Koondoola
Over half of Koondoola residents were born overseas, a figure 29.6 percentage points above the national average, making it one of Perth's most internationally diverse pockets. The suburb sits at SEIFA IRSAD decile 2, placing it among the bottom fifth nationally for relative advantage, yet household incomes remain above the stress threshold with rent-to-income at 24.1%. At a 3,919-person population across 3.52 km2, Koondoola is a compact, affordable, detached-house suburb where 86% of dwellings are separate houses and the median price is estimated at $356,000, well below Perth state norms.
Population
3,919
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,185/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$356K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At an estimated $356,000 median house price, Koondoola is positioned well below typical Perth metro medians, accessible for first-home buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments of around $1,387 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27%, below the 30% stress threshold. The dwelling stock is dominated by three-bedroom homes at 64.2%, with four-plus bedroom homes adding 25.8%, meaning buyers find genuine family-sized houses. Separate houses account for 86% of stock, with semi-detached at 14%. The 37% renting share reflects its affordability compared to higher-priced nearby areas.
For Buyers
At an estimated $356,000 median house price, Koondoola is positioned well below typical Perth metro medians, accessible for first-home buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments of around $1,387 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27%, below the 30% stress threshold. The dwelling stock is dominated by three-bedroom homes at 64.2%, with four-plus bedroom homes adding 25.8%, meaning buyers find genuine family-sized houses. Separate houses account for 86% of stock, with semi-detached at 14%. The 37% renting share reflects its affordability compared to higher-priced nearby areas.
For Investors
Koondoola's 35.6% renter share and $285 weekly rent provide a steady tenant pool. Against a $356,000 estimated median, $285 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 4.2%, competitive compared to inner-Perth yields. The 7.3% vacancy rate is elevated above healthy investment benchmarks, a caution signal. Net overseas arrivals average 206 per year, partially offsetting net internal outflow of 193. Population growth was only 0.8% over 10 years, so capital growth expectations should remain modest. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, limiting new supply pressure.
Schools in Koondoola iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Mercy College
PP-12 · 1574 students
Koondoola Primary School
K-6 · 279 students
Waddington Primary School
K-6 · 82 students
Demographics
Koondoola's median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure despite an aging trajectory where the senior share rose 5.5 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents at 51.2% are 29.6 percentage points above the national average. English ancestry (880 residents) and Vietnamese (311) are the leading named groups, with Arabic (79 speakers) and Serbian (33) among top non-English languages. University qualifications at 18.7% are 11.4 points below national, consistent with the SEIFA IEO decile 2 score. Islam (435 residents) and Buddhism (308) sit alongside Christianity (1,679), reflecting the overseas-born majority.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.0%
Houses
14.0%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits unevenly: 27.5% own outright, 37% carry a mortgage and 35.6% rent, with mortgage holders outnumbering outright owners, typical for an affordable suburb still being bought into. The stock is 86% separate houses and 14% semi-detached. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 64.2% and four-plus-bedroom at 25.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,387. Rent-to-income at 24.1% and mortgage-to-income at 27% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes at the 23.8th percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$1,387
Rent / wk
$285
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$483
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.3%
Unoccupied
103
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
17.0%
Couples, no children
3,090
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 21.2% of workers (151 residents), ahead of Construction at 11.7% (83) and Retail at 7.6% (54). By occupation, Labourers top the list at 322 workers, consistent with the SEIFA IRSD decile 2 score for relative disadvantage, below the national median. The unemployment rate is 10.7%, above the national average, with 161 unemployed out of a 48.4% participation rate. Real income growth was minus 3.8% over the decade. Personal weekly income of $483 and household income in the 23.8th percentile nationally reflect earnings well below Perth and national benchmarks.
Unemployment
9.8%
Labour Force
6,718
Unemployed
657
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.2%
Part-time
30.1%
Participation
48.4%
Employed
1,343
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.7%
Postgraduate
3.8%
Born Overseas
51.2%
Dwellings
1,304
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 86.1% driving to work, above most inner-metro rates, while public transport use is 3.7% and walking or cycling 1.7%, reflecting limited transit in suburban Perth. No schools are recorded within the 3.52 km2 boundary, so families rely on surrounding suburbs. IRSAD decile 2 places Koondoola in the bottom fifth nationally for relative advantage. The need-for-assistance rate is 7.7%, covering 282 residents. Resident stability is strong at 81.3% staying at the same address, a positive liveability signal that lower-income suburbs with higher turnover do not share.
Drive
86.1%
Public Transport
3.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.02%/yr
(+3 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth over the decade was 0.8%, translating to just 3 additional residents per year, well below the national average for established suburbs. The suburb is classified as not gentrifying, with a gentrification score of 10 out of 100. Net overseas migration adds 206 residents a year but net internal outflow removes 193, leaving near-zero net growth. Affordability improved from 56.5% in 2011 to 47.8% in 2021, a positive signal for ongoing occupancy demand. Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 population flat at around 12,267 through 2031, and recorded rent growth is 0% over the measured period.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+206
Net Internal / yr
-193
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -193/yr, Strong overseas inflow +206/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Koondoola compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Koondoola a good suburb to live in?
Koondoola offers affordable housing with a $356,000 estimated median house price and mortgage-to-income at 27%, below the 30% stress threshold. The trade-off is a SEIFA IRSAD decile 2 ranking, placing it in the bottom fifth nationally for relative advantage, and an unemployment rate of 10.7%. The suburb has a stable resident base, with 81.3% not moving in the measured period.
What is the median house price in Koondoola?
The estimated median house price is $356,000, based on 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,387, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27%. Weekly rent averages $285, which implies a gross rental yield of around 4.2% against the estimated median.
What schools are in Koondoola?
No schools are recorded inside the Koondoola boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. University qualifications among residents reach 18.7%, which is 11.4 points below the national figure, reflecting the suburb's SEIFA IEO decile 2 score for education and occupation.
Is Koondoola safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Koondoola in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores SEIFA IRSD decile 2, signalling high relative disadvantage, and the unemployment rate is 10.7%, both factors associated with higher crime exposure. The 7.7% need-for-assistance rate (282 residents) also reflects social vulnerability above the national average.
Is Koondoola good for property investment?
At $356,000 median and $285 weekly rent, the estimated gross yield is around 4.2%, above inner-Perth levels. However, the 7.3% vacancy rate is elevated, and population growth over 10 years was only 0.8%. Net overseas arrivals of 206 per year support occupancy, but capital growth prospects are modest given flat population forecasts through 2031.
How is Koondoola's population changing?
Population growth is essentially flat at 0.8% over 10 years, averaging 3 additional residents per year. Net overseas migration of 206 per year is offset by net internal outflow of 193, holding the total near steady. The suburb's trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 5.5 points while the working-age share fell 1.6 points over the decade.
What languages are spoken in Koondoola?
Over half of Koondoola residents (51.2%) were born overseas, 29.6 percentage points above the national average. Arabic (79 speakers), Serbian (33), Urdu (17) and Hindi (16) are the leading non-English languages. Vietnamese-ancestry residents number 311, making Vietnamese heritage a significant component of the community alongside English (880) ancestry.
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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