Joondanna
Set 5km north of the Perth CBD, Joondanna runs counter to the usual inner-suburb pattern: semi-detached dwellings make up 46.1% of stock, more than the 43.3% that are separate houses, a split that reflects steady subdivision of its 1.45 km2 footprint. The $452,000 median house price keeps it accessible while household income sits at the 58.4th percentile nationally, close to mid-pack. University qualifications reach 49.1%, which is 19.0 points above the national figure, and 38.2% of the 5,283 residents were born overseas, 16.6 points higher than national. The median age of 37 runs 3.0 years below national, marking a younger, well-educated resident base.
Population
5,283
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,681/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
24
Median House
$452K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $452,000 median house price, Joondanna sits well below most inner-Perth markets, and the entry point is the suburb's main draw for owner-occupiers. Stock favours buyers wanting compact homes: 44.0% of dwellings have three bedrooms and 34.4% have two, while only 14.5% offer four or more, so larger families face thinner supply. Semi-detached homes lead the mix at 46.1%, above the 43.3% that are separate houses, a sign of ongoing infill. Average monthly mortgage repayments of $1,952 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.8%, comfortably under the 30% stress threshold, which leaves repayment headroom that buyers in pricier suburbs lack. Owners with a mortgage (32.9%) outnumber outright owners (23.2%), pointing to a working-age buyer base still paying down debt rather than established retirees.
For Buyers
At a $452,000 median house price, Joondanna sits well below most inner-Perth markets, and the entry point is the suburb's main draw for owner-occupiers. Stock favours buyers wanting compact homes: 44.0% of dwellings have three bedrooms and 34.4% have two, while only 14.5% offer four or more, so larger families face thinner supply. Semi-detached homes lead the mix at 46.1%, above the 43.3% that are separate houses, a sign of ongoing infill. Average monthly mortgage repayments of $1,952 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.8%, comfortably under the 30% stress threshold, which leaves repayment headroom that buyers in pricier suburbs lack. Owners with a mortgage (32.9%) outnumber outright owners (23.2%), pointing to a working-age buyer base still paying down debt rather than established retirees.
For Investors
Renters make up 43.9% of households, a deeper tenant pool than most owner-dominated suburbs, and weekly rent of $330 against the $452,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.8%, healthier than the sub-2% returns common in premium Perth pockets. The 8.9% vacancy rate is the main caution, signalling some softness in finding tenants. Demand support is genuine: overseas migration adds about 350 residents a year across the area while internal migration removes 117, and rent grew 6.7% over the period. Development is modest at 15 applications in 12 months, mostly single dwellings, patios and carports rather than new apartment supply, so investors face little fresh competition. With annual population growth running 1.31%, the case rests on yield and rental demand more than rapid capital turnover.
Development Activity
Total DAs
24
Last 12 Months
24
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 Joondanna iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Denis School
PP-6 · 200 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below the national figure, and the resident base skews young and educated rather than retired. University qualifications at 49.1% run 19.0 points above national, while 38.2% were born overseas, 16.6 points higher than national. Ancestry leans Anglo and southern European, led by English (1,689), Italian (676), Irish (546) and Scottish (476), and the top non-English languages are Italian (95 speakers), Mandarin (43) and Gujarati (42). Average household size is 2.0, which is 0.5 below national, consistent with a profile of couples and singles rather than large families: couples without children account for 35.1% of families. After Christianity (2,275 residents), Buddhism (184) and Hinduism (149) are the next-largest faiths, reflecting the overseas-born share.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
43.3%
Houses
46.1%
Townhouse
10.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward renters and recent buyers: 43.9% rent, 32.9% carry a mortgage and only 23.2% own outright. Mortgage holders outnumbering outright owners points to a working-age population still building equity rather than long-settled retirees. The stock is unusual for an inner suburb, with semi-detached dwellings at 46.1% exceeding separate houses at 43.3% and apartments only 10.6%, the result of steady infill on a compact 1.45 km2 base. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 44.0% and two-bedroom at 34.4%, leaving 4-plus bedroom homes at just 14.5%. The $452,000 median sits below most inner-Perth markets, and with mortgage-to-income at 26.8% and rent-to-income at 19.6%, both stay under stress thresholds, a sign that affordability holds even for mid-percentile earners.
