Middle Swan
A 30.6% overseas-born share sits 9.0 percentage points above the national comparison, yet university attainment is 19.9%, 10.2 points below national. Middle Swan's 2,852 residents form an established, detached-dominant suburb with a median age of 39, or 1.0 year below national, and an ageing trajectory. Separate houses account for 84.9% of dwellings, while household income sits at the 32.7 percentile. At 212.7 people per square kilometre across 13.41 square kilometres, the area has a suburban scale that suits households seeking space and car access. That combination creates a different comparison point from nearby Midland or Guildford, particularly for buyers weighing detached housing against denser options.
Local council: Swan
Population
2,852
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,316/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
78
Middle Swan suits buyers who prioritise detached housing and established streets over apartment stock. A suburb-level median house price is not available, so current comparable sales matter more than relying on a single headline figure. Separate houses account for 84.9% of dwellings, versus 2.4% apartments, while 3-bedroom and 4-plus-bedroom homes represent 45.2% and 39.2%. Mortgage repayments are listed at $1,500 monthly, with mortgage costs at 26.3% of income and rent at $310 weekly. Compared with outright owners at 29.9%, mortgage holders are higher at 39.9%, indicating many households are still paying down loans. This mix suits buyers wanting space, but affordability should be tested against deposit size and ongoing repayments.
For Buyers
Middle Swan suits buyers who prioritise detached housing and established streets over apartment stock. A suburb-level median house price is not available, so current comparable sales matter more than relying on a single headline figure. Separate houses account for 84.9% of dwellings, versus 2.4% apartments, while 3-bedroom and 4-plus-bedroom homes represent 45.2% and 39.2%. Mortgage repayments are listed at $1,500 monthly, with mortgage costs at 26.3% of income and rent at $310 weekly. Compared with outright owners at 29.9%, mortgage holders are higher at 39.9%, indicating many households are still paying down loans. This mix suits buyers wanting space, but affordability should be tested against deposit size and ongoing repayments.
For Investors
Middle Swan has a meaningful rental base, with 29.3% of occupied dwellings rented and weekly rent at $310. The 7.9% vacancy rate may give tenants more choice than a lower-vacancy market, which can limit short-term pricing power. Development activity is notable, with 57 applications recorded over 12 months, including a 7-dwelling grouped-housing proposal. That pipeline can improve stock choice but may also increase competition between landlords. Rent growth is 6.7%, while migration is labelled Balanced, so the case is less about a single high-growth story and more about selecting a well-located dwelling. Compared with owner-occupier demand, the renter share is substantial, but no median sale price is available for a reliable gross-yield calculation.
Development Activity
Total DAs
78
Last 12 Months
78
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 Middle Swan
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
LA SALLE COLLEGE
ST BRIGID'S PRIMARY SCHOOL
SWAN CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
Demographics
Middle Swan has a median age of 39, which is 1.0 year below the national comparison, but its trajectory is ageing as the senior share has risen 3.5 percentage points. Overseas-born residents account for 30.6%, 9.0 percentage points above the national figure, while university attainment is 19.9%, 10.2 points below national. English ancestry is the largest recorded group at 1,001 people, followed by Irish at 225 and Italian at 206. Malayalam, Italian and Punjabi are among the listed languages. Average household size is 2.4, or 0.1 below national, and couples with children make up 37.9% of families. This combination points to established family housing alongside a gradually older resident base, rather than a strongly student-led profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.9%
Houses
7.6%
Townhouse
2.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Middle Swan's housing stock is strongly detached, with separate houses at 84.9%, semi-detached homes at 7.6% and apartments at 2.4%. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 45.2% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 39.2%, so larger family formats are more common than compact stock. Tenure is split between 39.9% with a mortgage, 29.9% owned outright and 29.3% rented. Mortgage costs equal 26.3% of income, compared with 23.6% for rent, and neither category is flagged as stressed. For buyers comparing Middle Swan with nearby Midland or Guildford, the 84.9% separate-house share is the clearest housing distinction to test at address level. With no median sale price, purchasers should compare recent local sales rather than infer value from rent alone.
