North Fremantle
At a median age of 48, North Fremantle sits 8.0 years above the national figure, making it one of Perth's most markedly older-skewing suburbs. Yet 71.3% of residents stayed put over the five-year period, and household income lands in the 90.4th percentile nationally, signalling established wealth rather than stagnation. The suburb holds just 3,947 people across 3.61 km2, with a density of 1,093 per km2 that keeps it low-rise and coastal in character. University qualifications reach 55.6%, which is 25.5 points above the national rate, and the gentrification score has climbed to Active stage, with population growing 26.2% over the decade.
Population
3,947
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,387/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$630K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price sits at approximately $630,000, estimated from rental data, placing North Fremantle below many comparable coastal Perth suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600 and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.2% stays below the 30% stress threshold despite the coastal premium. Housing stock is unusually mixed: separate houses account for only 30.9% of dwellings, while apartments represent 36.8% and semi-detached 32.3%. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 41.2% and two-bedroom at 32.0%, with four-plus bedroom homes at just 13.5%. Outright owners at 38.0% outnumber mortgage holders at 29.8%, a profile consistent with long-settled, debt-light households that benefit from the 90.4th-percentile income base.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at approximately $630,000, estimated from rental data, placing North Fremantle below many comparable coastal Perth suburbs. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600 and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.2% stays below the 30% stress threshold despite the coastal premium. Housing stock is unusually mixed: separate houses account for only 30.9% of dwellings, while apartments represent 36.8% and semi-detached 32.3%. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 41.2% and two-bedroom at 32.0%, with four-plus bedroom homes at just 13.5%. Outright owners at 38.0% outnumber mortgage holders at 29.8%, a profile consistent with long-settled, debt-light households that benefit from the 90.4th-percentile income base.
For Investors
A 32.3% renter share and $480 weekly rent give landlords a steady tenant pool in a suburb where professional workers dominate. The vacancy rate of 14.6% is elevated compared to typical suburban benchmarks, pointing to relative softness in the apartment segment. Net overseas migration drives 416 arrivals a year and net internal migration adds another 338, together supporting demand from two independent channels. Development activity recorded only 5 applications in the past 12 months, a low figure indicating constrained new supply in a geographically compact suburb of 3.61 km2. Combined with 26.2% population growth over the decade and active-stage gentrification signals, the supply restriction creates a supportive medium-term backdrop for landlords willing to absorb the current vacancy premium.
Development Activity
Total DAs
5
Last 12 Months
5
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 North Fremantle iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
North Fremantle Primary School
K-6 · 157 students
Demographics
The median age of 48 is 8.0 years above the national average, and the demographic trend is aging: the senior share rose 3.9 points while working-age share fell 3.1 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents account for 28.9%, which is 7.3 points above national. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,820), Irish (574) and Scottish (530), with German (212) also represented. University qualifications at 55.6% run 25.5 points above the national rate, marking North Fremantle as a highly educated suburb. Average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below national, consistent with the couples-without-children profile where 42.0% of families have no dependent children and single-person households inflate the proportion.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
30.9%
Houses
32.3%
Townhouse
36.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is spread across all three categories: 38.0% own outright, 29.8% carry a mortgage and 32.3% rent. The outright ownership share exceeding mortgage holders suggests a long-held, debt-free base more typical of inner coastal suburbs than outer growth corridors. Stock composition leans toward apartments (36.8%) and semi-detached dwellings (32.3%), with separate houses at just 30.9%, lower than the state average. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 41.2%, followed by two-bedroom at 32.0%. Rent-to-income at 20.1% and mortgage-to-income at 25.2% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to the suburb's above-average incomes. The $480 weekly rent and $2,600 monthly mortgage payment reflect a mid-range coastal market.
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wk
$480
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,287
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.6%
Unoccupied
284
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.0%
Couples, no children
2,641
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local industry mix at 20.1% of workers (330 people), followed by Professional and Technical services at 17.7% (290) and Education at 11.8% (194). Mining employs 7.1% (117), reflecting Perth's broader resource economy, and Public Administration contributes 6.0%. By occupation, Professionals (914) and Managers (418) together account for well over half of employed residents, an occupational composition that ranks above the state and national norms. The full-time employment rate is 61.3% and unemployment is 3.7%, below national levels. Real income grew 10.7% over the decade. The SEIFA IEO decile of 9 confirms a high-education, high-occupation workforce, while the IRSAD decile of 8 reflects broad advantage across income and resources.
