North Perth
Italian ancestry at 1,222 ranks second only to English (3,281) in a suburb where Mining employs 7.3% of workers, a sector share virtually absent from eastern-seaboard inner suburbs at this density (3,138/km2). Household income at the 89th percentile ($2,323/week) and university qualifications at 56.0% (25.9 points above national) place North Perth among Perth's inner-north elite, confirmed by IRSAD decile 9 and IRSD decile 9. The rent-to-income ratio of 17.2% is remarkably low, the lowest in this batch, meaning housing costs absorb less than a fifth of earnings. Volunteering at 20.4% sits well above the national average, suggesting strong community engagement.
Population
9,623
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,323/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
34
Median House
$560K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Detached houses at 65.4% dominate, with apartments at 15.9% and semi-detached at 18.5% providing diversity unusual for Perth's inner ring. Three-bedrooms at 46.9% lead, with four-bedroom-plus at 21.3% and two-bedrooms at 22.6%. The estimated $560,000 median is moderate for Perth's inner north given the 89th-percentile income level. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,473 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Ownership at 66.2% (29.6% outright + 36.6% mortgage) is strong, with renters at 33.8%. Residential stability at 73.5% reflects moderate turnover.
For Buyers
Detached houses at 65.4% dominate, with apartments at 15.9% and semi-detached at 18.5% providing diversity unusual for Perth's inner ring. Three-bedrooms at 46.9% lead, with four-bedroom-plus at 21.3% and two-bedrooms at 22.6%. The estimated $560,000 median is moderate for Perth's inner north given the 89th-percentile income level. Monthly mortgage repayments of $2,473 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. Ownership at 66.2% (29.6% outright + 36.6% mortgage) is strong, with renters at 33.8%. Residential stability at 73.5% reflects moderate turnover.
For Investors
The 33.8% renter share sits close to the national average, providing a reasonable tenant base. Median weekly rent of $400 against a $560,000 median produces gross yield around 3.7%, moderate by Perth standards. The 9.7% vacancy rate is elevated, suggesting some softness in rental demand. With 30 DAs in 12 months, development activity is modest. Net overseas migration of 172 per year and net internal inflow of 40 per year provide steady demand without overheating risk. The gentrification score of 22 shows early signs, with population up 21% since 2011 and growth accelerating from 1% to 20%.
Development Activity
Total DAs
38
Last 12 Months
34
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+3300.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$663K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in North Perth iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
North Perth Primary School
K-6 · 470 students
Kyilla Primary School
K-6 · 364 students
Demographics
Italian ancestry at 1,222 and Italian language speakers (184) give North Perth a distinctly Mediterranean heritage layer alongside its English (3,281) and Irish (1,149) Anglo-Celtic base. Greek (47) and Macedonian (47) add to this southern European character. University qualifications at 56.0% are 25.9 points above national, consistent with IEO decile 9. The 30.7% born overseas is 9.1 points above the national average. The median age of 38 sits 2 years below national. Average household size of 2.3 is slightly below the national 2.5, and couples with children at 2,951 outnumber couples without at 2,057.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
65.4%
Houses
18.5%
Townhouse
15.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership is split: 29.6% outright, 36.6% mortgage and 33.8% renting, a balanced tenure mix compared to Perth's outer suburbs. Detached houses at 65.4% dominate, but apartments (15.9%) and semi-detached (18.5%) provide more diversity than typical Perth suburbs. Three-bedroom homes (46.9%) lead the stock, with four-bedroom-plus (21.3%) and two-bedrooms (22.6%) offering range. The estimated $560,000 median is accessible for 89th-percentile incomes. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6% and rent-to-income of 17.2% both sit well below stress thresholds, confirming financial comfort. Affordability improved from 44.5% to 34.8% over the decade.
