Palmyra
With 7,585 residents in 3.14 square kilometres and a density of 2,413.5 people per square kilometre, Palmyra has an established mortgage-belt profile. The median age is 39, one year below national, while university attainment is 44.0%, or 13.9 percentage points above national. Household income is at the 60.7th percentile, and overseas-born residents account for 25.8%, 4.2 points above national. Healthcare and education lead employment at 19.4% and 15.7%. Compared with neighbouring Melville and Bicton, buyers should check each address because land size, school zones and dwelling form vary across the area.
Population
7,585
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,729/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Palmyra buyers should anchor budgets to recent comparable sales because the housing stock is mixed rather than uniformly detached. Monthly mortgage costs are $1,950, equal to 26.0% of household income, while rent is $350 a week and 20.2% of income; neither measure is flagged as stressed. Separate houses make up 57.1% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 37.1%, and 3-bedroom homes 48.8%. The average household size is 2.2, 0.3 below national, which supports demand for practical 2 and 3-bedroom layouts. Compared with a detached-house market, inspect renovation needs, parking and lot dimensions before making an offer.
For Buyers
Palmyra buyers should anchor budgets to recent comparable sales because the housing stock is mixed rather than uniformly detached. Monthly mortgage costs are $1,950, equal to 26.0% of household income, while rent is $350 a week and 20.2% of income; neither measure is flagged as stressed. Separate houses make up 57.1% of dwellings, semi-detached homes 37.1%, and 3-bedroom homes 48.8%. The average household size is 2.2, 0.3 below national, which supports demand for practical 2 and 3-bedroom layouts. Compared with a detached-house market, inspect renovation needs, parking and lot dimensions before making an offer.
For Investors
Palmyra has 26.7% renting households, $350 weekly rent and an 8.1% vacancy rate, creating a measurable tenant base but more choice than a tightly constrained market. Rent growth is 6.1%, while 0 developments in the past 12 months reinforces the established-suburb profile. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which may broaden demand, but the forecast trajectory is Mixed, so vacancy should be stress-tested rather than assumed away. Healthcare, education and professional or technical work lead local employment at 19.4%, 15.7% and 9.9%. Compare net yield, insurance and maintenance with Melville and Bicton because dwelling type and land size can shift returns.
Schools in Palmyra
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
OUR LADY OF FATIMA SCHOOL
PALMYRA PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Palmyra's demographic profile is older than a young growth suburb but highly educated: the median age is 39, one year below national, and university attainment reaches 44.0%, 13.9 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 25.8%, 4.2 points above national, with Italian, French, Portuguese, Mandarin and Croatian among recorded languages. English ancestry leads at 3,403 people, followed by Irish at 1,023, Scottish at 928 and Italian at 590. No religion is recorded for 3,881 residents, ahead of Christianity at 3,025. Average household size is 2.2, 0.3 below national, consistent with a mature mix of couples, families and smaller households. Compared with Melville, household patterns should still be assessed at street level.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
57.1%
Houses
37.1%
Townhouse
5.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Palmyra's housing stock is more mixed than a detached-house suburb: separate houses account for 57.1%, semi-detached dwellings 37.1% and apartments 5.8%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.8%, followed by 2-bedroom homes at 27.7% and 4-plus bedrooms at 21.0%, so household type and renovation tolerance matter as much as land size. Tenure is split across mortgages at 42.6%, outright ownership at 29.5% and renting at 26.7%. Mortgage costs equal 26.0% of household income versus 20.2% for rent, with neither flagged as stress. Compared with Melville and Bicton, inspect lot dimensions and dwelling condition because the semi-detached share can make suburb-wide comparisons less precise.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$350
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$991
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.1%
Unoccupied
291
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.7%
Couples with children
37.9%
Couples, no children
18.6%
Single parent
1,991
Total families
Economy & Employment
Palmyra's labour market is anchored by healthcare at 19.4% of employment and education at 15.7%, followed by professional or technical work at 9.9%, construction at 8.1% and public administration at 7.9%. This spread matters because local demand is not dependent on a single sector. Professionals lead occupations at 1,308 people, ahead of managers at 579, clerical and administrative workers at 527, trades at 503 and community or personal service roles at 462. Participation is 68.2%, full-time employment is 58.9% and unemployment is 4.2%, while household income sits at the 60.7th percentile. SEIFA deciles are IEO 8, IER 7, IRSD 8 and IRSAD 8, all above the midpoint, although economic resources rank lower than the other measures. Compared with lower-ranked areas, this supports stable service demand.
