Ocean Reef
Over 81% of homes in Ocean Reef have 4 or more bedrooms, the highest large-home ratio in Perth's northern corridor and well above the national average. Household income sits at the 92.1st percentile, placing it in the top 8% nationally, yet mortgage stress stays remarkably low at 21.0% because strong dual incomes comfortably service repayments. With 44.9% born overseas (23.3pp above national), this is a suburb shaped by skilled migration, where Afrikaans (65 speakers) leads the non-English language list, reflecting the South African professional community.
Population
8,125
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,480/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$622K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated $622,000 median house price delivers exceptional value for a top-8% income suburb. Separate houses at 95.9% dominate, with apartments at just 0.2%. The 81.3% share of 4-plus bedroom homes is extraordinary, meaning buyers overwhelmingly get large family-sized properties. Mortgage holders at 45.6% form the largest tenure group, ahead of outright owners at 42.1%, so the suburb is split between current buyers and established owners. Mortgage-to-income at 21.0% is very comfortable. Monthly repayments of $2,253 are well supported by the $2,480 weekly household income. Turnover at 18.3% provides regular listing opportunities.
For Buyers
The estimated $622,000 median house price delivers exceptional value for a top-8% income suburb. Separate houses at 95.9% dominate, with apartments at just 0.2%. The 81.3% share of 4-plus bedroom homes is extraordinary, meaning buyers overwhelmingly get large family-sized properties. Mortgage holders at 45.6% form the largest tenure group, ahead of outright owners at 42.1%, so the suburb is split between current buyers and established owners. Mortgage-to-income at 21.0% is very comfortable. Monthly repayments of $2,253 are well supported by the $2,480 weekly household income. Turnover at 18.3% provides regular listing opportunities.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $525 against a $622,000 median produces roughly 4.4% gross yield, among the strongest in Perth's northern suburbs. Vacancy at 4.9% is tight. The renter share at only 12.3% is the lowest tenure segment, meaning the tenant pool is small but competition for available rentals is fierce. Only 3 DAs in 12 months means essentially zero new supply. Population grows at 0.28% per year (25 persons), the slowest in the corridor. Overseas migration adds +170/yr but internal migration runs at -38/yr. SEIFA IRSAD decile 9 confirms the affluent demographic that supports premium rents.
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 Ocean Reef iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School
PP-6 · 587 students
Prendiville Catholic College
7-12 · 1086 students
Beaumaris Primary School
K-6 · 516 students
Ocean Reef Senior High School
7-12 · 1353 students
Ocean Reef Primary School
K-6 · 192 students
Demographics
Born-overseas residents at 44.9% are 23.3pp above the national average, reflecting Perth's skilled migration intake. English ancestry leads at 3,809, followed by Irish (999), Scottish (921), and Italian (404). Afrikaans (65), Arabic (25), Mandarin (22), French (22), and Italian (22) are the top non-English languages. University attainment at 35.2% is 5.1pp above the national average. The median age of 44 sits 4 years above national, and the senior share climbed 8.5pp over the decade, the steepest aging signal. Average household size of 2.9 exceeds the national 2.5, reflecting large families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.9%
Houses
4.0%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
The estimated median is $622,000. Detached houses at 95.9% leave almost no alternative housing types. The 81.3% share of 4-plus bedrooms means the stock is overwhelmingly large family homes, many built in the 1990s-2000s boom. Outright owners (42.1%) and mortgage holders (45.6%) together account for 87.7%, leaving renters at just 12.3%, the smallest renter segment among comparable Perth suburbs. Both stress indicators are low: mortgage-to-income at 21.0% and rent-to-income at 21.2%. SEIFA IER decile 10 (top 10% for economic resources) confirms the financial strength of residents.
