Hocking
Detached houses make up 93.2% of Hocking's stock and 71.3% of homes carry four or more bedrooms, marking this northern Perth suburb as built almost entirely for families rather than downsizers or renters. The median age of 34 sits 6 years below the national median, and 64.1% of households are paying off a mortgage, the signature of a recent family-formation belt. Household income reaches the 84.6th percentile nationally, yet the median house price of $502,000 stays affordable because that income buys far more in outer Perth than in the eastern capitals. Overseas-born residents at 37.1% run 15.5 points above the national share, giving the suburb a stronger migrant presence than its quiet, car-dependent layout might suggest.
Population
6,987
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,234/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$502K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a median house price of $502,000, Hocking is materially cheaper than most metropolitan Perth, and the affordability holds because the suburb is overwhelmingly large-format family housing: 93.2% separate houses with 71.3% offering four or more bedrooms and 27.7% with three. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,965 translate to a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 20.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, which explains why 64.1% of households carry a mortgage without triggering the stress flag. Outright owners sit at 20.3% and renters at only 15.6%, a much lower tenant share than the national average. Average household size of 2.9 runs 0.4 above national, consistent with families filling those four-bedroom homes rather than couples or singles.
For Buyers
At a median house price of $502,000, Hocking is materially cheaper than most metropolitan Perth, and the affordability holds because the suburb is overwhelmingly large-format family housing: 93.2% separate houses with 71.3% offering four or more bedrooms and 27.7% with three. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,965 translate to a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 20.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, which explains why 64.1% of households carry a mortgage without triggering the stress flag. Outright owners sit at 20.3% and renters at only 15.6%, a much lower tenant share than the national average. Average household size of 2.9 runs 0.4 above national, consistent with families filling those four-bedroom homes rather than couples or singles.
For Investors
Hocking is a thin rental market: only 15.6% of homes are rented, well below the national average, and the housing stock is 93.2% separate houses, so investors compete for the same family tenants who mostly prefer to buy here. Weekly rent of $400 against the $502,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, stronger than the sub-2% yields common in inner eastern capitals. The vacancy rate of 3.4% points to a balanced rather than tight market. Demand support comes from net overseas migration averaging 148 a year plus net internal migration of 47, both positive, against zero recorded development applications in the past 12 months, meaning little new supply is being added to absorb that growth.
Schools in Hocking iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School
PP-6 · 218 students
Hocking Primary School
K-6 · 527 students
Demographics
Hocking skews young and family-heavy: the median age of 34 is 6 years below the national median, and couples with children (3,006 families) outnumber couples without children (1,207) by more than two to one. Overseas-born residents at 37.1% sit 15.5 points above the national share, yet ancestry is still Anglo-led, with English (2,734), Irish (612) and Scottish (546) the top reported origins and Italian (395) next. University qualification at 30.1% lands almost exactly on the national figure, a 0.0 point gap, so this is a credentialed-but-not-elite population. Gujarati (61) and Afrikaans (51) lead the non-English languages, reflecting South Asian and South African migration layered onto the Anglo-Celtic base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.2%
Houses
6.8%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure here is dominated by mortgaged owners at 64.1%, with outright owners at 20.3% and renters at just 15.6%, a far lower tenant share than the national average and a clear marker of a recent owner-occupier estate. The built form is 93.2% separate houses and only 6.8% semi-detached, with no apartment stock recorded. Bedroom counts confirm the family orientation: 71.3% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 27.7% have three, while one- and two-bedroom homes together make up barely 1.1%. Despite the median house price of $502,000, both mortgage-to-income (20.3%) and rent-to-income (17.9%) ratios sit below stress thresholds, because household income reaches the 84.6th percentile nationally and absorbs the cost easily.
