Kardinya
Chinese ancestry (1,091) ranks third behind English (2,945) and "Other" (1,315), making Kardinya one of Perth's most distinctly multicultural established suburbs. Mandarin (179 speakers) and Italian (127) lead non-English languages, reflecting both the suburb's proximity to Murdoch University and its postwar Italian community. Outright ownership at 44.1% is the second-highest in this cohort, indicating an established-wealth suburb where many residents have held properties for decades. SEIFA scores uniformly sit at decile 7-8, confirming above-average advantage across all indices. The aging trajectory is notable: the senior share expanded 7.6 percentage points over the decade, the steepest in this cohort, while the working-age share contracted 1.4 points.
Population
9,137
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,927/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$499K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated $499,000 median offers a mid-range entry to Perth's southern suburbs, with 86.3% detached housing and 58.2% four-plus bedrooms providing large family homes. Three-bedroom stock at 34.4% adds diversity. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,003 produce a 24.0% mortgage-to-income ratio, below the stress benchmark. Outright owners at 44.1% and mortgage holders at 34.9% together account for 79.0% of tenure, leaving renters at just 20.9%. Kardinya Primary School (ICSEA 1,087, 433 students) scores well above the national benchmark. The 79.3% residential stability rate and 20.7% turnover indicate a settled, low-churn community. Walking/cycling at 1.9% and public transport at 5.2% mean near-total car dependence at 87.3%.
For Buyers
The estimated $499,000 median offers a mid-range entry to Perth's southern suburbs, with 86.3% detached housing and 58.2% four-plus bedrooms providing large family homes. Three-bedroom stock at 34.4% adds diversity. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,003 produce a 24.0% mortgage-to-income ratio, below the stress benchmark. Outright owners at 44.1% and mortgage holders at 34.9% together account for 79.0% of tenure, leaving renters at just 20.9%. Kardinya Primary School (ICSEA 1,087, 433 students) scores well above the national benchmark. The 79.3% residential stability rate and 20.7% turnover indicate a settled, low-churn community. Walking/cycling at 1.9% and public transport at 5.2% mean near-total car dependence at 87.3%.
For Investors
The 20.9% renter share is well below the national average, making Kardinya a thin rental market. At $390/week rent against a $499,000 estimated price, gross yield is approximately 4.1%, competitive for Perth. The vacancy rate of 6.0% is moderate. No development applications were recorded in 12 months, confirming a built-out suburb with zero new supply pressure. Net overseas migration of 381 per year provides sustained demand, though the suburb's established character means most new residents replace departing ones rather than adding to stock. The 20.7% turnover rate is moderate. Rent-to-income at 20.2% indicates tenants are not stretched.
Schools in Kardinya iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kardinya Primary School
K-6 · 433 students
North Lake Senior Campus
10-12 · 335 students
Demographics
Chinese ancestry at 1,091 and Italian at 939 create a distinctive non-Anglo presence alongside the English (2,945) majority. The 38.2% overseas-born share is 16.6 points above the national average, the highest non-Anglo share in this cohort for a non-inner-city suburb. Mandarin (179), Italian (127), Cantonese (95), Persian (40) and Korean (32) lead non-English languages. Median age of 42 is 2 years above national, and average household size of 2.6 is slightly above the 2.5 national norm. Couples with children (2,469) narrowly outnumber couples without (2,268), reflecting a mature suburb mixing families and downsizers. University qualifications at 43.6% are 13.5 points above the national average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.3%
Houses
10.2%
Townhouse
3.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached houses dominate at 86.3%, with semi-detached at 10.2% and apartments at 3.5%. Four-plus bedrooms at 58.2% and three-bedrooms at 34.4% leave under 8% for smaller configurations. The tenure profile is owner-heavy: 44.1% outright and 34.9% on mortgage, with renters at just 20.9%. The estimated $499,000 median is rent-derived. Mortgage-to-income at 24.0% and rent-to-income at 20.2% are both moderate. The 44.1% outright-ownership share is 15+ points above the national average, reflecting a suburb where many residents purchased during Perth's lower-price era. Affordability improved from 68.0% in 2011 to 54.1% in 2021 on the rent-to-income measure.
