Herne Hill
At 46, Herne Hill's median age sits 6 years above the national figure, while its 1,542 residents occupy 17.26 square kilometres at only 89.3 people per square kilometre. Compared with nearby Guildford and Middle Swan, it presents a more detached, low-density profile: 97.3% of dwellings are separate houses and 52.0% contain four or more bedrooms. The 83.3% staying rate points to an established population, while 10.3% vacancy alongside a 13.3% renter share warrants careful attention to tenant demand.
Local council: Swan
Population
1,542
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,679/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
48
Herne Hill suits buyers seeking land and larger detached homes rather than apartment stock. Separate houses account for 97.3% of dwellings, far higher than the 2.0% apartment share, while 52.0% contain four or more bedrooms and 39.7% have three. That mix matters because buyers are choosing from a predominantly family-sized housing base. The mortgage repayment reference is $1,831 per month, with mortgage costs equal to 25.2% of household income, compared with rent at $335 a week and 20.0% of income. With no reliable suburb median house price, buyers should compare recent sales by bedroom count, lot and condition. The 45.0% outright ownership rate also points to an established owner base.
For Buyers
Herne Hill suits buyers seeking land and larger detached homes rather than apartment stock. Separate houses account for 97.3% of dwellings, far higher than the 2.0% apartment share, while 52.0% contain four or more bedrooms and 39.7% have three. That mix matters because buyers are choosing from a predominantly family-sized housing base. The mortgage repayment reference is $1,831 per month, with mortgage costs equal to 25.2% of household income, compared with rent at $335 a week and 20.0% of income. With no reliable suburb median house price, buyers should compare recent sales by bedroom count, lot and condition. The 45.0% outright ownership rate also points to an established owner base.
For Investors
Investor conditions are mixed. Weekly rent is $335 and rent represents 20.0% of household income, while only 13.3% of households rent, below the 45.0% owning outright and 39.1% paying a mortgage. The 10.3% vacancy rate is the main risk because a relatively small renter base can make leasing outcomes more sensitive to property type and tenant demand. Rent growth is 6.7%, but the absence of a suburb sale median prevents a sound gross-yield calculation. Development activity reached 31 matters in 12 months, so nearby additions should be checked for their effect on competition. Balanced migration supports neither a clear tenant surge nor a clear contraction.
Development Activity
Total DAs
48
Last 12 Months
48
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 Herne Hill
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
HERNE HILL PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Herne Hill's median age is 46, which is 6 years above the national comparison, and the Aging trajectory is visible in a 3.5 percentage-point rise in senior share alongside a 0.5-point fall in young share. University attainment is 18.9%, 11.2 points below the national level, while 22.3% were born overseas, only 0.7 points above the national comparison. English ancestry is recorded for 659 people, followed by Italian at 196, Irish at 136 and Scottish at 122. Compared with nearby Guildford and Middle Swan, the profile is more established and Anglo-leaning, with 83.3% staying at the same address and an average household size of 2.7, 0.2 above national.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.3%
Houses
0.7%
Townhouse
2.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Herne Hill is overwhelmingly detached: 97.3% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 2.0% apartments and 0.7% semi-detached homes. The stock leans large, with 52.0% containing four or more bedrooms versus 39.7% with three bedrooms. Tenure is more owner-based than rental-based: 45.0% own outright and 39.1% hold a mortgage, compared with 13.3% renting. That structure supports stability because owners comprise the large majority, but it can narrow choice for renters. Mortgage costs are 25.2% of household income, above rent's 20.0%. The forecast affordability trend is labelled Improving, with measures recorded at 50.3 in 2011 and 43.7 in 2021. Compared with nearby Guildford and Middle Swan, Herne Hill is more detached and land-oriented.