Mortgage / mo
$1,952
Rent / wk
$330
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,036
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.9%
Unoccupied
240
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.1%
Couples, no children
3,550
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in service and knowledge sectors: Healthcare leads at 17.9% (427 workers), Professional/Tech follows at 13.0% (309) and Education at 10.5% (250), with Construction at 7.5% and Retail at 6.9%. By occupation, Professionals (1,040) and Managers (394) form the largest groups, which aligns with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 4.0% and the full-time employment rate is 68.1%. One anomaly stands out in the SEIFA scores: IEO reaches decile 8 but IER (economic resources) drops to decile 3, well below the others, because the 43.9% renter base depresses aggregate household wealth measures despite the educated workforce. Real incomes grew 10.4% over the decade.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
9,696
Unemployed
313
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.1%
Part-time
27.9%
Participation
67.1%
Employed
2,919
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.1%
Postgraduate
13.9%
Born Overseas
38.2%
Dwellings
2,445
Transport to Work
Car reliance is high at 80.8% of commuters driving, above the national norm, while public transport carries 10.8% and only 2.9% walk or cycle, a practical consequence of the suburb's residential layout. Joondanna scores decile 7 on IRSAD and decile 6 on IRSD, placing it in the upper-middle advantage band rather than the top tier. Volunteering runs at 16.1% and 5.8% of residents (290 people) need daily assistance, a modest share for a younger median age of 37. Rent-to-income at 19.6% keeps tenants well clear of stress. No schools are recorded inside the 1.45 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a trade-off offset by the central position 5km from the Perth CBD.
Drive
80.8%
Public Transport
10.8%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.31%/yr
(+192 people/yr)
EstablishedJoondanna is classified as established with a stable trajectory, yet it is still expanding: annual population growth registers 1.31%, adding about 192 residents a year, and the 10-year change reached 13.8%. Overseas migration is the primary driver at roughly 350 residents a year, offset by net internal outflow of 117, so newcomers from abroad more than replace those leaving. The gentrification stage reads early signs, with a score of 32 and signals including population up 22% since 2011 and an accelerating rate of change. Affordability improved markedly, from 41.1% of income in 2011 to 32.3% in 2021, an improving trend that is unusual when most markets tightened, and it reflects income growth outpacing local price moves.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+350
Net Internal / yr
-117
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +22% since 2011, Net internal outflow -117/yr, Strong overseas inflow +350/yr, Accelerating: 4% → 17%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Joondanna compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Joondanna a good suburb to live in?
Joondanna scores decile 7 on IRSAD and decile 8 on IEO for education and occupation, an upper-middle advantage band. University qualifications reach 49.1%, which is 19.0 points above national, and the $452,000 median house price keeps it more affordable than most inner-Perth suburbs 5km from the CBD.
What is the median house price in Joondanna?
The median house price is $452,000, below most inner-Perth markets. Weekly rent averages $330 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,952, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.8%, under the 30% stress threshold. Rent grew 6.7% over the recent period.
What schools are in Joondanna?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.45 km2 Joondanna boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 49.1%, which is 19.0 points above the national figure.
Is Joondanna safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Joondanna in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 6 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, an upper-middle tier, and only 5.8% of its 5,283 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a moderately advantaged area.
Is Joondanna good for property investment?
Rent of $330 a week against a $452,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.8%, healthier than premium Perth suburbs. Renters make up 43.9% of households and overseas migration adds about 350 residents a year, though the 8.9% vacancy rate signals some softness in tenant demand.
How is Joondanna's population changing?
Population growth runs 1.31% annually, about 192 residents a year, with a 13.8% rise over 10 years. Overseas migration is the main driver at roughly 350 a year, offset by net internal outflow of 117. The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below national, a younger profile.
What languages are spoken in Joondanna?
About 38.2% of residents were born overseas, 16.6 points above the national figure. English dominates, with Italian (95 speakers), Mandarin (43), Gujarati (42) and Macedonian (25) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a southern European and Asian resident mix.
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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