Karrinyup
With 9,886 residents and a median age of 41, Karrinyup combines an established, high-income profile with a strongly detached housing base. Household income ranks at the 91.7th percentile, while IRSAD and IRSD both sit in decile 10, above the national average. Separate houses account for 86.9% of dwellings and 51.7% have 4 or more bedrooms, supporting the suburb's family orientation. Compared with nearby Scarborough, Karrinyup reads as more detached and residential, although its 28.8% overseas-born share is still above the national figure by 7.2 percentage points.
Population
9,886
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,456/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
113
Homebuyers are choosing a high-income, mortgage-oriented suburb rather than a predominantly rental market. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,588 and mortgage holders represent 39.5% of occupied dwellings, while outright owners account for 39.2%. Mortgage costs equal 24.3% of household income, above the 18.3% rent-to-income measure, so borrowing capacity still matters even though neither measure is flagged as stressed. The housing mix is family scaled: 51.7% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 38.8% have 3 bedrooms, compared with just 1.6% apartments. A 6.1% vacancy rate gives buyers and renters more choice than a tightly supplied market, but detached homes remain the defining product.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing a high-income, mortgage-oriented suburb rather than a predominantly rental market. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,588 and mortgage holders represent 39.5% of occupied dwellings, while outright owners account for 39.2%. Mortgage costs equal 24.3% of household income, above the 18.3% rent-to-income measure, so borrowing capacity still matters even though neither measure is flagged as stressed. The housing mix is family scaled: 51.7% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 38.8% have 3 bedrooms, compared with just 1.6% apartments. A 6.1% vacancy rate gives buyers and renters more choice than a tightly supplied market, but detached homes remain the defining product.
For Investors
Investor conditions are supported by a large owner base, stable employment and active development, but the vacancy rate points to tenant choice. Renting accounts for 18.3% of occupied dwellings, weekly rent is $450 and vacancy is 6.1%, higher than a tight-market reading. The 100 development matters recorded in 12 months indicate ongoing renewal and possible future competition between older and newer stock. Annual growth is forecast at 1.31%, driven primarily by overseas migration, which can broaden rental demand. Karrinyup therefore suits investors prioritising established amenity and longer holding periods over a scarcity-led yield story; inspect each dwelling's condition, strata exposure and achievable rent before buying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
113
Last 12 Months
113
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 Karrinyup
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL SCHOOL
ST MARY'S ANGLICAN GIRLS' SCHOOL
DEANMORE PRIMARY SCHOOL
KARRINYUP PRIMARY SCHOOL
NEWBOROUGH PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Karrinyup has an older, highly educated profile: median age is 41, which is 1 year above the national comparison, and 49.2% of residents have university qualifications, 19.1 percentage points higher than nationally. Overseas-born residents make up 28.8%, 7.2 points above the national figure, with English, Irish, Scottish and Italian among the largest ancestries at 3,969, 1,236, 1,012 and 747 people. Couples with children form 53.1% of families, while average household size is 2.7, 0.2 above the national comparison. Mobility is relatively low, with 80.6% staying and 19.4% turning over, helping explain the suburb's established social profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.9%
Houses
11.5%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing is the central value proposition, with 86.9% separate houses, 11.5% semi-detached dwellings and only 1.6% apartments. The bedroom profile reinforces that pattern: 51.7% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and 38.8% have 3, so larger households can be accommodated more readily than in a compact apartment market. Tenure is unusually balanced between outright ownership at 39.2% and mortgages at 39.5%, while renting is lower at 18.3%. Mortgage costs equal 24.3% of household income, above the 18.3% rent-to-income measure, while both stress indicators are false. Compared with nearby Scarborough, the mix points to a quieter, family-oriented housing pattern.
