Mount Richon
At a median age of 50, Mount Richon sits 10 years above the national figure, making it one of the oldest-skewing suburbs in the Perth foothills. Only 2,067 people live across 2.15 square kilometres, and 47.7% of them own their home outright, well above the national average. House prices, estimated at $416,000, sit below the broader Perth median, while the vacancy rate of 9.4% is elevated compared to typical residential suburbs. The suburb ranks in IRSD decile 7, indicating moderate advantage relative to the state, and the IER score reaches decile 9, reflecting strong economic resources among established owner-occupier households.
Population
2,067
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,450/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$416K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $416,000 places Mount Richon well below the Perth metropolitan median, offering a more affordable entry point for buyers seeking detached housing. Separate houses account for 77.2% of the dwelling stock, with 4-plus bedroom homes making up 48.7%, so the suburb leans toward larger family-sized properties. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,817, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, which means buyers at median income levels carry manageable servicing costs. Outright owners at 47.7% comfortably outnumber those on a mortgage at 41.8%, a pattern more common in mature owner-occupier markets than in high-growth zones.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $416,000 places Mount Richon well below the Perth metropolitan median, offering a more affordable entry point for buyers seeking detached housing. Separate houses account for 77.2% of the dwelling stock, with 4-plus bedroom homes making up 48.7%, so the suburb leans toward larger family-sized properties. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,817, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, which means buyers at median income levels carry manageable servicing costs. Outright owners at 47.7% comfortably outnumber those on a mortgage at 41.8%, a pattern more common in mature owner-occupier markets than in high-growth zones.
For Investors
The rental market in Mount Richon is thin. Only 10.5% of dwellings are rented, compared to the national average which typically sits above 30%, and weekly rent is estimated at $300. The vacancy rate of 9.4% is notably high for a suburb of this size, signalling limited tenant demand relative to the available stock. Net internal migration averages 55 arrivals per year, while overseas migration adds 44, together providing a modest but consistent demand base. The 12-month development application count is zero, so no new supply is entering the market. Investors considering this suburb should weigh the low yield environment against the affordability of the $416,000 median and the stability that comes from an 89% owner-occupier base.
Demographics
The median age of 50 is 10 years above the national figure, and the demographic shift over the decade reinforces this: the senior share rose 5.3 points while the working-age share fell 2.7 points. Overseas-born residents account for 34.7% of the population, which is 13.1 points above the national average. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, with English (1,033), Scottish (233) and Irish (200) the top three groups, and Dutch (102) adding a distinct European strand. University qualifications reach 20.0%, which is 10.1 points below the national figure, consistent with a blue-collar and trade-oriented workforce. Average household size is 2.3, marginally below national, and 37.7% of families are couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.2%
Houses
0.8%
Townhouse
2.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupation dominates tenure in Mount Richon: 47.7% own outright and 41.8% hold a mortgage, leaving just 10.5% renting, well below the national rental share. The dwelling mix is heavily weighted toward larger homes, with 48.7% having four or more bedrooms and 30.5% having three bedrooms, together accounting for nearly 80% of the stock. Separate houses represent 77.2% of all dwellings, reinforcing the low-density character of the suburb. The median house price is estimated at $416,000 based on the prevailing rent of $300 per week. Rent-to-income sits at 20.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 28.9% is likewise under the stress line, reflecting the combination of affordable prices and established household incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,817
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$706
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.4%
Unoccupied
87
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.7%
Couples, no children
1,622
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 16.3% of the workforce (94 workers), followed by Education at 13.7% (79 workers) and Construction at 13.1% (76 workers), with Public Administration at 8.7% and Mining at 7.4%. This is a notably practical workforce mix rather than a knowledge-economy concentration. By occupation, Professionals lead with 147 workers, followed by Clerical/Admin at 137 and Community/Personal at 99, with Managers at 97. The unemployment rate is 4.7% and the participation rate is 52.5%, the latter suppressed by 684 residents classified as not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age of 50. Household income sits at the 44.1st percentile nationally, below average, though the IER decile of 9 captures the substantial accumulated wealth in owner-occupier households.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
4,997
Unemployed
156
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.7%
Part-time
30.6%
Participation
52.5%
Employed
884
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.0%
Postgraduate
4.9%
Born Overseas
34.7%
Dwellings
842
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high in Mount Richon, with 88.1% of residents driving to work, compared to the national urban average. Public transport use at 4.3% is low, typical of a foothills suburb without a rail connection. Walking and cycling account for 2.8%. The suburb ranks at IRSAD decile 6, placing it in the middle tier nationally on a combined advantage and disadvantage measure, while the IRSD decile of 7 indicates moderate advantage relative to deprivation. Volunteering runs at 14.6% of residents, and 5.6% (109 people) need daily assistance, a figure consistent with the older age profile. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on facilities in neighbouring suburbs within the Armadale corridor. The housing stress indicators are reassuring, with rent-to-income at 20.7% and mortgage-to-income at 28.9%, both below stress thresholds.
