Joondalup
Nearly half of Joondalup's residents (48.4%) were born overseas, 26.8 percentage points above the national average, making it one of Perth's most internationally composed suburbs despite sitting 26 km north of the CBD. Healthcare and Education together employ 31.7% of the workforce, anchored by Joondalup Health Campus and Edith Cowan University. The 10.0% vacancy rate is well above Perth's metro average, suggesting structural supply surplus in a suburb where 41.7% of households rent. Population growth is modest at 0.64% per year, yet overseas migration adds 412 residents annually, completely offset by 74 internal departures and slow natural increase. The senior share expanded 7.2 percentage points over the decade, the sharpest aging signal in this cohort.
Population
9,193
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,688/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$448K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median of $448,000 places Joondalup in Perth's affordable bracket, with monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 translating to a 23.7% mortgage-to-income ratio, comfortably below the 30% stress line. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 41.9% of stock, while three-bedrooms comprise 32.1%, giving family buyers broad choice. Detached housing at 56.9% is lower than typical Perth suburbs because the apartment share reaches 23.7%, reflecting medium-density development near the train station and university. Outright ownership at 24.7% and mortgage holders at 33.6% together total 58.3%, with renters at 41.7% forming a large minority. Lake Joondalup Baptist College (ICSEA 1,102, 1,282 students) provides a Combined school option well above the national benchmark.
For Buyers
The estimated median of $448,000 places Joondalup in Perth's affordable bracket, with monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 translating to a 23.7% mortgage-to-income ratio, comfortably below the 30% stress line. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 41.9% of stock, while three-bedrooms comprise 32.1%, giving family buyers broad choice. Detached housing at 56.9% is lower than typical Perth suburbs because the apartment share reaches 23.7%, reflecting medium-density development near the train station and university. Outright ownership at 24.7% and mortgage holders at 33.6% together total 58.3%, with renters at 41.7% forming a large minority. Lake Joondalup Baptist College (ICSEA 1,102, 1,282 students) provides a Combined school option well above the national benchmark.
For Investors
Renters at 41.7% provide a deep tenant base, nearly 50% above the national renting average. However, the 10.0% vacancy rate is a material concern, pointing to oversupply likely linked to purpose-built student accommodation near Edith Cowan University. At $360/week rent against a $448,000 estimated price, the gross yield sits around 4.2%, stronger than many Perth inner suburbs. Net overseas migration of 412 per year feeds tenant demand, but only 3 development applications were lodged in 12 months, suggesting the pipeline has slowed. The 30.1% residential turnover rate is high compared to Perth's average, consistent with a transient student and migrant population that cycles through leases quickly.
Development Activity
Total DAs
3
Last 12 Months
3
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 Joondalup iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Lake Joondalup Baptist College
PP-12 · 1282 students
Joondalup Primary School
K-6 · 381 students
Demographics
English ancestry leads at 4,035, with Irish (1,065) and Scottish (926) forming the Anglo-Celtic core, but the 48.4% overseas-born share is 26.8 points above national. Mandarin (75), Afrikaans (51), Arabic (34), Persian (33) and Urdu (23) lead non-English languages, reflecting a mix of South African, Middle Eastern and Asian migration streams. The median age of 39 sits 1 year below national, and average household size of 2.3 is below the 2.5 national figure. Couples without children (2,111) slightly outnumber couples with children (2,077), an unusual near-parity that reflects the suburb's mix of young professionals, students and retirees. University qualifications at 32.3% are 2.2 points above the national average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
56.9%
Houses
19.0%
Townhouse
23.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing at 56.9% is lower than Perth's suburban norm because apartments reach 23.7% and semi-detached adds 19.0%. The renter share of 41.7% exceeds both national and Perth metro averages, driven by the university and hospital employment anchors. Mortgage holders at 33.6% and outright owners at 24.7% make up 58.3% of tenure. Four-plus bedrooms dominate at 41.9%, while studios/one-bedrooms reach 8.3%, above typical Perth levels. The estimated median of $448,000 is rent-derived and sits in the lower tier for Perth metro. Mortgage repayments of $1,733/month produce a stress-free 23.7% ratio against household income, and rent-to-income at 21.3% is also moderate.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$815
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.0%
Unoccupied
398
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.7%
Couples, no children
6,260
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 18.5% (613 workers), with Education at 13.2% (439), reflecting the suburb's dual anchors of Joondalup Health Campus and Edith Cowan University. Construction at 8.9% (296), Public Admin at 7.9% (262) and Retail at 7.4% (246) round out the top five. The occupational mix leans heavily toward white-collar: Professionals (1,066), Clerical/Admin (679) and Community/Personal (660). The unemployment rate of 6.3% is above the national average, and the participation rate of 61.5% is moderate. The SEIFA profile is mid-range across all four indices (IEO decile 7, IER decile 6, IRSD decile 7, IRSAD decile 6), consistent with a suburb that mixes institutional employment with lower-income student households.
