Karnup
Karnup grew 192% over 10 years, one of the fastest population trajectories recorded for a WA outer suburb, yet its median house price sits at $469,000, well below Perth's broader market. The suburb's median age of 30 is 10 years younger than the national figure, and 76.4% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, pointing to a community dominated by young families establishing in a greenfield corridor. Household income ranks in the 80.1st percentile nationally despite a below-average university rate, because mining and construction wages lift earnings above what qualifications alone would predict.
Population
2,096
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,122/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$469K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $469,000, Karnup's median house price is accessible compared to most Perth metropolitan markets, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,857, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Every dwelling recorded in the suburb is a separate house, and 76.4% have 4 or more bedrooms, so buyers get generous space relative to the price. Around 62.1% of residents carry a mortgage, which is high and signals a suburb still in active growth mode. Rent-to-income at 17.4% is comfortable, and income growth of 18.7% over the decade means purchasing power has been rising faster than costs for most households.
For Buyers
At $469,000, Karnup's median house price is accessible compared to most Perth metropolitan markets, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,857, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold. Every dwelling recorded in the suburb is a separate house, and 76.4% have 4 or more bedrooms, so buyers get generous space relative to the price. Around 62.1% of residents carry a mortgage, which is high and signals a suburb still in active growth mode. Rent-to-income at 17.4% is comfortable, and income growth of 18.7% over the decade means purchasing power has been rising faster than costs for most households.
For Investors
The rental market shows some tension: vacancy sits at 6.7%, higher than a tight market would have, yet weekly rent averages $370 against a $469,000 median, implying a gross yield around 4.1%, more competitive than inner-ring suburbs. The renter share is only 20%, so the tenant pool is narrow relative to the owner-occupier base. Population growth is forecast at 4.19% annually, driven by net internal migration of 90 people per year, which should keep demand rising. Rent grew 10.4% over the measured period, outpacing inflation, and the suburb's affordability score improved from 54.6% in 2011 to 41.3% in 2021, meaning it is becoming relatively more accessible as incomes catch up.
Demographics
The median age of 30 puts Karnup 10 years below the national average, and the young-share delta rose 5.8 points over the decade while the senior share fell 0.6 points, reinforcing the suburb's trajectory as a young-family destination. Overseas-born residents account for 27.4% of the population, which is 5.8 percentage points above the national figure, reflecting WA's mining and construction migration patterns. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (999 residents), Scottish (181) and Irish (161). Average household size is 3.0, which is 0.5 above the national figure, consistent with the high share of couples with children (933 families) versus couples without children (369 families).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Karnup is 100% separate houses, with not a single apartment or semi-detached dwelling recorded, which is unusual even for a suburban corridor and keeps housing quality consistent across the suburb. The 4-plus bedroom segment dominates at 76.4%, meaning most homes are built for families rather than individuals or couples. Tenure shows 62.1% on a mortgage, 20.0% renting and 17.9% owning outright, a profile typical of a suburb in the growth phase where most arrivals are owner-occupiers still paying down debt. At $469,000 median and $1,857 monthly repayment, the price-to-income ratio remains lower than state and national comparisons for suburban detached housing, making it one of the more accessible family-house markets in the southern Perth corridor.
Mortgage / mo
$1,857
Rent / wk
$370
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$895
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.7%
Unoccupied
48
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.6%
Couples, no children
1,789
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Karnup's industry mix at 14.4% of employed residents (95 workers), followed by Construction at 13.1% (86), Education at 11.1% (73), Mining at 9.4% (62) and Manufacturing at 9.4% (62). The Mining share is consistent with WA norms and helps explain why household income ranks at the 80.1st percentile nationally despite the IEO decile sitting at 3, which is below average on education and occupation measures. Full-time employment runs at 64.6%, above average, and the unemployment rate is 4.9%, moderate. By occupation, Community/Personal services (153 workers), Managers (118) and Professionals (117) each feature prominently, giving the workforce a mix of service, trade and knowledge roles.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
1,474
Unemployed
69
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.6%
Part-time
30.5%
Participation
64.7%
Employed
948
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.6%
Postgraduate
3.4%
Born Overseas
27.4%
Dwellings
662
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near total, with 87.3% of residents driving to work and only 2.3% using public transport, which is far below state and national averages, reflecting Karnup's position as an outer-growth corridor without major rail access. The IRSAD decile sits at 5, average nationally for socioeconomic advantage and disadvantage, while the IER decile reaches 10, the highest tier for economic resources, because residents own large detached homes and earn above-median incomes. Crime data is not available for Karnup. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on nearby institutions. The volunteering rate of 12.4% and a need-assistance rate of just 4.1% suggest a self-sufficient, working-age community with moderate civic engagement.
Drive
87.3%
Public Transport
2.3%
Walk / Cycle
4.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+4.19%/yr
(+115 people/yr)
High GrowthKarnup is classified high-growth, and the data supports that label: population rose 192.3% over 10 years, and the annual growth rate of 4.19% adds roughly 115 residents per year. Forecasts project the population climbing from around 2,751 in 2026 to 3,328 by 2031. Internal migration drives 90 net arrivals annually, overseas migration adds 14. The suburb did not experience a COVID dip, suggesting steady demand through the pandemic period. Real income grew 18.7% over the decade and affordability improved from 54.6% to 41.3%, both signalling that the suburb is attracting residents with rising economic capacity rather than simply displacing lower-income households.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+14
Net Internal / yr
+90
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Karnup compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karnup a good suburb to live in?
Karnup suits young families looking for space and affordability. Every home is a detached house, 76.4% have 4 or more bedrooms, and the $469,000 median keeps mortgage repayments at 20.2% of income, below the stress threshold. The trade-off is high car dependence, with 87.3% driving to work and minimal public transport.
What is the median house price in Karnup?
The median house price is $469,000 (estimated from 2025 rent data). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,857, and the rent-to-income ratio is 17.4%. Weekly rent averages $370, implying a gross yield of around 4.1% for investors.
What schools are in Karnup?
No schools are recorded within the Karnup suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 15.6%, which is 14.5 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the suburb's trade and service-oriented workforce.
Is Karnup safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Karnup in this dataset. As a proxy indicator, the suburb's IRSD decile is 6, which is slightly above average on relative disadvantage nationally, and the IER decile reaches 10, the top tier for economic resources, suggesting residents are materially secure.
Is Karnup good for property investment?
The investment case rests on growth rather than yield alone. Population rose 192.3% over 10 years and is forecast to reach 3,328 by 2031, with 90 net internal migrants arriving annually. At a gross yield around 4.1% and rent growth of 10.4% over the period, returns compare favourably to inner-metro alternatives, though the 6.7% vacancy rate warrants monitoring.
How is Karnup's population changing?
Karnup is one of WA's fastest-growing suburbs. The population rose 192.3% over 10 years and currently adds about 115 residents per year at a 4.19% annual growth rate. Forecasts project growth from roughly 2,751 in 2026 to 3,328 by 2031, driven primarily by internal migration.
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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