Highgate
At 0.42 km2 with 2,326 residents, Highgate is one of Perth's most compact and renter-heavy inner suburbs, where 57.5% of households rent and apartments account for 53.1% of dwellings. The median age of 34 sits 6 years below the national figure, reflecting a young professional population: 53.5% hold university qualifications, which is 23.4 points above the national rate. Household income ranks in the 67th percentile nationally, comfortable but not premium, and the estimated median house price of $454,000 sits well below Perth's broader inner-ring market. A 13.3% vacancy rate signals genuine oversupply in the apartment segment, which shapes the investment case significantly.
Population
2,326
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,852/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Median House
$454K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $454,000 is low relative to Perth's inner suburbs, primarily because the stock is 53.1% apartments and 25.4% semi-detached, leaving separate houses at just 21.1% of all dwellings. Buyers seeking a standalone home compete for genuinely scarce supply within 0.42 km2. The bedroom profile skews small: 27.7% of dwellings have 0-1 bedrooms and 41.5% have 2, with 3-bedroom dwellings at 25.3% and 4-plus at only 5.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,752, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8%, below the 30% stress threshold, so purchase costs are manageable for median-income earners. The suburb scores decile 9 on the IEO index, higher than most Perth suburbs by educational advantage.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $454,000 is low relative to Perth's inner suburbs, primarily because the stock is 53.1% apartments and 25.4% semi-detached, leaving separate houses at just 21.1% of all dwellings. Buyers seeking a standalone home compete for genuinely scarce supply within 0.42 km2. The bedroom profile skews small: 27.7% of dwellings have 0-1 bedrooms and 41.5% have 2, with 3-bedroom dwellings at 25.3% and 4-plus at only 5.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,752, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8%, below the 30% stress threshold, so purchase costs are manageable for median-income earners. The suburb scores decile 9 on the IEO index, higher than most Perth suburbs by educational advantage.
For Investors
Highgate's rental market is deep: 57.5% of residents rent, well above the national average, and weekly rent sits at $365. Against the $454,000 median, that implies a gross yield near 4.2%, materially better than many inner Perth markets. The constraint is the 13.3% vacancy rate, which is elevated and points to apartment oversupply, so stock selection matters. One-bedroom and studio dwellings at 27.7% of the suburb face the toughest competition. Development activity was light at 11 applications in the past 12 months, mostly alterations, suggesting limited new supply pressure near term. The 36.2% annual turnover rate means tenant demand cycles quickly, and a median age of 34 underpins steady renter cohort renewal as young professionals move through the area.
Development Activity
Total DAs
15
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+266.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$90K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Highgate iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Sacred Heart Primary School
PP-6 · 180 students
Highgate Primary School
K-6 · 943 students
Demographics
Highgate's median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, driven by a concentration of young professionals: 53.5% hold university qualifications, which is 23.4 points above national, and the Professionals occupation group leads with 566 workers compared to Managers at 216. Overseas-born residents account for 40.3% of the population, which is 18.7 points above national, and ancestry is diverse, led by English (746), Irish (245), Italian (209) and Scottish (198). Average household size of 1.8 is 0.7 below national, consistent with the dominant couples-without-children and single-person household profile: 50.7% of families are couples without children. Languages spoken include Cantonese, Mandarin, Italian and Korean, reflecting the internationally mobile resident base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
21.1%
Houses
25.4%
Townhouse
53.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure divides sharply: 57.5% of residents rent, 23.6% carry a mortgage and only 18.8% own outright, which is a renter-majority profile uncommon outside the inner city. The stock is 53.1% apartments, 25.4% semi-detached and 21.1% separate houses, making detached homes scarce within this 0.42 km2 boundary. Two-bedroom dwellings at 41.5% dominate, suited to the 1.8-person average household. Rent-to-income sits at 19.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, so affordability is manageable for current tenants despite the high renter share. Mortgage holders face 21.8% of income in repayments, also below stress levels. The 13.3% vacancy rate is the key risk signal, indicating the apartment segment is not fully absorbed at current rent levels of $365 per week.
