Mount Helena
Household income in the 73rd percentile nationally, yet a median house price of just $497,000 makes Mount Helena one of the more affordable well-paid communities in Perth's Hills. At 3,373 residents spread across 29 sq km, it sits far below metropolitan density, and 99.4% of its dwellings are separate houses, meaning apartments are almost absent from the market. The suburb skews slightly older than the national median at age 41, and owner-occupiers dominate tenure, with 89.3% either owning outright or paying a mortgage. Mining industry employment, at 12.3%, is roughly double the national average, reflecting proximity to the Perth Hills corridor and the fly-in fly-out economy.
Population
3,373
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,941/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$497K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price sits at $497,000, estimated from current rent levels, placing Mount Helena well below the Perth metropolitan median. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,048, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Four-or-more bedroom homes dominate at 60.6% of dwellings, followed by three-bedroom at 30.5%, making the suburb well-suited to families seeking space. Outright owners at 34.3% and mortgage holders at 55.0% together account for 89.3% of tenure, compared to a national renting share typically exceeding 30%, indicating a genuinely owner-occupier community. The vacancy rate of 5.0% points to limited rental turnover, meaning buyers face a market with a relatively thin available supply.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at $497,000, estimated from current rent levels, placing Mount Helena well below the Perth metropolitan median. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,048, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Four-or-more bedroom homes dominate at 60.6% of dwellings, followed by three-bedroom at 30.5%, making the suburb well-suited to families seeking space. Outright owners at 34.3% and mortgage holders at 55.0% together account for 89.3% of tenure, compared to a national renting share typically exceeding 30%, indicating a genuinely owner-occupier community. The vacancy rate of 5.0% points to limited rental turnover, meaning buyers face a market with a relatively thin available supply.
For Investors
The rental sector in Mount Helena is thin, with only 10.7% of dwellings rented compared to the national average closer to 30%. Median weekly rent is $380, giving a gross yield of approximately 3.9% against the $497,000 house price, modest but above what inner-city markets often offer. The 5.0% vacancy rate indicates that existing stock is largely occupied, though the very small rental pool means liquidity for investors is limited. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, consistent with the suburb's established low-density character and minimal infill activity. Population growth data is not available in this brief, but the 81.8% of residents who stayed in the same address over five years signals low churn, which supports stable long-term tenancies rather than speculative turnover.
Schools in Mount Helena iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Eastern Hills Senior High School
7-12 · 789 students
Mount Helena Primary School
K-6 · 136 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 is 1.0 year above the national figure, placing Mount Helena marginally toward an older profile without being a retirement community. University qualifications reach 21.0%, which is 9.1 percentage points below the national average, reflecting an economy anchored in trades, mining, and healthcare rather than professional-services clusters. Overseas-born residents account for 21.8% of the population, in line with the national average, with ancestry strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,701), Scottish (417), and Irish (335) are the top three groups. Average household size is 2.8, which is 0.3 above the national figure, consistent with the high share of family-sized homes. Volunteering runs at 19.1%, above most metropolitan comparison suburbs, and only 4.8% of residents need daily assistance.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.4%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Mount Helena's housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.4% of dwellings, compared to the national average where apartments and semi-detached homes account for roughly 30% of stock. Four-plus bedroom homes represent 60.6% of the total, and three-bedroom homes add another 30.5%, making small-footprint dwellings effectively absent. Tenure is owner-dominated: 34.3% own outright and 55.0% hold a mortgage, with just 10.7% renting. Rent-to-income sits at 19.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 24.4% is similarly comfortable. The median house price of $497,000 reflects affordable pricing by Perth Hills standards, and the vacancy rate of 5.0% suggests modest stock availability for those seeking to buy or rent.
Mortgage / mo
$2,048
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$824
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.0%
Unoccupied
61
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.5%
Couples, no children
2,738
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 15.8% (167 workers), followed closely by Mining at 12.3% (130 workers), a share that is notably higher than the national average and reflects the Perth Hills area's role as a residential base for mining-sector workers. Education accounts for 11.6% (122 workers) and Construction for 9.4% (99 workers), with Public Administration at 9.3%. Professionals are the largest occupational group with 282 workers, followed by Community/Personal services (214), Clerical/Admin (182), and Managers (159). The unemployment rate of 4.9% is near the national average, and the full-time employment rate of 64.0% is healthy. Participation rate of 58.0% leaves 833 residents not in the labour force, partly explained by the presence of families with children and the slightly older median age.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.0%
Part-time
31.1%
Participation
58.0%
Employed
1,490
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.0%
Postgraduate
3.9%
Born Overseas
21.8%
Dwellings
1,151
Transport to Work
Car dependence is extreme at 90.2% of residents driving to work, with public transport at just 2.1%, well below the national average for metropolitan areas, which reflects the suburb's location in Perth's outer Hills corridor. Walking and cycling account for another 2.1% of commute modes. No schools are recorded within the Mount Helena boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs such as Mundaring and Midland. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb. The rent-to-income ratio of 19.6% and mortgage-to-income of 24.4% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, indicating that housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes in the 73rd income percentile nationally. With no apartment stock to speak of and a 60.6% share of four-plus bedroom homes, the suburb caters to families who prioritise space and semi-rural living over urban walkability.
Drive
90.2%
Public Transport
2.1%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mount Helena compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Helena a good suburb to live in?
Mount Helena suits families and owner-occupiers who prioritise space and semi-rural character. Household income is in the 73rd percentile nationally, housing costs are manageable with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.4%, and 89.3% of residents own their homes. The trade-off is near-total car dependence at 90.2% of commuters driving, and limited walkable amenity.
What is the median house price in Mount Helena?
The median house price is approximately $497,000, estimated from current rent levels as of 2025. Weekly rent averages $380, and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,048. At 24.4% of income, mortgage servicing costs are below the 30% stress threshold for the typical local household.
What schools are in Mount Helena?
No schools are recorded inside the Mount Helena boundary in this dataset. Families typically rely on schools in nearby suburbs including Mundaring and the wider Hills corridor. Despite the gap, university qualifications among residents stand at 21.0%, reflecting an educated working population.
Is Mount Helena safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Mount Helena in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, housing stress is low, with rent-to-income at 19.6% and mortgage-to-income at 24.4%, both below stress thresholds nationally. Only 4.8% of residents need daily assistance, and residential stability is high at 81.8% long-term residents.
Is Mount Helena good for property investment?
The rental market is small, with only 10.7% of dwellings rented compared to a national average closer to 30%, limiting tenant demand. Gross yield is approximately 3.9% at $380 weekly rent against the $497,000 median, which is above inner-city norms. The vacancy rate of 5.0% and zero new development applications in the past 12 months suggest stable but low-growth conditions.
How is Mount Helena's population changing?
Detailed population forecasts are not available for Mount Helena. The suburb currently has 3,373 residents across 29 sq km. Residential stability is high, with 81.8% of residents remaining at the same address over a five-year period and an 18.2% turnover rate, lower than many comparable outer-suburban areas.
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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