WA 6121 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Oakford

With 84.5% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and household income in the 91.7th percentile nationally, Oakford is one of Perth's most family-oriented acreage pockets. The suburb spans 46.91 square kilometres with just 2,803 residents, producing a density of 59.8 people per square kilometre, far below the national suburban average. Only 5.1% of households rent, compared to the national norm well above 30%, which points to an owner-occupier community that has largely paid down its mortgage, with 34.7% owning outright.

Oakford urban fabric map

Population

2,803

Median Age

42.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,451/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

0

Median House

$563K

Estimated from rent (2025)

46.91 km²· 59.8 people/km²· Family income $2,493/wk

The median house price is $563,000, estimated from 2025 rent data, and sits well below the Perth metro median, making Oakford one of the more attainable large-lot markets within commuting distance of the city. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite the large home sizes. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.5%, with apartments at just 0.9%, so buyers face little competing demand from unit purchasers. The dominant bedroom profile is four or more rooms at 84.5%, reflecting the rural-residential block character where three-bedroom homes account for only 11.7%.

For Buyers

The median house price is $563,000, estimated from 2025 rent data, and sits well below the Perth metro median, making Oakford one of the more attainable large-lot markets within commuting distance of the city. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite the large home sizes. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.5%, with apartments at just 0.9%, so buyers face little competing demand from unit purchasers. The dominant bedroom profile is four or more rooms at 84.5%, reflecting the rural-residential block character where three-bedroom homes account for only 11.7%.

For Investors

At just 5.1% renters, Oakford sits far below the national average, which means the rental pool is thin and yields are constrained relative to higher-density markets. Weekly rent of $400 against the $563,000 median implies a gross yield of roughly 3.7%. The vacancy rate of 4.6% is elevated, suggesting limited absorption of available rental stock. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, consistent with a stable, established acreage precinct where subdivision is restricted. The low turnover rate of 17.5% per year confirms that most buyers hold for the long term, reducing secondary market liquidity but also limiting distressed supply.

Demographics

The median age of 42 is two years above the national figure, placing Oakford in a mature family profile rather than a first-homebuyer or retiree cohort. Average household size of 3.2 is 0.7 above the national average, driven by the concentration of large family homes. Overseas-born residents account for 21.4%, which is close to the national figure with a difference of just 0.2 percentage points. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,290 residents), Scottish (237), Irish (224) and Italian (184). University qualifications reach 20.8%, which is 9.3 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a skilled trades and blue-collar workforce base rather than a professional-class enclave.

Age Distribution

0-14
19.2%
15-24
13.9%
25-44
20.5%
45-64
32.3%
65+
13.7%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.2%
2 bed
2.6%
3 bed
11.7%
4+ bed
84.5%

Dwelling Structure

98.5%

Houses

0.6%

Townhouse

0.9%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 34.7% Mortgage 60.2% Rent 5.1%

Tenure is dominated by owner-occupiers: 34.7% own their home outright and 60.2% hold a mortgage, leaving just 5.1% as renters, compared to national renter shares above 30%. This tenure mix reflects the lifestyle acreage character, where residents typically commit to long-term ownership. Separate houses account for 98.5% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 0.6% and apartments at 0.9%. The bedroom profile is heavily skewed toward large family homes: 84.5% have four or more bedrooms and 11.7% have three bedrooms, while two-bedroom or smaller dwellings total under 4%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6% indicates manageable debt levels relative to household income in the 91.7th percentile nationally.

Mortgage / mo

$2,500

Rent / wk

$400

HH Size

3.2

Personal Income / wk

$832

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

4.6%

Unoccupied

41

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

16.3%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

23.6%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Italian
11

Ancestry

English
1,290
Scottish
237
Other
225
Irish
224
Italian
184
Dutch
132

Household Composition

23.8%

Couples, no children

2,471

Total families

Economy & Employment

Construction leads local employment at 13.2% (121 workers), followed by Education at 10.1% (93), Healthcare at 9.1% (84), Mining at 8.6% (79) and Manufacturing at 8.5% (78). The construction and mining concentrations align with Perth's resource and outer-suburban economy, and both sectors tend to support above-average incomes. By occupation, Clerical/Admin (240), Professionals (215) and Managers (209) top the list, with Machinery/Drivers at 137 reflecting the skilled trades base. The unemployment rate is 3.5%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate is 63%, with 517 part-time workers alongside 879 full-time. Weekly personal income averages $832 and household income of $2,451 per week ranks in the 91.7th percentile nationally.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

63.0%

Part-time

33.5%

Participation

64.1%

Employed

1,396

Occupations

Clerical/Admin 240
Professionals 215
Managers 209
Machinery/Drivers 137
Community/Personal 133
Labourers 121
Sales 104

Top Industries

Construction 13.2%
Education 10.1%
Healthcare 9.1%
Mining 8.6%
Manufacturing 8.5%

University

20.8%

Postgraduate

3.5%

Born Overseas

21.4%

Dwellings

850

Transport to Work

Car dependency is very high, with 90.5% of residents driving to work, which is typical of outer-suburban Perth where public transport reaches only 1.8% of commuters, well below the national share. The housing stress indicators are favourable: rent-to-income sits at 16.3% and mortgage-to-income at 23.6%, both below stress thresholds. Only 4.3% of residents need daily assistance, and the community volunteers at an 18.0% rate, higher than many comparable suburbs. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby centres. Crime data is not available for Oakford, but the low disadvantage proxy of 91.7th-percentile household income and a predominantly mortgage-holding owner base suggests a low-risk residential environment.

Drive

90.5%

Public Transport

1.8%

Walk / Cycle

2.7%

Work from Home

N/A

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Oakford compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 18%
Household Income
Top 8%
Rent Level
Top 17%
Apartments
Bottom 19%
Renters
Bottom 3%
Uni Educated
Bottom 40%
Public Transport
Bottom 31%
Born Overseas
Top 27%
Density
Top 29%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oakford a good suburb to live in?

Oakford suits families seeking large homes on acreage within outer Perth. Household income sits in the 91.7th percentile nationally, mortgage-to-income is a comfortable 23.6%, and 82.5% of residents stay put year on year. The main trade-off is heavy car dependency, with 90.5% of residents driving to work and public transport used by just 1.8%.

What is the median house price in Oakford?

The median house price is approximately $563,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $400 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $2,500, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6%, well below the 30% stress threshold.

What schools are in Oakford?

No schools are recorded inside the Oakford boundary in this dataset. The suburb spans 46.91 square kilometres with a population of 2,803, so families typically rely on schools in nearby centres. Locally, 20.8% of residents hold university qualifications.

Is Oakford safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Oakford in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, household income ranks in the 91.7th percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio is a low 23.6%, and only 4.3% of the 2,803 residents need daily assistance, all consistent with a low-disadvantage area.

Is Oakford good for property investment?

Investment conditions are mixed. Gross yield is roughly 3.7% based on $400 weekly rent against the $563,000 median, and the 4.6% vacancy rate is elevated. With just 5.1% renters versus the national norm above 30%, the tenant pool is thin. No development activity was recorded in 12 months, limiting capital growth from rezoning. Long-term holders benefit from low turnover and high owner-occupier demand.

How is Oakford's population changing?

Oakford has a population of 2,803 across 46.91 square kilometres, giving a density of 59.8 people per square kilometre. The community is stable: 82.5% of residents stayed at their address over the measured period and the turnover rate is just 17.5%. The median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure, suggesting a slowly aging established base.

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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