Mortgage / mo
$1,965
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$956
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.4%
Unoccupied
84
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.0%
Couples, no children
6,047
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the single largest employer at 17.0% (422 workers), followed by Education at 12.0% (298) and Construction at 11.1% (275), with Professional/Tech at 8.5% (211) and Retail at 6.9% (172) rounding out the top five. Professionals lead the occupation mix at 746, ahead of Clerical/Admin (506) and Community/Personal (472), a profile tilted toward services rather than knowledge-economy specialisation. Full-time employment runs at 66.3% and unemployment at 4.5%, near the national average, while participation of 68.9% is healthy. The SEIFA scores tell a split story: the IER decile of 9 reflects strong economic resources from those high family incomes, but the IEO decile of 5 sits only at the national midpoint because education and occupation prestige are average rather than elite.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
9,060
Unemployed
315
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.3%
Part-time
29.2%
Participation
68.9%
Employed
3,530
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.1%
Postgraduate
5.5%
Born Overseas
37.1%
Dwellings
2,361
Transport to Work
Hocking is built around the car: 90.0% of commuters drive, public transport covers just 3.7% and walking or cycling only 0.6%, which is the structural trade-off of a low-density outer estate at 2,879 people per square kilometre across 2.43 square kilometres. Residential stability is high, with a turnover rate of 17.7% meaning 82.3% of residents stayed put, typical of settled owner-occupier families rather than churning renters. The need-for-assistance rate of 3.0% (204 people) is low, and the volunteering rate of 14.0% points to an engaged community. The IRSAD decile of 7 places the suburb above the national midpoint on combined advantage, and the absence of recorded crime statistics for the suburb means safety cannot be quantified here, though the high stability and low disadvantage are favourable signals.
Drive
90.0%
Public Transport
3.7%
Walk / Cycle
0.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.48%/yr
(+369 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 2.48% a year, around 369 persons, and the area has expanded 34.2% over the past decade, a pace well above most established suburbs and consistent with a sustained high-growth corridor in Perth's north. The primary driver is overseas migration, averaging 148 net arrivals a year, more than three times the net internal migration of 47, so the demand is led from abroad rather than interstate. The trajectory is labelled aging: the senior share rose 5.8 points while the working-age share fell 2.9 points and the young share dropped 1.7 points, a normal maturing pattern as the original family buyers grow older in place. Affordability improved from 51.0% in 2011 to 43.6% in 2021, and the gentrification score of 30 signals early-stage change. One caution: real income fell 2.4% over the decade, so nominal prosperity outran real wage gains.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+148
Net Internal / yr
+47
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +44% since 2011, Accelerating: 15% → 25%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hocking compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hocking a good suburb to live in?
Hocking suits families: 93.2% of homes are separate houses and 71.3% have four or more bedrooms, with a settled population where 82.3% of residents stayed put. The IRSAD decile of 7 sits above the national midpoint, and mortgage-to-income of 20.3% keeps it affordable. The main trade-off is car dependence, with 90.0% of commuters driving.
What is the median house price in Hocking?
The median house price is $502,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. That is well below most metropolitan Perth medians and stays affordable because household income reaches the 84.6th percentile nationally. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,965, a 20.3% mortgage-to-income ratio that is below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Hocking?
No schools are recorded within the Hocking suburb boundary in this dataset, so families typically rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. With 71.3% of homes having four or more bedrooms and couples with children making up 3,006 families, school access in adjacent areas is a key consideration for buyers here.
Is Hocking safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Hocking in this dataset, so safety cannot be quantified directly. Supporting signals are favourable: residential stability is high with 82.3% of residents staying, the need-for-assistance rate is low at 3.0%, and the IRSAD decile of 7 sits above the national midpoint, all consistent with a settled family suburb.
Is Hocking good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $400 against the $502,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.1%, stronger than the sub-2% yields in inner eastern capitals. The vacancy rate is a balanced 3.4%. The catch is a thin rental pool, with only 15.6% of homes rented, well below national, since most residents are owner-occupier families.
How is Hocking's population changing?
Hocking is growing 2.48% a year, about 369 people, and has expanded 34.2% over the past decade. Overseas migration is the main driver at 148 net arrivals annually, with net internal migration of 47. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 5.8 points and the working-age share down 2.9 points.
What languages are spoken in Hocking?
With 37.1% of residents born overseas, 15.5 points above the national share, Hocking has notable language diversity beyond English. The leading non-English languages are Gujarati (61 speakers), Afrikaans (51) and Mandarin (37), reflecting South Asian and South African migration layered onto the suburb's Anglo-Celtic majority.
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 Hocking on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map