WA 6007 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Leederville

At 2,532 people per km2 packed into just 1.46 km2, Leederville ranks among Perth's densest inner suburbs, yet household income sits in the 88th percentile nationally, a combination that signals high demand for compact, well-located living. University qualifications reach 58.1%, which is 28 points above the national average. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSD and IRSAD, the top advantage tier, while median age of 35 runs 5 years below the national figure. Renters make up 44.8% of households because the demographic is young, professionally employed, and choosing proximity over ownership.

Leederville urban fabric map

Population

3,686

Median Age

35.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,316/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

39

Median House

$527K

Estimated from rent (2025)

1.46 km²· 2,531.9 people/km²· Family income $3,177/wk

The estimated median house price is $527,000, derived from 2025 rental data, and weekly rent of $430 implies typical yields for inner-Perth stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average around $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, which means buyers at this price point carry manageable debt loads relative to local incomes. The dwelling mix is split between separate houses (39.5%), semi-detached properties (35.6%) and apartments (23.9%), so buyers have genuine choice across property types. Two-bedroom and three-bedroom dwellings each account for 39.1% of stock, with 4-plus bedrooms at only 11.4%, consistent with the young-household profile rather than family-first demand.

For Buyers

The estimated median house price is $527,000, derived from 2025 rental data, and weekly rent of $430 implies typical yields for inner-Perth stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average around $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, which means buyers at this price point carry manageable debt loads relative to local incomes. The dwelling mix is split between separate houses (39.5%), semi-detached properties (35.6%) and apartments (23.9%), so buyers have genuine choice across property types. Two-bedroom and three-bedroom dwellings each account for 39.1% of stock, with 4-plus bedrooms at only 11.4%, consistent with the young-household profile rather than family-first demand.

For Investors

A 44.8% renter share is significantly higher than the national average, driven by a 35-year median age cohort that skews toward renting near jobs and amenity rather than purchasing. Weekly rent of $430 against a $527,000 median price implies a gross yield around 4.2%, more competitive than most inner Perth suburbs. The vacancy rate of 11.9% is elevated and warrants monitoring; it reflects the apartment segment rather than the full market, but landlords should factor in potential empty periods. Net overseas migration brings 216 new residents annually, the primary driver of population growth, which adds to rental demand. Development activity sits at 32 applications in the past 12 months, mostly fitouts and alterations, signalling an established suburb with limited new supply entering the market.

Development Activity

Total DAs

43

Last 12 Months

39

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+3800.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

$576K

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Renovation / Extension
14
Other
9
Demolition
4
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
3
Change of Use
2
Commercial / Industrial
2
Deck / Pergola / Patio
1
Hospitality / Food Premises
1

Schools in Leederville iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

West Leederville Primary School

ICSEA 1146 Primary Government

K-6 · 551 students

Aranmore Catholic Primary School

ICSEA 1084 Primary Catholic

PP-6 · 179 students

School Of Isolated and Distance Education

ICSEA 1063 Combined Government

K-12 · 336 students

Aranmore Catholic College

ICSEA 991 Secondary Catholic

7-12 · 739 students

Demographics

The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure, and the working-age share dominates the composition: full-time employment runs at 72.6% with an unemployment rate of 3.6%, lower than the national level. Overseas-born residents account for 34.7%, which is 13.1 percentage points above the national average. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,368), Irish (498) and Scottish (397), with Italian heritage (359) also prominent. Average household size of 2.0 sits 0.5 below national, consistent with couples without children making up 43.5% of families. Volunteering reaches 20.4% of residents, above the national norm, which indicates civic engagement despite the transient renter-heavy profile.

Age Distribution

0-14
11.4%
15-24
10.7%
25-44
42.5%
45-64
21.0%
65+
14.4%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
10.4%
2 bed
39.1%
3 bed
39.1%
4+ bed
11.4%

Dwelling Structure

39.5%

Houses

35.6%

Townhouse

23.9%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 23.0% Mortgage 32.2% Rent 44.8%

Tenure splits heavily toward renters: 44.8% rent, 32.2% carry a mortgage and 23.0% own outright, a distribution that differs sharply from suburban WA norms and reflects inner-ring demand from young professionals. The stock splits across three types, with separate houses at 39.5%, semi-detached at 35.6% and apartments at 23.9%, meaning the suburb does not trend toward high-rise density as heavily as similar inner suburbs. Rent-to-income at 18.6% and mortgage-to-income at 19.9% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, indicating that at current prices and rents, housing costs are proportionate to local incomes in the 88th income percentile nationally. Two-bedroom dwellings tie with three-bedroom at 39.1% each, making Leederville most suited to couples and small households rather than larger families.