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$310
Census 2021
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$670
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.9%
Unoccupied
94
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.9%
Couples with children
35.7%
Couples, no children
24.2%
Single parent
747
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Middle Swan's listed industries at 15.8% of workers, or 121 people, followed by construction at 9.8% and 75, retail at 7.9% and 60, mining at 7.6% and 58, and public administration at 7.6% and 58. Occupations lean toward trades at 252, machinery and drivers at 173, labourers at 171, community and personal work at 159, and clerical administration at 149. The unemployment rate is 6.8%, participation is 58.2% and the full-time rate is 58.6%. Household income sits at the 32.7 percentile, below the national midpoint, while SEIFA deciles vary: IEO 3, IER 6, IRSD 4 and IRSAD 4. Compared with income resources, education and occupation conditions rank lower, which fits a labour market shaped by practical and service roles.
Unemployment
6.8%
Labour Force
1,360
Unemployed
93
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.6%
Part-time
33.9%
Participation
58.2%
Employed
1,267
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.9%
Postgraduate
4.8%
Born Overseas
30.6%
Dwellings
1,091
Transport to Work
Middle Swan is highly car-dependent: 80.9% travel as car drivers, compared with 4.4% using public transport, 2.7% walking or cycling and 6.2% working from home. That pattern supports convenient driving access but makes daily life more sensitive to road connections and household car costs. Families have access to 3 nearby schools, all in the non-government sector, so enrolment zones and transport should be checked against the exact address. Social advantage is mixed, with IRSAD at decile 4, IEO at decile 3 and IER at decile 6. Compared with higher-decile areas, services and affordability should be assessed street by street. Use current WA Police mapping and an in-person inspection when weighing safety, as no local crime rate is provided.
Drive
80.9%
Public Transport
4.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
6.2%
Growth Outlook
Middle Swan is an established area with forecast growth of 1.08% annually and migration labelled Balanced. Population change across the wider area is above zero at 9.4% over 10 years, while the trajectory is Aging: the senior share is up 3.5 percentage points and the young share is down 0.5. Gentrification is not a single-direction story. A score of 32 is classed as Early signs, while the shift assessment is 15 and Not gentrifying. Population is also recorded as up 19% since 2011, alongside an acceleration signal from 2% to 17%. These figures point to gradual renewal rather than a confirmed transformation, with 57 development applications adding activity without implying rapid expansion.
Population trend: Swan council area
Middle Swan sits in the Swan council area. These are the council area's residents, not Middle Swan'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 Middle Swan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Middle Swan a good suburb to live in?
Middle Swan can suit households wanting detached housing and car access. About 84.9% of dwellings are separate houses, 80.9% of workers drive, and IRSAD is in decile 4, so inspect streets, services and exact enrolment zones before deciding.
What is the median house price in Middle Swan?
There is no median house price to quote for Middle Swan at present. Compare current comparable sales and allow for the suburb's $310 weekly rent, 7.9% vacancy rate and 84.9% separate-house share when assessing value.
What schools are in Middle Swan?
Middle Swan has 3 listed schools: La Salle College, St Brigid's Primary School and Swan Christian College. All 3 are non-government, so families should confirm sector preferences and enrolment zones for the exact address.
Is Middle Swan safe?
Assess safety using current WA Police crime maps, recent local reports and an inspection at different times. Middle Swan has 2,852 residents and 80.9% car-driver travel, so street activity and traffic conditions can vary between locations.
Is Middle Swan good for property investment?
Middle Swan may suit investors seeking rental exposure, but returns need careful checking because no median house price is available. Weekly rent is $310, vacancy is 7.9%, and 57 development approvals in 12 months may add tenant choice.
How is Middle Swan's population changing?
Population is changing gradually rather than rapidly: the wider area's 10-year change is 9.4% and the forecast trend is 1.08% annually. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.5 percentage points and migration labelled Balanced.
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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