Drive
88.1%
Public Transport
4.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.07%/yr
(+97 people/yr)
EstablishedMount Richon is growing at a measured pace of 1.07% annually, adding roughly 97 people per year. The SA2 population has expanded 18% since 2011, and medium projections see the local area reaching 9,569 by 2031. Migration is balanced across two channels: net internal arrivals of 55 per year and overseas arrivals of 44, making growth less dependent on any single source than many comparable suburbs. The suburb shows early signs of gentrification, with the score at 28 and signals including the 18% population rise since 2011 and accelerating internal migration share moving from 6% to 11%. Affordability has improved over the decade, with the affordability index moving from 48.2% in 2011 to 40.9% in 2021, a positive signal for buyers considering a long hold. Rent growth of 5.4% reflects the gradual tightening of rental conditions despite the current high vacancy rate.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+44
Net Internal / yr
+55
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +18% since 2011, Net internal migration +55/yr, Accelerating: 6% → 11%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mount Richon compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Richon a good suburb to live in?
Mount Richon suits established households rather than young families starting out. It ranks at IRSD decile 7, indicating moderate advantage nationally, and 47.7% of residents own their home outright. The suburb has an older median age of 50 and limited public transport, but housing costs are affordable, with mortgage-to-income at 28.9%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What is the median house price in Mount Richon?
The median house price is estimated at $416,000, based on the prevailing weekly rent of $300. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,817, and the rent-to-income ratio is 20.7%, both comfortably below stress levels. This price point sits below the broader Perth metropolitan median.
What schools are in Mount Richon?
No schools are recorded within the Mount Richon suburb boundary in this dataset. With a population of 2,067 and a median age of 50, the suburb has a lower proportion of school-aged children than the national average, so families typically access schools in adjacent suburbs within the Armadale area.
Is Mount Richon safe?
Detailed crime rate data is not available for Mount Richon in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb ranks at IRSD decile 7, placing it in the moderately advantaged tier nationally, and 5.6% of residents (109 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the older population profile rather than elevated disadvantage.
Is Mount Richon good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. The $416,000 median entry point is accessible, and migration adds about 99 people per year, but the 9.4% vacancy rate is elevated and only 10.5% of dwellings are rented. Weekly rent of $300 against the median price implies a low gross yield. Investors would rely on capital growth from the improving affordability trend rather than rental income.
How is Mount Richon's population changing?
The suburb is growing at 1.07% per year, adding roughly 97 people annually. The SA2 population rose 18% since 2011, and medium projections show continued growth to 9,569 by 2031. Net internal migration of 55 per year and overseas migration of 44 per year are both positive, though the demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 5.3 points over the decade.
What languages are spoken in Mount Richon?
About 34.7% of residents were born overseas, which is 13.1 points above the national average. Ancestry is predominantly English (1,033 residents), Scottish (233) and Irish (200), with Dutch (102) also notable. English is the dominant language; specific non-English language data is not recorded for this suburb.
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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