Morley
Morley stands out as a large, established 6062 address with 22,539 residents across 10.5 sqkm, giving it a density of 2,146.8 people per sqkm. Compared with nearby Bayswater and Dianella, its housing profile is notably detached, with 83.7% separate houses and only 0.5% apartments. The suburb also has a migrant-heavy profile, with 44.4% born overseas, 22.8 percentage points above the national figure, while household income sits near the middle at the 51.6 percentile.
Population
22,539
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,583/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
92
Morley suits buyers looking for established family housing rather than apartment stock. Separate houses make up 83.7% of dwellings, compared with just 15.8% semi-detached homes and 0.5% apartments, so choice is weighted toward land and 3-bedroom homes. A current median house price is not recorded, making recent comparable sales important. Mortgage payments of $1,733 a month take 25.3% of income, below typical stress settings, because household incomes sit around the 51.6 percentile.
For Buyers
Morley suits buyers looking for established family housing rather than apartment stock. Separate houses make up 83.7% of dwellings, compared with just 15.8% semi-detached homes and 0.5% apartments, so choice is weighted toward land and 3-bedroom homes. A current median house price is not recorded, making recent comparable sales important. Mortgage payments of $1,733 a month take 25.3% of income, below typical stress settings, because household incomes sit around the 51.6 percentile.
For Investors
Morley is an ownership-leaning market, with renting at 28.8% compared with 35.3% owned outright and 35.9% under mortgage. Median weekly rent is $360, while the 7.4% vacancy rate means leasing strategy matters because tenants have more choice than in tighter markets. Development activity is modest at 6 approvals in 12 months, limiting new supply pressure. Demand is supported by overseas migration averaging 533 people a year, partly offset by internal outflow of 204.
Development Activity
Total DAs
92
Last 12 Months
92
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 Morley iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Infant Jesus School
PP-6 · 420 students
Weld Square Primary School
K-6 · 158 students
Morley Primary School
K-6 · 228 students
John Forrest Secondary College
7-12 · 1122 students
Hampton Park Primary School
K-6 · 394 students
Demographics
Morley's median age is 39, which is 1.0 year below the national comparison, but the suburb still has a mature family structure with an average household size of 2.5. The strongest demographic marker is migration: 44.4% of residents were born overseas, 22.8 percentage points above national, while university attainment of 34.8% is 4.7 points higher. English ancestry leads at 5,693 people, alongside Italian at 2,412 and Chinese at 2,196, shaping local food, faith and language demand.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.7%
Houses
15.8%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Morley is more detached and family-sized than apartment-led inner suburbs. Separate houses account for 83.7% of dwellings, apartments only 0.5%, and 52.0% of homes have 3 bedrooms, with another 38.9% offering 4 or more. That mix helps explain why the suburb attracts households seeking space compared with more compact nearby centres. Tenure is balanced: 35.3% own outright, 35.9% have a mortgage and 28.8% rent. No current median sale price is recorded, so buyers should benchmark by recent street-level sales.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$360
Census 2021
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$737
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.4%
Unoccupied
691
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.9%
Couples, no children
17,567
Total families
Economy & Employment
Morley's labour market is broad rather than dominated by a single white-collar sector. Healthcare is the largest industry at 15.9% and 1,145 workers, followed by education at 9.8%, construction at 9.2%, professional and tech at 9.0% and retail at 7.5%. Professionals are the biggest occupation group with 2,212 people, but clerical, community, labouring and management roles are all material. SEIFA is middle-ranked across all 4 measures, with IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD each in decile 5, matching the suburb's average income position.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
14,857
Unemployed
530
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.3%
Part-time
30.8%
Participation
59.5%
Employed
10,579
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.8%
Postgraduate
8.2%
Born Overseas
44.4%
Dwellings
8,675
Transport to Work
Morley is practical for households that drive, because 85.6% travel by car compared with 6.5% by public transport and 1.7% walking or cycling. School access is a clear strength, with 6 local schools spanning Catholic and government sectors and ICSEA scores from 983 to 1083. Infant Jesus School leads at 1083 with 420 enrolments, while Weld Square Primary at 1053 and John Forrest Secondary College at 1026 add public options. IRSAD decile 5 points to average social advantage rather than a high-pressure prestige market.
Drive
85.6%
Public Transport
6.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.05%/yr
(+267 people/yr)
EstablishedMorley is forecast to grow steadily rather than sharply, with trend growth of 1.05% a year, or about 267 residents annually. The medium scenario moves from 25,305 people in 2026 to 26,641 by 2031, above the 2025 historical population of 25,432. Migration is the main reason: overseas migration averages 533 a year, while internal migration is negative at -204. Gentrification is labelled Early signs with a score of 31, so change is visible but below a full transformation cycle.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+533
Net Internal / yr
-204
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +17% since 2011, Net internal outflow -204/yr, Strong overseas inflow +533/yr, Accelerating: 4% → 13%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Morley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Morley a good suburb to live in?
Morley is a practical family suburb if you want established housing and services. It has 22,539 residents, 6 local schools and 83.7% separate houses, although car use is high at 85.6% compared with public transport at 6.5%.
What is the median house price in Morley?
A current median house price is not recorded for Morley. The housing context still points to an established detached market, with 83.7% separate houses, 52.0% 3-bedroom homes and typical mortgage payments of $1,733 a month.
What schools are in Morley?
Morley has 6 local schools. Infant Jesus School has an ICSEA of 1083 and 420 enrolments, Weld Square Primary has 1053 and John Forrest Secondary College has 1026 with 1,122 enrolments.
Is Morley safe?
Safety should be checked at street level because Morley covers 10.5 sqkm and has 22,539 residents. Review current WA Police suburb reports, then compare the exact address with school routes, lighting and transport access.
Is Morley good for property investment?
Morley has investor appeal through a 28.8% rental share, $360 median weekly rent and overseas migration averaging 533 people a year. The main caution is the 7.4% vacancy rate, which is higher than a very tight rental market.
How is Morley's population changing?
Morley is growing at a forecast 1.05% a year, equal to about 267 people annually. The medium scenario rises from 25,305 residents in 2026 to 26,641 by 2031, mainly driven by overseas migration.
What languages are spoken in Morley?
Morley has a strong multilingual profile, with 44.4% of residents born overseas. Major non-English language groups include Mandarin with 431 speakers, Italian with 343, Cantonese with 297, Arabic with 128 and Serbian with 120.
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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