Midvale
With 40.2% of residents born overseas, Midvale sits 18.6 percentage points above the national figure, making it one of the more internationally diverse pockets in Perth's eastern corridor. The median house price of $390,000 places it well below the Perth metropolitan median, and household income lands at the 42.5th percentile nationally, reflecting a working-class mortgage belt where 51.4% of dwellings are owner-occupied with a mortgage. The population has grown 17% since 2011, and gentrification signals are accelerating, with internal migration adding a net 201 residents a year. The suburb covers 2.89 square kilometres and supports a density of 791 people per km2.
Population
2,283
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,433/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
29
Median House
$390K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $390,000 is well below the Perth metropolitan average, making Midvale one of the more accessible entry points in the Swan Valley corridor. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,742, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1%, which sits just below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 82.1% of dwellings, with semi-detached stock making up the remaining 17.9%. The bedroom mix skews large: 3-bedroom homes account for 45.0% and 4-plus bedroom homes for 36.3%, making the suburb well suited to families rather than couples or singles. At 51.4% on mortgages and 16.5% owning outright, the buyer profile is predominantly first or second homeowners rather than established wealth.
For Buyers
The median house price of $390,000 is well below the Perth metropolitan average, making Midvale one of the more accessible entry points in the Swan Valley corridor. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,742, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1%, which sits just below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 82.1% of dwellings, with semi-detached stock making up the remaining 17.9%. The bedroom mix skews large: 3-bedroom homes account for 45.0% and 4-plus bedroom homes for 36.3%, making the suburb well suited to families rather than couples or singles. At 51.4% on mortgages and 16.5% owning outright, the buyer profile is predominantly first or second homeowners rather than established wealth.
For Investors
Midvale's rental market offers a 32.1% renter share and $275 per week median rent, which against a $390,000 median price implies a gross yield near 3.7%, higher than most inner-ring suburbs. The vacancy rate of 10.6% is elevated and warrants caution, suggesting the rental pool is deeper than current demand. Net internal migration averages 201 residents a year and overseas migration adds 106, providing a steady flow of new tenants into the area. Development activity reached 23 applications in the past 12 months, including a 25-lot subdivision proposal, confirming that new supply is moving forward. Rent growth of 3.4% over the measured period supports the income case, though the high vacancy rate means tight tenant selection matters.
Development Activity
Total DAs
29
Last 12 Months
29
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 Midvale iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Midvale Primary School
K-6 · 355 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure, placing Midvale in the younger-skewing end of Perth suburbs. Overseas-born residents make up 40.2%, which is 18.6 percentage points above the national average. Filipino ancestry is the second-largest group with 368 residents, behind English at 642, and Malayalam speakers number 21, consistent with a South Indian-origin community linked to the Filipino and Indian diaspora patterns common in WA's mining and healthcare workforce. University qualifications reach 22.2%, which is 7.9 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the blue-collar and service occupations that dominate local employment. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure exactly.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.1%
Houses
17.9%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Midvale's housing stock is strongly detached-house dominated: 82.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 17.9% are semi-detached, with no apartment stock recorded. The median house price of $390,000 sits below the Perth average, and rent-to-income at 19.2% keeps renters out of stress territory. Outright owners account for 16.5% of tenure, well below the national share, while 51.4% carry mortgages, marking this as a classic mortgage belt suburb. The bedroom profile is family-oriented, with 3-bedroom (45.0%) and 4-plus bedroom (36.3%) dwellings making up over 80% of the stock. At a vacancy rate of 10.6%, above what most tight rental markets show, some oversupply pressure exists in the rental segment despite the overall affordability.
Mortgage / mo
$1,742
Rent / wk
$275
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$730
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.6%
Unoccupied
100
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.5%
Couples, no children
1,685
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 22.2% of the local workforce (130 workers), a share well above the national industry average, followed by Mining and Education each at 8.2% (48 workers). Construction at 7.0% reflects the suburb's ongoing development activity. By occupation, Community and Personal Service (140 workers) and Labourers (132) lead, consistent with the SEIFA IEO decile of 3, which ranks in the bottom third nationally for education and occupation. Unemployment sits at 6.6% and the full-time employment rate is 68.2%, both below what higher-income suburbs post. Real income growth of 2.5% over the decade has improved affordability from 49.4% to 40.5%, a notable shift, though household income at the 42.5th national percentile still leaves the suburb in the lower-middle range.