Mortgage / mo
$2,473
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,147
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.7%
Unoccupied
419
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.8%
Couples, no children
6,686
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/Tech leads at 17.4% (757 workers), closely followed by Healthcare at 16.6% (725) and Education at 12.0% (523). Mining at 7.3% (318) is distinctive, reflecting Perth's fly-in-fly-out economy reaching into inner suburbs. Public Admin at 7.4% rounds out the top five. Professionals (2,247) and Managers (911) dominate occupations, consistent with IRSAD decile 9. Unemployment at 4.3% and participation at 68.6% are both near or above national averages. The full-time rate of 65.9% is moderate, possibly reflecting the FIFO work patterns where on-off rostering affects part-time classification.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
6,991
Unemployed
253
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.9%
Part-time
29.8%
Participation
68.6%
Employed
5,336
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.0%
Postgraduate
13.8%
Born Overseas
30.7%
Dwellings
3,884
Transport to Work
Car dependency is moderate at 71.7%, with public transport at 16.2% and walking/cycling at 7.3%, a better mix than most Perth suburbs thanks to inner-city bus and train proximity. Two schools serve the suburb: North Perth Primary (ICSEA 1,135, 470 students) and Kyilla Primary (ICSEA 1,132, 364 students), both government schools sitting 132-135 points above the national benchmark. IRSAD decile 9 and IRSD decile 9 confirm high socio-economic advantage. The rent-to-income ratio of 17.2% is the lowest in this batch.
Drive
71.7%
Public Transport
16.2%
Walk / Cycle
7.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.32%/yr
(+145 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth averages 1.32% per year (145 persons), moderate for inner Perth. The 13.6% increase over the decade is close to the national average. Net overseas migration of 172 per year is the primary driver, with internal migration adding 40 per year. The medium forecast projects 11,637 by 2031, up from 10,910 in 2026. The gentrification score of 22 shows early signs: population grew 21% since 2011, growth accelerated from 1% to 20%, and real income grew 10.8%. The working-age share expanded by 1.3 points, a positive employment signal.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+172
Net Internal / yr
+40
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +21% since 2011, Accelerating: 1% → 20%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How North Perth compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Perth a good suburb to live in?
North Perth combines IRSAD decile 9 with both schools above ICSEA 1,130 and the lowest rent-to-income ratio in this batch at 17.2%. University qualifications at 56.0% sit 25.9 points above national. The tradeoff is moderate car dependency at 71.7%, though public transport at 16.2% is above Perth average. The Italian heritage (1,222 ancestry, 184 speakers) adds cultural character.
What is the median house price in North Perth?
The estimated median is $560,000 (rent-derived, 2025). Weekly rent is $400 and monthly mortgage repayments sit at $2,473. At the 89th household income percentile, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.6% and rent-to-income of 17.2% are both comfortable, making North Perth financially accessible relative to its inner-Perth peers.
What schools are in North Perth?
North Perth has 2 government primary schools: North Perth Primary (ICSEA 1,135, 470 students) and Kyilla Primary (ICSEA 1,132, 364 students). Both sit 132-135 points above the national 1,000 ICSEA benchmark, among the highest government primary scores in Perth's inner ring.
Is North Perth safe?
Crime data is not available for North Perth in the current dataset. The IRSD decile 9 indicates very low disadvantage. The 4.3% unemployment rate is below the national average, and the 20.4% volunteering rate is well above the national norm. IRSAD decile 9 confirms high socio-economic conditions.
Is North Perth good for property investment?
The 33.8% renter share provides a reasonable tenant base near the national average. Gross yield is roughly 3.7% ($400/week on $560,000). The 9.7% vacancy rate is elevated and worth monitoring. With 30 DAs in 12 months, supply pressure is modest. Growth of 1.32% per year and gentrification (early signs, score 22) suggest gradual capital appreciation.
How is North Perth's population changing?
Growth is moderate at 1.32% per year (145 people), with population up 13.6% over the decade. Overseas migration of 172 per year is the primary driver, supplemented by internal inflow of 40. The medium forecast projects 11,637 by 2031. Growth is accelerating from 1% to 20%, and the working-age share expanded by 1.3 points.
What languages are spoken in North Perth?
Italian (184), Mandarin (58), Greek (47), Macedonian (47) and Cantonese (45) lead non-English languages. With 30.7% born overseas (9.1 points above national), the mix reflects North Perth's distinctive Mediterranean heritage. Italian ancestry at 1,222 ranks second overall, a heritage density unusual for Australian inner suburbs.
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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