Murdoch
With 45% of residents born overseas, Murdoch runs 23.4 percentage points above the national average, making international diversity the defining feature of this southern Perth suburb. University qualifications reach 42.5%, which is 12.4 points above national, reflecting proximity to Murdoch University and Fiona Stanley Hospital. The median house price sits at $541,000, placing the suburb in an affordable tier relative to Perth's inner suburbs, and 53.2% of dwellings are owned outright, well above the national norm. Population has grown 3.1% over 10 years, driven almost entirely by overseas arrivals averaging 381 per year.
Population
3,352
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,459/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$541K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $541,000 positions Murdoch below many comparable Perth southern suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,037, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.2%, above the 30% stress threshold, though household incomes sit in the 44.8th percentile nationally. Stock is dominated by separate houses at 78%, and 55.6% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, suggesting family-sized supply. Outright owners at 53.2% significantly outnumber mortgage holders at 23.4%, pointing to long-held, debt-free tenure rather than a churn of new buyers.
For Buyers
The median house price of $541,000 positions Murdoch below many comparable Perth southern suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,037, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.2%, above the 30% stress threshold, though household incomes sit in the 44.8th percentile nationally. Stock is dominated by separate houses at 78%, and 55.6% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, suggesting family-sized supply. Outright owners at 53.2% significantly outnumber mortgage holders at 23.4%, pointing to long-held, debt-free tenure rather than a churn of new buyers.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $445 against a $541,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.3%, stronger than most Perth inner-ring suburbs. The 23.4% renter share is moderate, and overseas migration adds 381 residents per year, anchored by the university and hospital precinct. Vacancy at 8.0% is elevated relative to Perth's tight market, meaning landlords should expect more competition for tenants than elsewhere. Rent grew 8.1% over the tracked period while real incomes grew 10.6%, keeping rental demand supported. Internal migration is marginally negative at minus 6 per year, so demand depends on overseas arrivals rather than domestic growth.
Schools in Murdoch iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kennedy Baptist College
7-12 · 1244 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, with the senior share rising 7.6 points over the decade, driving an aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents at 45% run 23.4 points above the national average. English leads ancestry (929 residents), followed by Chinese (643), and the top non-English languages are Mandarin (116 speakers), Cantonese (54) and Bengali (20). Couples without children represent 37.1% of families, consistent with the older age profile. The volunteering rate of 21% is above typical suburban levels, matching the educated base where university qualifications at 42.5% exceed the national figure by 12.4 points.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
78.0%
Houses
14.0%
Townhouse
8.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is owner-dominated: 53.2% own outright and 23.4% hold a mortgage, leaving 23.4% renting. The outright-ownership share is above national norms, reflecting long-held, debt-free estates rather than recent buyers. Separate houses are 78% of stock, with 55.6% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms. The median house price is $541,000 and monthly repayments average $2,037. Rent stress is flagged at 30.5% of income and mortgage stress at 32.2%, both crossing the 30% threshold, though with so many outright owners these pressures affect a minority of households.
Mortgage / mo
$2,037
Rent / wk
$445
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$584
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.0%
Unoccupied
92
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.5% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.2% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.1%
Couples, no children
2,011
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 17.3% (151 workers), ahead of Education at 12.9% (113) and Professional/Tech at 11.9% (104), consistent with Fiona Stanley Hospital and Murdoch University anchoring the area. Professionals are the top occupation at 373 workers. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 7 places Murdoch above average nationally, while the IRSD decile of 8 indicates relatively low deprivation. Unemployment at 8.4% runs above the national average, likely because the university and hospital proximity brings part-time and early-career workers. The participation rate of 43.2% is low, reflecting 1,394 residents not in the labour force.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
8,053
Unemployed
176
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.3%
Part-time
41.3%
Participation
43.2%
Employed
1,206
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.5%
Postgraduate
10.3%
Born Overseas
45.0%
Dwellings
1,051
Transport to Work
Car dependence runs high at 81.4% of commuters driving, above national averages, while 7.6% use public transport and 4.5% walk or cycle. The IRSAD decile of 7 and IEO decile of 7 both place Murdoch above the national midpoint on advantage and education-occupation measures. Household income sits in the 44.8th percentile nationally, below median, partly because the university and hospital mix includes part-time and early-career workers. Rent-to-income at 30.5% signals stress for renters, and 6.2% of residents (189 people) need daily assistance. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset.
Drive
81.4%
Public Transport
7.6%
Walk / Cycle
4.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.6%/yr
(+86 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth is 0.6%, adding about 86 people per year, below the national pace, with a 10-year change of 3.1%. Overseas migration at 381 arrivals per year is the sole positive driver; internal migration runs at minus 6. Medium forecasts project the broader area reaching 14,287 by 2031, from 14,115 in 2024. Early gentrification signals are present: population up 12% since 2011 and an accelerating trajectory. Affordability improved from 68% in 2011 to 54.1% in 2021, and real incomes grew 10.6% over the decade.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+381
Net Internal / yr
-6
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +12% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +381/yr, Accelerating: -1% → 12%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Murdoch compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Murdoch a good suburb to live in?
Murdoch ranks in SEIFA IRSAD decile 7 and IRSD decile 8, both above the national midpoint. University qualifications at 42.5% are 12.4 points above national, and 53.2% of homes are owned outright. The main trade-offs are an 8.4% unemployment rate and heavy car dependence at 81.4% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Murdoch?
The median house price in Murdoch is $541,000. Weekly rent averages $445 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,037. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.2% is above the 30% stress threshold, though household incomes sit at the 44.8th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Murdoch?
No primary or secondary schools are recorded inside the Murdoch suburb boundary in this dataset. Murdoch University is the dominant educational institution in the area, which explains why 42.5% of residents hold university qualifications, a rate 12.4 points above the national average.
Is Murdoch safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Murdoch in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, Murdoch scores SEIFA IRSD decile 8, placing it in the lower-disadvantage tier nationally. Only 6.2% of residents need daily assistance and the volunteering rate of 21% suggests an engaged, stable community.
Is Murdoch good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $445 against a $541,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.3%, stronger than many comparable Perth suburbs. Overseas migration of 381 arrivals per year supports demand, and rent grew 8.1% over the tracked period. The 8.0% vacancy rate is elevated and worth monitoring before committing.
How is Murdoch's population changing?
Annual growth is 0.6%, adding about 86 people per year, with the 10-year change at 3.1%. Overseas migration at 381 per year is the primary driver, while net internal migration is minus 6. Medium forecasts project the broader area reaching 14,287 residents by 2031, up from 14,115 in 2024.
What languages are spoken in Murdoch?
About 45% of residents were born overseas, which is 23.4 percentage points above the national average. Mandarin is the leading non-English language with 116 speakers, followed by Cantonese (54) and Bengali (20), reflecting the university and hospital precinct's international community.
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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