Unemployment
5.5%
Labour Force
8,139
Unemployed
450
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.2%
Part-time
25.2%
Participation
55.7%
Employed
955
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.2%
Postgraduate
3.3%
Born Overseas
40.2%
Dwellings
837
Transport to Work
Car reliance is dominant in Midvale, with 82.8% of residents driving to work, above the national average, and only 5.6% using public transport. The suburb scores IRSAD decile 3, placing it in the bottom 30% nationally for relative socio-economic advantage, and IRSD decile 4 for disadvantage. The IEO decile of 3 reflects the below-average education and occupation profile. Volunteering runs at 8.4% and 6.2% of residents (129 people) need daily assistance, a rate above the national average that aligns with the suburb's healthcare employment concentration. No schools are recorded inside the Midvale boundary, so families depend on schools in neighbouring Swan Valley suburbs. Rent-to-income of 19.2% and mortgage-to-income of 28.1% both remain below stress thresholds, giving residents reasonable financial breathing room.
Drive
82.8%
Public Transport
5.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.92%/yr
(+135 people/yr)
EstablishedMidvale's population has grown 6.9% over the past decade and the current trajectory adds approximately 135 people per year, a 0.92% annual rate. Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 reaching 14,931 by 2031. Internal migration is the primary driver at a net 201 arrivals annually, supplemented by 106 overseas migrants. The gentrification score has reached 46 out of 100 and is classified as active, with signals including population growth of 17% since 2011 and a score that accelerated from negative to 18%. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 5.5 points over the decade and the working-age share down 1.9 points, but the suburb's youthful median age of 35 means this shift is from a low base compared to older Perth suburbs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+106
Net Internal / yr
+201
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +17% since 2011, Net internal migration +201/yr, Accelerating: -2% → 18%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Midvale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Midvale a good suburb to live in?
Midvale suits families and value-conscious buyers. The median house price of $390,000 is well below the Perth average, and mortgage-to-income at 28.1% stays below the 30% stress line. The trade-offs are a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 3, placing it in the bottom 30% nationally for advantage, and high car dependency at 82.8%. The younger median age of 35, 5 years below national, reflects a family-oriented community.
What is the median house price in Midvale?
The median house price is $390,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $275 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,742, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1%. Separate houses make up 82.1% of the stock, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 45.0% of dwellings.
What schools are in Midvale?
No schools are recorded inside the Midvale boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs across the Swan Valley area. The local university qualification rate is 22.2%, which is 7.9 percentage points below the national average, consistent with a trades and services workforce profile.
Is Midvale safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Midvale in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 4 for relative disadvantage, below the national median of 5, which is typically associated with higher social stress. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 3 places it in the lower third nationally, so residents should factor this into their assessment.
Is Midvale good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $275 against a $390,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.7%, higher than most inner-ring Perth suburbs. However, the vacancy rate of 10.6% is elevated, suggesting oversupply in parts of the rental market. Net internal migration of 201 residents a year and rent growth of 3.4% support a long-term demand thesis, and 23 development applications in 12 months confirms ongoing activity.
How is Midvale's population changing?
Population has grown 6.9% over the past decade and is expanding at 0.92% annually, adding about 135 residents a year. Internal migration is the primary driver at net 201 arrivals per year, with overseas migration adding 106. The gentrification score of 46 is classified as active, with population growth of 17% since 2011 as a key signal.
What languages are spoken in Midvale?
About 40.2% of residents were born overseas, 18.6 percentage points above the national average. Filipino ancestry is strong at 368 residents. Malayalam speakers number 21, pointing to a South Indian community, and Mandarin speakers number 12. English remains dominant, with the multilingual mix reflecting WA's healthcare and mining workforce patterns.
How much development is happening in Midvale?
There were 23 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including a 25-lot subdivision proposal submitted in February 2026 and an energy management systems application. This level of activity signals ongoing densification pressure in what is currently an 82.1% detached-house suburb with room for further residential infill.
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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