Unemployment
4.1%
Labour Force
9,525
Unemployed
391
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.7%
Part-time
32.0%
Participation
61.5%
Employed
4,606
Occupations
Top Industries
University
32.3%
Postgraduate
8.0%
Born Overseas
48.4%
Dwellings
3,579
Transport to Work
Public transport at 9.6% is above Perth's suburban average, reflecting the Joondalup train station on the northern line. Car driving at 78.0% and walking/cycling at 6.9% round out commuting. Lake Joondalup Baptist College (ICSEA 1,102, 1,282 students, Independent Combined) provides K-12 education above the national benchmark, while Joondalup Primary School (ICSEA 1,024, 381 students, Government) sits marginally above the 1,000 threshold. All four SEIFA indices sit at decile 6-7, confirming moderate advantage. The 6.1% need-assistance rate (525 people) is above the national average, partly reflecting the suburb's older demographic and proximity to health services. Rent-to-income at 21.3% is moderate.
Drive
78.0%
Public Transport
9.6%
Walk / Cycle
6.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.64%/yr
(+101 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth averages 0.64% per year (101 persons), the slowest rate among comparable Perth suburbs. The 10-year population change of just 0.9% is well below the national average. Net overseas migration of 412 per year is the primary growth engine, but internal outflow of 74 per year partially offsets it. The aging trajectory is pronounced: the senior share expanded 7.2 percentage points over the decade, while the working-age share contracted 0.5 points and the young share fell 1.0 point. Real income growth of just 0.9% over the decade barely keeps pace with inflation, suggesting the suburb's economic position relative to the rest of Perth is declining. The gentrification score of 25 shows early signs but no meaningful displacement dynamics.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+412
Net Internal / yr
-74
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Strong overseas inflow +412/yr, Accelerating: -2% → 10%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Joondalup compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Joondalup a good suburb to live in?
Joondalup suits buyers wanting affordable access ($448,000 estimated median) near major employment anchors. The Joondalup Health Campus and Edith Cowan University provide 31.7% of local jobs. SEIFA scores sit at decile 6-7 across all indices, and public transport use at 9.6% is above Perth's suburban average.
What is the median house price in Joondalup?
The estimated median house price is $448,000 (rent-derived, 2025). Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 produce a 23.7% mortgage-to-income ratio. Median weekly rent is $360, yielding a gross return of approximately 4.2%.
What schools are in Joondalup?
Two schools serve the suburb: Lake Joondalup Baptist College (ICSEA 1,102, 1,282 students, Independent Combined K-12) and Joondalup Primary School (ICSEA 1,024, 381 students, Government). Both score above the national 1,000 ICSEA benchmark.
Is Joondalup safe?
Crime data is not available for Joondalup in the current dataset. SEIFA IRSD decile 7 indicates below-average disadvantage. As a major commercial and hospital district, the suburb handles higher foot traffic than purely residential areas, which can affect certain offence categories.
Is Joondalup good for property investment?
The 41.7% renter share and $360/week rent against a $448,000 price produce approximately 4.2% gross yield. However, the 10.0% vacancy rate is a significant concern, likely inflated by student accommodation cycles. Overseas migration adds 412 people per year, sustaining baseline tenant demand.
How is Joondalup's population changing?
Growth is slow at 0.64% per year (101 persons), with 10-year population change of just 0.9%. The senior share expanded 7.2 percentage points over the decade, the sharpest aging shift in this cohort. Net overseas migration of 412 per year is the primary growth driver, offset by 74 internal departures annually.
What languages are spoken in Joondalup?
With 48.4% born overseas (26.8 points above national), Mandarin (75 speakers), Afrikaans (51), Arabic (34), Persian (33) and Urdu (23) lead non-English languages. The spread reflects diverse South African, Middle Eastern and Asian migration, distinguishing Joondalup from Perth's more Anglo-dominant northern suburbs.
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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