High Wycombe
Detached housing dominates High Wycombe: 96.3% of dwellings are separate houses and only 0.1% are apartments, so the suburb sits well below inner Perth density even with 12,198 residents. The household income percentile is 61.8 nationally, while the median age of 38 is 2 years below the national benchmark. Compared with nearby Forrestfield and Maida Vale, it reads as a family and mortgage corridor, with 47.2% of homes mortgaged and an aging trajectory beginning to show.
Population
12,198
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,758/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$461K
Estimated from rent (2025)
For homebuyers, High Wycombe is primarily a detached house market rather than an apartment option: 96.3% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 3.6% semi detached and 0.1% apartments. Larger homes dominate, with 51.6% having 4 or more bedrooms and 41.5% having 3. The median house price is not available, so affordability is better judged through costs: median mortgage payments are $1,733 a month and mortgage to income is 22.8%, slightly higher than rent to income at 21.6% because ownership costs sit above the $380 weekly rent benchmark.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, High Wycombe is primarily a detached house market rather than an apartment option: 96.3% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 3.6% semi detached and 0.1% apartments. Larger homes dominate, with 51.6% having 4 or more bedrooms and 41.5% having 3. The median house price is not available, so affordability is better judged through costs: median mortgage payments are $1,733 a month and mortgage to income is 22.8%, slightly higher than rent to income at 21.6% because ownership costs sit above the $380 weekly rent benchmark.
For Investors
Investors get a moderate rental pool rather than a renter heavy market: 22.6% of households rent, below the 47.2% with a mortgage. Median rent is $380 a week, and rent to income is 21.6%, so tenant affordability looks relatively contained compared with markets where rent absorbs a larger income share. Vacancy is 6.4%, which is higher than a tight market and can weaken pricing power. With 0 development approvals in 12 months, supply pressure is limited, but demand growth depends on overseas migration rather than new local construction.
Schools in High Wycombe iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School
PP-6 · 211 students
High Wycombe Primary School
K-6 · 387 students
Edney Primary School
K-6 · 386 students
Demographics
High Wycombe has 12,198 residents with a median age of 38, which is 2 years below the national comparison and points to a still working age suburb despite an aging shift. Overseas born residents make up 25.2%, 3.6 percentage points above the national benchmark, while university attainment is 19.4%, or 10.7 points lower. English ancestry is the largest group at 5,353 people, followed by Scottish 1,186 and Irish 1,120; Christianity is the main listed religion at 4,905 people.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.3%
Houses
3.6%
Townhouse
0.1%
Apartment
Tenure
High Wycombe's housing stock is settled and owner leaning: 30.2% own outright, 47.2% are paying a mortgage and 22.6% rent, so ownership is higher than the rental share because detached family homes dominate. Separate houses account for 96.3% of dwellings, compared with only 0.1% apartments. Bedroom mix reinforces that pattern, with 51.6% at 4 or more bedrooms and 41.5% at 3 bedrooms. Price to income cannot be read without a median sale price, but repayments of $1,733 a month equal 22.8% of income.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$839
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.4%
Unoccupied
314
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.9%
Couples, no children
9,634
Total families
Economy & Employment
The labour market blends care, public services and blue collar work. Healthcare leads at 15.1% of jobs, followed by Education 10.1%, Mining 9.9%, Construction 9.5% and Transport 7.8%; that mix explains why Machinery and Drivers count 814 workers, higher than the 779 Professionals count. Full time work is strong at 66.4%, while unemployment is 5.3% and participation 62.5%. SEIFA is uneven: IEO decile 2, IER decile 7, IRSD decile 5 and IRSAD decile 4, reflecting lower education scores but better resources.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
7,764
Unemployed
333
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.4%
Part-time
28.3%
Participation
62.5%
Employed
5,851
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.4%
Postgraduate
2.6%
Born Overseas
25.2%
Dwellings
4,569
Transport to Work
Daily life is car based, with 88.9% of commuters driving and only 4.0% using public transport, so convenience depends on road access more than walkable errands; walking and cycling are just 1.4%. Education is primary focused, with 3 local schools and an ICSEA range from 972 to 1056. Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary sits highest at 1056, while government options sit at 972. IRSAD decile 4 is below the upper half nationally, pointing to mixed socioeconomic advantage rather than premium positioning.
Drive
88.9%
Public Transport
4.0%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.76%/yr
(+101 people/yr)
EstablishedHigh Wycombe is growing slowly rather than resetting. The current trend adds 0.76% a year, about 101 people annually, taking the medium population path from 13,342 in 2026 to 13,848 in 2031. Migration is the main driver because overseas migration averages 137 net people a year, compared with net internal migration of -8. The shift is aging: senior share is up 5.6 points and young share down 2.0, while the gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+137
Net Internal / yr
-8
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How High Wycombe compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is High Wycombe a good suburb to live in?
High Wycombe suits buyers who want space and car access: 96.3% of dwellings are separate houses, 51.6% have 4 or more bedrooms and 88.9% of commuters drive. It is less suited to apartment buyers or public transport first households, with only 0.1% apartments and 4.0% public transport commuting.
What is the median house price in High Wycombe?
The median house price is not available, so use holding costs as the local affordability guide. Median mortgage repayments are $1,733 a month, median rent is $380 a week, and mortgage to income is 22.8%, only slightly higher than rent to income at 21.6%.
What schools are in High Wycombe?
High Wycombe has 3 local primary schools. Matthew Gibney Catholic Primary School has ICSEA 1056 and enrolment 211, while High Wycombe Primary and Edney Primary are government schools with ICSEA 972 and enrolments of 387 and 386.
Is High Wycombe safe?
Treat safety by street and time of day rather than by a single suburb label. High Wycombe covers 10.47 sq km, has 12,198 residents and is 96.3% separate houses, so quieter residential pockets can feel different from main roads and shops.
Is High Wycombe good for property investment?
High Wycombe is a cautious investment case rather than a pure rental market. Renters are 22.6% of households, median rent is $380 a week and vacancy is 6.4%, higher than a very tight market. With 0 approvals in 12 months, new supply pressure looks limited.
How is High Wycombe's population changing?
Population change is steady. The trend adds 0.76% a year, or about 101 people, and the medium path rises from 13,342 in 2026 to 13,848 in 2031. Overseas migration is the main driver at 137 net people a year, compared with internal migration at -8.
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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