Unemployment
4.9%
Labour Force
11,964
Unemployed
590
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.3%
Part-time
35.0%
Participation
58.0%
Employed
1,945
Occupations
Top Industries
University
55.6%
Postgraduate
16.9%
Born Overseas
28.9%
Dwellings
1,654
Transport to Work
Car travel is the dominant mode at 76.5%, above typical inner-Perth norms, while 12.8% use public transport and 5.9% walk or cycle, consistent with the coastal location and limited train-line access. No schools are recorded within North Fremantle's 3.61 km2 boundary, so families depend on schools in neighbouring suburbs. On SEIFA measures, the suburb scores decile 9 on IEO and decile 8 on IRSAD, placing it in the top tier nationally for education and advantage. Only 4.9% of residents (184 people) need daily assistance, low relative to the median age of 48. Volunteering reaches 21.9% of residents, above the national average, reflecting the engaged, stable community where 71.3% of residents remained in the same location over the five-year period.
Drive
76.5%
Public Transport
12.8%
Walk / Cycle
5.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.84%/yr
(+376 people/yr)
EstablishedNorth Fremantle's population grew 26.2% over the decade, a rate well above the national average for established inner suburbs. Annual growth runs at 1.84% (376 persons per year), with medium-scenario forecasts projecting the broader area reaching 21,795 by 2031. Overseas migration adds 416 residents a year and internal migration contributes 338, making North Fremantle a net destination suburb from both channels. The gentrification score has reached 64, classified as Active, supported by population growth of 43% since 2011, a rising 9-to-31% share of apartment-style redevelopment, and affordability improving from 41.1% mortgage burden in 2011 to 36.4% in 2021. Rent grew 20.3% over the measurement period, ahead of income growth of 10.7%, tightening the rental market further.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+416
Net Internal / yr
+338
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +43% since 2011, Net internal migration +338/yr, Strong overseas inflow +416/yr, Accelerating: 9% → 31%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How North Fremantle compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Fremantle a good suburb to live in?
North Fremantle ranks at SEIFA IEO decile 9 and IRSAD decile 8, placing it in the top national tier for education and overall advantage. Household income is in the 90.4th percentile. The trade-off is a median age of 48, elevated by 8 years compared to the national average, and a 14.6% vacancy rate in the apartment stock.
What is the median house price in North Fremantle?
The median house price is approximately $630,000, estimated from current rental data. Weekly rent averages $480 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,600. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.2% is below the 30% stress threshold, making purchase costs manageable relative to the suburb's high-income base.
What schools are in North Fremantle?
No schools are recorded within the North Fremantle boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. Despite the absence of local schools, university qualifications among residents reach 55.6%, which is 25.5 points above the national figure, indicating a strongly educated population.
Is North Fremantle safe?
Detailed suburb-level crime data is not available for North Fremantle. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores SEIFA IRSD decile 7 and IRSAD decile 8, and only 4.9% of its 3,947 residents (184 people) require daily assistance. Low disadvantage scores are generally correlated with lower crime rates in comparable coastal Perth suburbs.
Is North Fremantle good for property investment?
Rent of $480 per week against a $630,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.0%, reasonable for a coastal inner suburb. The 14.6% vacancy rate signals some softness in the apartment segment, which is 36.8% of dwellings. Ongoing overseas migration of 416 per year and 26.2% population growth over the decade support demand, and development activity is low at only 5 applications in 12 months, keeping new supply constrained.
How is North Fremantle's population changing?
Population grew 26.2% over the decade and is currently expanding at 1.84% annually, adding about 376 people per year. Overseas migration (416/yr) and internal migration (338/yr) both contribute positively. The gentrification score of 64 sits at Active stage, with the population up 43% since 2011. Medium forecasts project continued growth toward 21,795 by 2031.
What is the demographic profile of North Fremantle residents?
The median age is 48, which is 8.0 years above the national average. University qualifications reach 55.6%, some 25.5 points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 28.9% of the population, 7.3 points higher than the national rate. Professionals and Managers make up the majority of the workforce, and 42.0% of families are couples without children.
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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