Kiara
Kiara packs 1,776 residents into just 1.39 sq km, producing a density of 1,277.3 people per sq km while retaining a strongly detached-home profile. Separate houses account for 88.7% of dwellings and 4 or more-bedroom homes for 58.8%, pointing to established family housing rather than a compact apartment market. The median age is 39, one year below the national comparison, while overseas-born residents represent 35.4%, or 13.8 percentage points above the national figure. Compared with nearby Ballajura, Kiara presents a small, settled pocket: 84.1% stayed at the same address and turnover is 15.9%.
Local council: Swan
Population
1,776
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,512/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Kiara suits buyers prioritising established detached housing over apartment living. Separate houses make up 88.7% of dwellings, while 58.8% have 4 or more bedrooms and 37.3% have 3 bedrooms, so the stock is weighted to families and space. A typical mortgage repayment is $1,625 per month, equal to 24.8% of household income, compared with rent of $333 per week at 22.0% of income. Neither burden is flagged as stressed, although household income sits at the 47.3 percentile, below the midpoint. With 36.0% owning outright and 43.1% paying a mortgage, Kiara is owner-led rather than rental-led. A dependable current median sale price is not established, so compare at least 3 recent sales by land size, condition and bedrooms.
For Buyers
Kiara suits buyers prioritising established detached housing over apartment living. Separate houses make up 88.7% of dwellings, while 58.8% have 4 or more bedrooms and 37.3% have 3 bedrooms, so the stock is weighted to families and space. A typical mortgage repayment is $1,625 per month, equal to 24.8% of household income, compared with rent of $333 per week at 22.0% of income. Neither burden is flagged as stressed, although household income sits at the 47.3 percentile, below the midpoint. With 36.0% owning outright and 43.1% paying a mortgage, Kiara is owner-led rather than rental-led. A dependable current median sale price is not established, so compare at least 3 recent sales by land size, condition and bedrooms.
For Investors
Kiara's investment case rests on a predominantly house-based market, but the tenant pool is smaller than in a rental-led suburb: 20.1% rent, vacancy is 4.5%, and weekly rent is $333. Rent growth of 17.8% is a positive demand signal, while 9 development applications over 12 months indicate a limited local pipeline rather than a major supply wave. Migration is labelled Balanced, making demand less dependent on one incoming group. Established tenure is clear, with 36.0% owning outright and 43.1% holding a mortgage; compared with investor-heavy markets, that may mean less rental turnover. Test returns against the $1,625 monthly mortgage reference, plus insurance and maintenance.
Development Activity
Total DAs
12
Last 12 Months
12
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 Kiara
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
KIARA COLLEGE
Demographics
Kiara combines residential stability with an internationally connected profile. The median age of 39 is 1 year below the national comparison, while university-qualified residents represent 30.6%, or 0.5 percentage points above nationally. Overseas-born residents account for 35.4%, 13.8 points higher than the national figure. Leading ancestries include English 587, Italian 142, Irish 138 and Scottish 132; Cantonese, Mandarin and Arabic are also recorded. Christianity counts 831 residents, no religion 649 and Buddhism 96. Average household size is 2.5, matching the national comparison, and 84.1% stayed at the same address. Compared with nearby Ballajura, Kiara's profile is a compact, settled base with pronounced cultural variety.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.7%
Houses
11.3%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Kiara's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached: 88.7% separate houses and 11.3% semi-detached homes, with apartments not forming a recorded share of the mix. Larger layouts dominate, as 58.8% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 37.3% have 3 bedrooms, a pattern more suited to families than compact renters. Tenure is split between 36.0% owned outright, 43.1% with a mortgage and 20.1% rented. Mortgage costs average $1,625 monthly against 24.8% of household income, compared with rent of $333 weekly and 22.0% of income; neither measure is flagged as stressed. Household income sits at the 47.3 percentile, below the midpoint, so affordability still needs testing. Compared with nearby Ballajura, Kiara's detached-heavy form supports a conventional suburban housing choice.