Unemployment
4.2%
Labour Force
4,229
Unemployed
176
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.9%
Part-time
34.7%
Participation
68.2%
Employed
4,053
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.0%
Postgraduate
9.0%
Born Overseas
25.8%
Dwellings
3,297
Transport to Work
Palmyra's compact 3.14 square kilometres and density of 2,413.5 residents per square kilometre support a connected suburban layout, but daily travel remains car-led: 78.8% drive, compared with 5.4% using public transport and 2.7% walking or cycling. Two local schools provide a government primary option and a non-government option; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across nearby streets. Working from home accounts for 8.9%, while 4.6% of residents need assistance, making proximity and accessibility relevant for some households. Palmyra's IRSAD decile is 8, above the midpoint, and its volunteering rate is 19.1%. Compare current street-level safety information with Melville and Bicton before choosing a home, since a suburb-wide label cannot capture every micro-location.
Drive
78.8%
Public Transport
5.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
8.9%
Population Forecast
+1.08%/yr
(+178 people/yr)
EstablishedPalmyra's established-suburb outlook points to measured rather than explosive change. The annual trend is 1.08%, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 14.1% over 10 years. The forecast trajectory is Mixed, so growth should not be read as a straight line. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 32, and the shift measure also labels the stage Early signs with a score of 20. Affordability is improving, moving from 42.7% in 2011 to 35.2% in 2021, while rent growth is 6.1%. A senior-share increase of 2.3 points and working-share decline of 3.0 points suggest gradual ageing, which may temper redevelopment compared with younger corridors.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+206
Net Internal / yr
+30
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +20% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +206/yr, Accelerating: 4% → 16%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Palmyra compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palmyra a good suburb to live in?
Palmyra can suit households seeking an established, relatively compact suburb with 2 local schools and a strong professional base. It has 7,585 residents, a median age of 39 and IRSAD decile 8, above the midpoint. Car use is higher than public transport use, so compare commute patterns and exact streets before choosing.
What is the median house price in Palmyra?
There is no single current median house price to rely on for Palmyra. Key housing benchmarks are $350 weekly rent, a $1,950 monthly mortgage figure and 57.1% separate houses. Compare recent Palmyra sales with Melville and Bicton listings because dwelling type, renovation condition and land size vary.
What schools are in Palmyra?
Palmyra has 2 local schools: one government primary school and one non-government school. That gives families both sector options, but school access is more address-specific than the suburb name suggests. Check the enrolment zone, year-level availability and transport route for each property before comparing it with homes in Melville or Bicton.
Is Palmyra safe?
For a current safety decision, compare recent WA Police incident data for Palmyra with Melville and Bicton, then inspect the street at different times. The suburb covers 3.14 square kilometres and has 7,585 residents, so conditions can vary by micro-location. A suburb label alone is less useful than checking the specific block, lighting and access routes.
Is Palmyra good for property investment?
Palmyra may suit investors seeking an established rental market, with 26.7% of households renting, $350 weekly rent and an 8.1% vacancy rate. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, but 0 developments were recorded in the past 12 months. Compare net yield, insurance and maintenance with Melville and Bicton before buying.
How is Palmyra's population changing?
Palmyra has 7,585 residents today. The wider-area forecast points to 1.08% annual growth, with overseas migration the primary driver, and 14.1% population change across 10 years. The trajectory is Mixed and gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 32, so growth is more measured than a rapid expansion story.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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