higher car reliance than the national average, reflecting limited public transit links to Perth's CBD and the importance of private vehicle access when choosing to live here. The IRSAD decile of 6 places the suburb in the middle tier nationally on combined advantage and disadvantage, while the IRSD decile of 7 signals relatively low disadvantage. Housing stress is absent: both mortgage-to-income at 23.8% and rent-to-income at 19.6% stay below stress thresholds. The volunteering rate of 17.3% reflects a community with moderate civic engagement, and 4.5% of residents (177 people) need daily assistance, a manageable share given the aging population. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset.
Drive
90.9%
Public Transport
2.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.62%/yr
(+108 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 24.1% over the decade, adding roughly 108 persons per year, and the medium forecast projects the population reaching approximately 7,153 by 2031 from an estimated 6,662 in 2025. Net internal migration averages 84 residents annually and overseas arrivals add 44, making growth balanced between the two channels. The suburb is classified in the early signs of gentrification stage, with a score of 38 out of 100: population has risen 37% since 2011, net internal migration is positive, and the share of higher-earning households is expanding from 13% to 21%. Affordability improved from 42.6% in 2011 to 38.0% in 2021, indicating purchasing costs are becoming more manageable relative to local incomes. The aging trajectory, with the senior share up 8.9 points and the young share down 2.7 points, means long-run growth will be sustained by migration rather than natural increase.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+44
Net Internal / yr
+84
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +37% since 2011, Net internal migration +84/yr, Accelerating: 13% → 21%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Helena Valley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Helena Valley a good suburb to live in?
Helena Valley suits families and established owner-occupiers well. Household income sits in the 76.3rd percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.8% is below the stress threshold, and 40.7% of residents own their home outright. The main trade-off is strong car dependency at 90.9% driving to work, with limited public transport coverage.
What is the median house price in Helena Valley?
The estimated median house price is $517,000, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $2,100. Weekly rent runs around $400, giving a rent-to-income ratio of 19.6%. The suburb's 76.3rd-percentile household income makes purchase costs relatively manageable compared to many Perth markets.
What schools are in Helena Valley?
No schools are recorded within the Helena Valley suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs across the Mundaring and Swan local government areas. The local university qualification rate is 24.7%, which is 5.4 points below the national figure, consistent with a skilled-trades and services workforce.
Is Helena Valley safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Helena Valley in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 7 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, above the national midpoint, and housing stress is absent with both mortgage-to-income (23.8%) and rent-to-income (19.6%) below stress thresholds, consistent with a financially stable, low-disadvantage area.
Is Helena Valley good for property investment?
The investment case is moderate. Weekly rent of $400 against an estimated median of $517,000 implies a gross yield near 4.0%. However, the vacancy rate of 6.5% is elevated and the renter share is only 12.1%, limiting the tenant pool. Population growth of 24.1% over the decade and net migration of 128 per year support long-run demand, favouring capital growth over yield as the primary return driver.
How is Helena Valley's population changing?
Population grew 24.1% over the decade and is forecast to increase by around 108 persons per year, reaching approximately 7,153 by 2031 in the medium scenario. Growth is balanced between net internal migration of 84 per year and overseas arrivals of 44 per year. The profile is gradually aging, with the senior share up 8.9 points and the young adult share down 2.7 points since 2011.
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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