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$333
Census 2021
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$760
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.5%
Unoccupied
32
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.7%
Couples with children
36.3%
Couples, no children
18.5%
Single parent
496
Total families
Economy & Employment
Kiara's employment base is led by healthcare at 16.5% with 91 workers, education at 11.2% with 62, retail at 10.3% with 57, public administration at 9.0% with 50 and construction at 8.9% with 49. This mix links local livelihoods to essential services and building activity rather than a single industry. The labour force is 975 people, participation is 65.5%, unemployment is 5.1% and full-time employment is 61.5%, giving the suburb a sizeable working base. Occupations include 161 professionals, 147 clerical and administrative workers and 142 trades workers. SEIFA results are mixed: IEO decile 4 is below IER decile 7, while IRSAD and IRSD both sit at decile 5. That gap suggests economic resources rank higher than education and occupation measures, while overall disadvantage remains around the national middle.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
975
Unemployed
50
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.5%
Part-time
33.5%
Participation
65.5%
Employed
925
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.6%
Postgraduate
4.0%
Born Overseas
35.4%
Dwellings
683
Transport to Work
Kiara is strongly car-oriented: 81.3% travel as car drivers compared with 4.1% using public transport, while only 0.5% walk or cycle and 6.6% work from home. That pattern makes private vehicle access important for commuting and errands, with less reliance on transit. School access includes 1 government senior high school, Kiara College, so families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. The local social position sits around the middle on IRSAD at decile 5, while the IER result reaches decile 7, higher than the IEO decile 4. Volunteering is 13.1% and 5.3% need assistance, including 91 people. Crime conditions can change, so check current WA Police information before deciding.
Drive
81.3%
Public Transport
4.1%
Walk / Cycle
0.5%
Work from Home
6.6%
Growth Outlook
Kiara sits in an established growth setting, with the wider area's annual trend at 2.48% and population change of 55.4% over 10 years. Migration is labelled Balanced, while the shift trajectory is Mixed, so momentum is present without a single clear demand driver. Change is not uniform: the gentrification score is 33, labelled Early signs, while the shift measure is 16 and labelled Not gentrifying. Together, these signals point to gradual change rather than a completed upmarket transition. Rent growth of 17.8% and real income growth of 13.4% help explain why housing demand can remain firm. The affordability trend is labelled Improving, with measures of 46.5 in 2011 and 39.3 in 2021. Compared with a high-speed redevelopment market, Kiara's outlook is steadier and more mixed.
Population trend: Swan council area
Kiara sits in the Swan council area. These are the council area's residents, not Kiara's.
Residents 2025
187,090
Growth, 5 yr average
+4.0%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+4.0%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kiara compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kiara a good suburb to live in?
Kiara can suit households wanting detached, larger homes and a settled community. About 88.7% of dwellings are separate houses, 58.8% have 4 or more bedrooms, and 84.1% stayed at the same address. It is more car-dependent than transit-oriented, with 81.3% driving and 4.1% using public transport, so lifestyle fit depends on commuting needs.
What is the median house price in Kiara?
A dependable current median house price is not established for Kiara. Compare at least 3 recent sales with similar land, condition and bedroom counts, and use the $333 weekly rent as a cash-flow reference rather than a price substitute.
What schools are in Kiara?
Kiara College is the identified local school, a government senior high school. Confirm enrolment zones using the exact address, because boundaries can differ across 1.39 sq km and may affect access to other year levels.
Is Kiara safe?
No current suburb crime rate is established for Kiara. The suburb has 1,776 residents, and conditions can vary by street and time, so check recent WA Police information and visit at different hours before deciding.
Is Kiara good for property investment?
Kiara can suit investors seeking detached homes, with 88.7% separate houses, $333 weekly rent and 4.5% vacancy. Rent growth is 17.8%, but only 20.1% rent, so the tenant pool is smaller than in rental-led areas. Weigh returns against maintenance and mortgage costs, including $1,625 monthly.
How is Kiara's population changing?
Kiara's current population is 1,776. Across the wider area, the annual growth trend is 2.48%, population change is 55.4% over 10 years, and migration is labelled Balanced. The shift trajectory is Mixed, so change looks steady but is not driven by one source.
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).
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