Mortgage / mo
$1,752
Rent / wk
$365
HH Size
1.8
Personal Income / wk
$1,194
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.3%
Unoccupied
178
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.7%
Couples, no children
1,267
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in knowledge and care sectors: Professional/Tech employs 18.9% of workers (213 people), Healthcare 15.2% (171), Education 9.1% (102) and Public Admin 8.9% (100), with Hospitality rounding out the top five at 8.3%. Professionals account for 566 of all employed residents, the dominant occupation group, well ahead of Managers at 216 and Community/Personal at 177. Full-time employment runs at 69.3% and unemployment at 4.4%, comparable to the broader Perth labour market. The SEIFA IEO decile of 9 reflects high educational and occupational advantage, ranking above most WA suburbs, while the IER decile of 2 is low because the 57.5% renter base suppresses household wealth measures. Personal weekly income averages $1,194 and household weekly income $1,852, placing the suburb in the 67th percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.3%
Part-time
26.3%
Participation
69.5%
Employed
1,405
Occupations
Top Industries
University
53.5%
Postgraduate
16.0%
Born Overseas
40.3%
Dwellings
1,167
Transport to Work
Walking and cycling account for 13.8% of journeys, a higher active-transport share than most Perth suburbs, and public transport reaches 18.5%, with car dependence at 61.5%, below average nationally. The suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD, placing it above 70% of Australian suburbs by advantage and opportunity. Rent-to-income at 19.7% keeps tenants below the 30% financial stress threshold. No schools are recorded within the 0.42 km2 boundary, so families depend on institutions in neighbouring Northbridge and Mount Lawley. The need-for-assistance rate is 3.4% (73 residents), in line with a young median age of 34. Volunteering reaches 18.3% of residents, higher than many inner-city suburbs of similar density, pointing to a community that is engaged despite high annual turnover.
Drive
61.5%
Public Transport
18.5%
Walk / Cycle
13.8%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Highgate compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Highgate a good suburb to live in?
Highgate scores decile 8 on the IRSAD advantage index, placing it above 70% of Australian suburbs. The median age is 34, six years below national, and 53.5% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 23.4 points above national. Walkability and public transport access are strong for Perth. The main trade-offs are limited separate-house stock at 21.1% and a 13.3% apartment vacancy rate.
What is the median house price in Highgate?
The estimated median house price is $454,000, based on 2025 rent data. Weekly rent averages $365 and monthly mortgage repayments run $1,752, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8%, which is below the 30% financial stress threshold. The high 57.5% renter share means most residents access the suburb through renting rather than purchase.
What schools are in Highgate?
No schools are recorded within the Highgate boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers only 0.42 km2, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Northbridge, Mount Lawley and North Perth. Despite no local schools, Highgate's population is highly educated, with 53.5% holding university qualifications, which is 23.4 points above the national rate.
Is Highgate safe?
Detailed suburb-level crime statistics are not available for Highgate in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 7 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, above the national midpoint, and only 3.4% of residents (73 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a relatively low-disadvantage profile for an inner Perth suburb.
Is Highgate good for property investment?
Rent of $365 per week against a $454,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.2%, higher than many inner Perth markets. The 57.5% renter share guarantees a deep tenant pool. The caution is the 13.3% vacancy rate, which signals apartment oversupply. Investors who focus on well-positioned 2-bedroom stock targeting young professionals are better placed than those buying in the studio segment.
How is Highgate's population changing?
Highgate has a mobile population with a 36.2% annual turnover rate, meaning only 63.8% of residents stayed in the same address year-on-year. The suburb attracts young professionals in their 30s, with a median age of 34 that is 6 years below national. High educational draw and proximity to Perth CBD sustain cohort renewal, but the 0.42 km2 area limits total population growth.
What languages are spoken in Highgate?
About 40.3% of Highgate residents were born overseas, which is 18.7 points above the national figure. The most common non-English languages spoken at home are Cantonese (20 speakers), Mandarin (17), Italian (16), Korean (13) and Portuguese (12), reflecting the internationally mobile young professional community that characterises the suburb.
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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