Mortgage / mo

$2,000

Rent / wk

$430

HH Size

2.0

Personal Income / wk

$1,310

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

11.9%

Unoccupied

215

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

18.6%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

19.9%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Italian
36
Mandarin
22
Canton
19
French
13

Ancestry

English
1,368
Irish
498
Other
442
Scottish
397
Italian
359
Ancestry NS
224

Household Composition

43.5%

Couples, no children

2,223

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare leads local employment at 18.5% (348 workers), followed closely by Professional and Technical services at 17.6% (331 workers) and Education at 10.2% (192). Mining employs 9.7% (182 workers), a notably high share for an inner suburb and reflects Perth's role as the operational headquarters for WA's resources sector. Professionals account for 1,062 workers, the dominant occupation, with Managers at 345 and Clerical/Admin at 225. The SEIFA profile reinforces this picture: IRSAD decile 10 and IEO decile 10 nationally, meaning advantage in education, occupation and income are all in the top tier. Real income grew 11.4% over the decade, and full-time employment at 72.6% is above the national average.

Unemployment

4.5%

Labour Force

8,415

Unemployed

376

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
10
Disadvantage
10
Economic resources
8
Education & occupation
10

Full-time

72.6%

Part-time

23.8%

Participation

68.9%

Employed

2,169

Occupations

Professionals 1,062
Managers 345
Clerical/Admin 225
Community/Personal 195
Sales 123
Labourers 83
Machinery/Drivers 43

Top Industries

Healthcare 18.5%
Professional/Tech 17.6%
Education 10.2%
Mining 9.7%
Public Admin 7.5%

University

58.1%

Postgraduate

17.4%

Born Overseas

34.7%

Dwellings

1,588

Transport to Work

Active transport is above average: 9.8% of residents walk or cycle to work, more than double the national norm, reflecting the suburb's compact 1.46 km2 footprint and inner-city location. Public transport use at 18.3% also sits above the WA average, while 66.6% drive. The suburb earns decile 10 on IRSAD, placing it in the top advantage tier nationally, and rent-to-income at 18.6% keeps tenants comfortable. Need for daily assistance is low at 6.0% (207 people). No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off for the dense inner-city setting. Housing stress is absent on both rent and mortgage measures, a positive indicator compared to many other high-density Perth suburbs.

Drive

66.6%

Public Transport

18.3%

Walk / Cycle

9.8%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+1.4%/yr

(+187 people/yr)

Established

Population grew 15.3% over the past decade, faster than the national average, and current annual growth runs at 1.4%, adding roughly 187 people per year. Overseas migration dominates at 216 arrivals net per year while internal migration runs at a net loss of 5, meaning Leederville attracts international residents rather than interstate movers. Gentrification indicators show early signs: population up 23% since 2011, affordability improving from 42.3% in 2011 to 33.2% in 2021, and a rent growth figure of 7.6%. The medium forecast projects population rising from 13,402 in 2025 to 14,313 by 2031, a 6.8% increase. The trajectory is mixed, with working-age share down 1.9 points over the decade but senior share rising 2.6 points, suggesting gradual age creep despite the still-young median.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+216

Net Internal / yr

-5

33

Gentrification Signal

Early signs

Population +23% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +216/yr, Accelerating: 3% → 19%

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Leederville compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 15%
Household Income
Top 12%
Rent Level
Top 11%
Apartments
Top 16%
Renters
Top 12%
Uni Educated
Top 5%
Public Transport
Top 4%
Born Overseas
Top 10%
Density
Top 5%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Leederville a good suburb to live in?

Leederville scores decile 10 on IRSAD and IEO nationally, the top advantage tier, with household income in the 88th percentile. University qualifications at 58.1% are 28 points above the national figure. The suburb is compact at 1.46 km2, walkable, and close to Perth CBD, though families should note no schools are recorded inside the boundary.

What is the median house price in Leederville?

The estimated median house price is $527,000 based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $430 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $2,000. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.9% is below the 30% stress threshold for local income levels in the 88th percentile nationally.

What schools are in Leederville?

No schools are recorded inside the Leederville boundary in this dataset. The suburb is 1.46 km2 and densely residential, so families typically rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs such as North Perth and Mount Hawthorn. Local education attainment is high, with 58.1% of residents holding university qualifications.

Is Leederville safe?

Crime statistics are not available in this dataset for Leederville. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier nationally, and only 6.0% of its 3,686 residents need daily assistance. These factors are generally consistent with a low-disadvantage, well-resourced area.

Is Leederville good for property investment?

A 44.8% renter share, well above the national average, creates strong tenant demand. Weekly rent of $430 against a $527,000 median price implies a gross yield around 4.2%, competitive for inner Perth. The 11.9% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants monitoring. Net overseas migration of 216 per year supports ongoing rental demand.

How is Leederville's population changing?

Population grew 15.3% over the past decade and is rising at 1.4% annually, adding about 187 people per year. Overseas migration is the primary driver at 216 net arrivals annually. Medium forecasts project growth from 13,402 in 2025 to 14,313 by 2031. Gentrification indicators show early signs, with population up 23% since 2011.

What languages are spoken in Leederville?

About 34.7% of residents were born overseas, which is 13.1 percentage points above the national figure. English dominates, with Italian (36 speakers), Mandarin (22), Cantonese (19) and French (13) the main non-English languages, reflecting a small but internationally varied resident base.

How much development is happening in Leederville?

There were 32 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including shop fitouts, partial demolitions and temporary occupancy permits. Most activity is alterations and commercial fitouts rather than new residential supply, consistent with an established inner suburb at 1.4% annual population growth.

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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