Mortgage / mo
$2,253
Rent / wk
$525
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$906
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
138
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.3%
Couples, no children
7,079
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare (15.4%), education (13.6%), construction (12.8%), professional/tech (10.0%), and mining (8.5%) are the top five employers. Mining at 252 workers reflects Perth's FIFO economy. Professionals (1,027) and managers (651) lead occupations. Unemployment at 4.2% is below the national average, and participation at 63.6% is well above average. SEIFA scores are strong: IRSD decile 9 and IRSAD decile 9. Full-time employment at 61.0% is moderate, but the 15.5% volunteering rate indicates community engagement. Need-for-assistance at just 3.6% is below the national average.
Unemployment
2.0%
Labour Force
5,295
Unemployed
108
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.0%
Part-time
34.8%
Participation
63.6%
Employed
4,088
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.2%
Postgraduate
7.7%
Born Overseas
44.9%
Dwellings
2,701
Transport to Work
Public transport usage at 6.1% is moderate for Perth's northern suburbs. Car dependence at 86.7% dominates. Walking/cycling is low at 1.6%. Five schools serve the area: St Simon Peter Catholic Primary (ICSEA 1086, 587 students), Prendiville Catholic College (ICSEA 1073, 1,086 students), Beaumaris Primary (ICSEA 1070, 516 students), Ocean Reef Senior High (ICSEA 1055, 1,353 students), and Ocean Reef Primary (ICSEA 1043, 192 students). All ICSEA scores exceed 1040, placing every school comfortably above the national median.
Drive
86.7%
Public Transport
6.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.28%/yr
(+25 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at a slow 0.28% annually, adding 25 people per year, well below the national average. Over the past decade, growth was minimal at 0.3%. Overseas migration (+170/yr) drives growth, while internal migration runs at -38/yr. The medium forecast projects 8,823 residents by 2031, up from 8,698 in 2026. The aging trajectory is pronounced: the senior share rose 8.5pp, higher than the state average, while the young share fell 2.4pp and working-age dropped 3.2pp over the decade. Affordability improved from 66.7% to 57.9%, because income growth (6.8% real) outpaced housing cost increases.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+170
Net Internal / yr
-38
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Accelerating: -6% → 10%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ocean Reef compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ocean Reef a good suburb to live in?
Ocean Reef ranks in SEIFA IRSAD decile 9, the top 20% nationally. All 5 local schools score above ICSEA 1040. Household income sits at the 92.1st percentile, and mortgage stress is just 21.0%. Need-for-assistance at 3.6% is below the national average.
What is the median house price in Ocean Reef?
The estimated median house price is $622,000, based on rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,253, and mortgage-to-income sits at just 21.0%, far below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes rank in the 92.1st percentile.
What schools are in Ocean Reef?
Ocean Reef has 5 schools: St Simon Peter Catholic Primary (ICSEA 1086), Prendiville Catholic College (ICSEA 1073, 1,086 students), Beaumaris Primary (ICSEA 1070), Ocean Reef Senior High (ICSEA 1055, 1,353 students), and Ocean Reef Primary (ICSEA 1043). All score above the national median.
Is Ocean Reef safe?
Suburb-level crime data is not available for Ocean Reef. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 9 (very low disadvantage), 4.2% unemployment, and extremely high ownership rate (87.7% own or are paying off) are all strongly correlated with lower crime in Australian research.
Is Ocean Reef good for property investment?
Gross yield is strong at roughly 4.4% ($525/week vs $622,000 median), and vacancy at 4.9% is tight. However, only 12.3% of residents rent, limiting the tenant pool. Just 3 DAs in 12 months mean no new supply competition. Population growth is slow at 0.28% annually.
How is Ocean Reef's population changing?
Population grows slowly at 0.28% per year (+25 persons). Over the past decade growth was just 0.3%. Overseas migration adds 170/yr while internal migration runs at -38/yr. The aging trajectory is steep: the senior share rose 8.5pp over the decade. The forecast projects 8,823 by 2031.
What languages are spoken in Ocean Reef?
With 44.9% born overseas (23.3pp above national), Ocean Reef's top non-English languages include Afrikaans (65 speakers), Arabic (25), Mandarin (22), French (22), and Italian (22). English and Irish ancestry dominate the cultural profile.
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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