Mortgage / mo
$1,831
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$335
Census 2021
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$717
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.3%
Unoccupied
63
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.8%
Couples with children
42.3%
Couples, no children
13.3%
Single parent
452
Total families
Economy & Employment
Herne Hill's work profile is led by construction at 15.1% of local employment, representing 64 people, followed by healthcare at 12.5% with 53, mining at 9.2% with 39, education at 8.7% with 37 and retail at 7.8% with 33. Trades are the largest occupation at 158 people, ahead of clerical and administration at 99, managers at 98, professionals at 98 and labourers at 84, so the employment mix is more hands-on than university-led. Unemployment is 3.8% with 61.1% participation, and 55.6% work full time. Household income of $1,679 weekly sits at the 58.3rd percentile, above the midpoint, but IEO is decile 3 versus IER decile 6. IRSD and IRSAD both sit at decile 4, below the midpoint, indicating a mixed socioeconomic profile.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
786
Unemployed
30
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.6%
Part-time
38.0%
Participation
61.1%
Employed
756
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.9%
Postgraduate
2.9%
Born Overseas
22.3%
Dwellings
554
Transport to Work
Herne Hill is practical for drivers, with 74.5% commuting as car drivers, compared with 2.6% using public transport and 2.7% walking or cycling; 15.8% work from home. That split matters because low-density housing across 17.26 square kilometres makes private transport more central to everyday access. One local school is identified: Herne Hill Primary School, a government primary school. Families wanting broader choice should check nearby schools, sector options and enrolment zones against the exact address. Socioeconomic measures are mixed, with IRSAD and IRSD both at decile 4, IER at decile 6 and IEO at decile 3, so access and affordability may vary. Volunteering is 16.6%, supporting local participation.
Drive
74.5%
Public Transport
2.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
15.8%
Growth Outlook
Herne Hill is established, with growth tracking at 1.08% a year and migration labelled Balanced. Population change across the wider area is 9.4% over 10 years, so momentum is positive but measured rather than rapid. The trajectory is Aging: senior share rose 3.5 percentage points while young share fell 0.5 points, which should keep demand focused on established housing and services. Gentrification signals are mixed, with a score of 32 at Early signs, while the shift measure records 15 and Not gentrifying. Rent growth of 6.7% may support investor interest, but the aging pattern and balanced migration temper expectations. Compared with a high-growth redevelopment corridor, Herne Hill's change is more likely to be incremental because detached housing and established tenure dominate.
Population trend: Swan council area
Herne Hill sits in the Swan council area. These are the council area's residents, not Herne Hill's.
Residents 2025
187,090
Growth, 5 yr average
+4.0%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+4.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Herne Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Herne Hill a good suburb to live in?
Herne Hill suits households wanting detached housing, space and a settled setting. The median age is 46, 97.3% of dwellings are separate houses and 74.5% of commuters drive, so it is better suited to car-oriented living than a transit-led lifestyle. One local government primary school is identified, and IRSAD is decile 4.
What is the median house price in Herne Hill?
A current median house price is not available for Herne Hill. Buyers should compare recent sales by bedroom count, land and condition instead. The housing mix is 97.3% separate houses, with 52.0% containing four or more bedrooms and 39.7% containing three bedrooms, so like-for-like comparisons matter more than a single headline figure.
What schools are in Herne Hill?
The local school option is Herne Hill Primary School, a government primary school. The local count is 1, so families wanting broader choice should check nearby schools, sector options and enrolment zones against the exact address. School quality should not be inferred from location alone, and enrolment boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries.
Is Herne Hill safe?
Crime-rate figures are not available for Herne Hill, so a definitive safety comparison would be misleading. Check current police information and visit the area at different times. The suburb has 1,542 residents, a density of 89.3 people per square kilometre and an 83.3% staying rate, offering context about scale and residential stability rather than a safety score.
Is Herne Hill good for property investment?
Investment prospects are mixed. Weekly rent is $335, vacancy is 10.3% and rent growth is 6.7%, while renters make up only 13.3% of households. Development activity reached 31 matters in 12 months. Without a current median sale price, yield cannot be judged reliably from rent alone, so property-level research is essential.
How is Herne Hill's population changing?
Herne Hill is changing gradually rather than explosively. The forecast trend is 1.08% annual growth, with migration labelled Balanced, while population change across the wider area is 9.4% over 10 years. Its trajectory is Aging, with senior share up 3.5 percentage points and young share down 0.5 points.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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