Mortgage / mo
$2,588
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$450
Census 2021
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$982
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
222
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
53.1%
Couples with children
34.9%
Couples, no children
10.8%
Single parent
2,678
Total families
Economy & Employment
Karrinyup's economic base is led by healthcare at 16.1% of industry employment, followed by professional and technical services at 14.1%, education at 13.8%, construction at 10.1% and mining at 8.0%. That mix aligns with 1,668 professionals and 845 managers, rather than a workforce concentrated in one trade. Labour force participation is 64.5%, unemployment is 4.0% and full-time employment is 58.8%, supporting household income of $2,456 a week at the 91.7th percentile. SEIFA reinforces the position: IEO is decile 9, while IER, IRSD and IRSAD are all decile 10, above the national median. The IEO result sitting below the other three deciles suggests some variation in occupational or financial outcomes despite broad advantage.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
5,075
Unemployed
201
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.8%
Part-time
36.4%
Participation
64.5%
Employed
4,874
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.2%
Postgraduate
11.2%
Born Overseas
28.8%
Dwellings
3,419
Transport to Work
Day-to-day life is car dependent: 76.0% drive to work, compared with 3.3% using public transport, 2.0% walking or cycling and 14.2% working from home. That pattern suits households with parking and flexible vehicle access, but makes route planning more important for residents without a car. Five nearby schools include 3 government primary schools and 2 non-government schools, giving families a mix of sectors and school types; enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Social conditions are strong, with IRSAD in decile 10 and IEO in decile 9, both above the national average, while volunteering reaches 20.1% and need for assistance is 5.0%. Karrinyup's density is 1,527.7 people per square kilometre across 6.47 square kilometres, supporting established local services.
Drive
76.0%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
14.2%
Population Forecast
+1.31%/yr
(+322 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is positive but moderated by an aging trajectory. The wider area is forecast to expand at 1.31% a year, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver, while population change over 10 years is 19.4%. The shift profile records a 5.9 percentage point increase in the senior share and a 5.1 point decline in the working share, so demand may increasingly favour accessible homes and established services rather than only family upsizing. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 39, while the parallel shift score is 20. Compared with a no-growth base, these figures indicate momentum, but the aging pattern is a stronger structural signal than rapid transformation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+280
Net Internal / yr
+56
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +22% since 2011, Net internal migration +56/yr, Strong overseas inflow +280/yr, Accelerating: 4% → 17%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Karrinyup compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karrinyup a good suburb to live in?
Karrinyup suits households wanting detached homes, established services and high socioeconomic conditions. The median age is 41, 86.9% of homes are separate houses and IRSAD is decile 10, above the national average. Car reliance is high at 76.0%, so vehicle access is important.
What is the median house price in Karrinyup?
Check current settled sales for the latest median, as market values move. Karrinyup has a $2,588 monthly mortgage figure, 39.5% mortgage tenure and 51.7% of homes with 4 or more bedrooms, so dwelling type matters when comparing prices across the suburb.
What schools are in Karrinyup?
Karrinyup has 5 nearby schools: 3 government primary schools and 2 non-government schools. Check the catchment for the exact address because enrolment zones can differ within postcode 6018. The sector mix is broader than a suburb served only by government schools.
Is Karrinyup safe?
Review current WA Police information and the exact street before making a safety decision. Karrinyup has IRSAD in decile 10, volunteering at 20.1% and need for assistance at 5.0%; these describe social conditions but are not a substitute for incident data. Compare recent reports across nearby streets.
Is Karrinyup good for property investment?
Karrinyup can suit a long-term investor seeking established demand. Weekly rent is $450, vacancy is 6.1% and 18.3% of dwellings are rented. Growth is forecast at 1.31% annually, while 100 development matters in 12 months indicate more renewal and potential competition than a tightly constrained market.
How is Karrinyup's population changing?
Karrinyup has 9,886 residents today. Wider-area population change over 10 years is 19.4%, and annual growth is forecast at 1.31%, driven by overseas migration. The trajectory is Aging, with senior share up 5.9 points and working share down 5.1 points, indicating gradual change compared with a younger growth profile.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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