Mortgage / mo
$2,003
Rent / wk
$390
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$808
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.0%
Unoccupied
221
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.8%
Couples, no children
7,352
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 17.8% (605 workers), followed by Education at 14.1% (479), Professional/Tech at 11.3% (386), Construction at 8.5% (291) and Public Admin at 7.1% (243). The education share reflects proximity to Murdoch University. Professionals (1,352) and Clerical/Admin (686) lead occupations. Unemployment at 4.8% is moderate, and full-time employment at 59.9% is slightly below average. The participation rate of 61.6% leaves 2,512 outside the labour force. All four SEIFA indices sit at decile 7-8, with IRSD decile 8 being the highest, confirming low disadvantage. Real income growth of 10.6% over the decade is modest but positive.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
8,053
Unemployed
176
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.9%
Part-time
35.3%
Participation
61.6%
Employed
4,614
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.6%
Postgraduate
11.0%
Born Overseas
38.2%
Dwellings
3,451
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 87.3%, with public transport at 5.2% and walking/cycling at 1.9%. Kardinya Primary School (ICSEA 1,087, 433 students, Government) scores well above the national benchmark. North Lake Senior Campus (ICSEA 991, 335 students, Government Secondary) sits just below 1,000. SEIFA IRSAD decile 7 and IRSD decile 8 confirm above-average advantage with low disadvantage. The 4.5% need-assistance rate (399 people) is moderate. Rent-to-income at 20.2% and mortgage-to-income at 24.0% are both below stress thresholds. The 17.7% volunteering rate exceeds the national median, consistent with an engaged, stable community.
Drive
87.3%
Public Transport
5.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.6%/yr
(+86 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 0.6% per year (86 persons), slow for a Perth suburb. The 10-year population change of 3.1% is well below the national average. Net overseas migration of 381 per year is the growth engine, but near-zero internal migration (-6/yr) means the suburb neither gains nor loses domestic residents. The aging trajectory is the steepest in this cohort: the senior share expanded 7.6 points over the decade, while the working-age share contracted 1.4 points and the young share fell 1.2 points. The gentrification score of 29 shows early signs, with population accelerating from -1% to 12% decade-over-decade. Projected population reaches approximately 14,287 by 2031.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+381
Net Internal / yr
-6
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +12% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +381/yr, Accelerating: -1% → 12%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kardinya compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kardinya a good suburb to live in?
Kardinya suits families wanting large homes (58.2% four-plus bedrooms) in an established, multicultural suburb. SEIFA decile 7-8 confirms above-average advantage, mortgage stress at 24.0% is moderate, and Kardinya Primary (ICSEA 1,087) scores well above the benchmark. The 44.1% outright-ownership rate signals a settled, committed community.
What is the median house price in Kardinya?
The estimated median house price is $499,000 (rent-derived, 2025). Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,003 produce a 24.0% mortgage-to-income ratio. Median weekly rent is $390, yielding approximately 4.1% gross. Affordability improved from 68.0% in 2011 to 54.1% in 2021.
What schools are in Kardinya?
Two schools serve the suburb: Kardinya Primary School (ICSEA 1,087, 433 students, Government) scores well above the national 1,000 benchmark. North Lake Senior Campus (ICSEA 991, 335 students, Government Secondary) sits marginally below. Murdoch University is nearby for tertiary education.
Is Kardinya safe?
Crime data is not available for Kardinya. SEIFA IRSD decile 8 indicates low disadvantage, and the 44.1% outright-ownership rate is among the highest in this cohort. The 79.3% residential stability and 17.7% volunteering rate suggest a settled community with strong social engagement.
Is Kardinya good for property investment?
The 20.9% renter share is thin, limiting the tenant pool. Gross yield of approximately 4.1% ($390/week on $499,000) is competitive. The 6.0% vacancy rate is moderate, and zero DAs in 12 months confirm no new supply. Overseas migration of 381 per year sustains some demand.
How is Kardinya's population changing?
Growth is slow at 0.6% per year (86 persons), with 3.1% change over the decade. Overseas migration adds 381 per year, while internal flows are flat. The senior share expanded 7.6 points over the decade, the steepest aging in this cohort. Projected population reaches approximately 14,287 by 2031.
What languages are spoken in Kardinya?
With 38.2% born overseas (16.6 points above national), Mandarin (179 speakers), Italian (127), Cantonese (95), Persian (40) and Korean (32) lead non-English languages. The Chinese (1,091 ancestry) and Italian (939) communities give Kardinya a distinctive multicultural character uncommon in Perth's southern 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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