Perth
At 13,670 residents packed into 4.55 sq km, Perth has a density of 3,001.4 people per sq km and a distinctly inner-city housing mix: 80.1% apartments, 66.3% renters and only 8.7% separate houses. The median age is 33, which is 7.0 years below the national comparison, while 56.4% were born overseas, 34.8 percentage points above the national figure. Compared with nearby Northbridge and East Perth, Perth reads as a compact employment and rental hub, with walking and cycling at 28.9% and household income at the 73.8th percentile. The trade-off is a 22.3% vacancy rate, which can improve choice but also signals softer rental competition than tighter markets.
Population
13,670
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,960/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
26
Perth suits buyers who value a central apartment lifestyle more than a conventional family block. Separate houses account for just 8.7% of dwellings, while apartments make up 80.1%; 49.4% of homes have 2 bedrooms and 31.0% have 0 or 1 bedroom. That mix matters because smaller dwellings align with the average household size of 1.8, but it narrows options for larger families. A median house price is unavailable, so buyers should compare individual apartment sales rather than rely on a suburb-wide house benchmark. The $400 weekly rent and $1,950 monthly mortgage reference give a starting point, with mortgage costs equal to 23.0% of household income. Compared with detached-house markets, Perth is lower-maintenance but more exposed to strata fees, building quality and apartment supply.
For Buyers
Perth suits buyers who value a central apartment lifestyle more than a conventional family block. Separate houses account for just 8.7% of dwellings, while apartments make up 80.1%; 49.4% of homes have 2 bedrooms and 31.0% have 0 or 1 bedroom. That mix matters because smaller dwellings align with the average household size of 1.8, but it narrows options for larger families. A median house price is unavailable, so buyers should compare individual apartment sales rather than rely on a suburb-wide house benchmark. The $400 weekly rent and $1,950 monthly mortgage reference give a starting point, with mortgage costs equal to 23.0% of household income. Compared with detached-house markets, Perth is lower-maintenance but more exposed to strata fees, building quality and apartment supply.
For Investors
Perth has a renter-heavy, apartment-led investment profile, with 66.3% of occupied dwellings rented and 80.1% apartments. The $400 weekly rent is supported by a 22.3% vacancy rate, so tenant demand may be easier to capture in well-located stock but pricing power can be lower than in tighter markets. Rent growth is -8.9%, reinforcing the need to underwrite conservatively rather than assume rapid increases. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while 26 development applications in 12 months indicate continuing commercial and institutional activity. Compared with lower-vacancy suburbs, Perth gives investors more leasing choice but also more competition between apartments; layout, body-corporate costs and walkable access are likely to matter more than detached-house scarcity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
26
Last 12 Months
26
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$482K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Perth
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
MERCEDES COLLEGE
ST GEORGE'S ANGLICAN GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Demographics
Perth's 13,670 residents are younger and more internationally connected than the national comparison. Median age is 33, or 7.0 years below national, and 51.7% hold a university qualification, 21.6 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 56.4%, 34.8 points above national, helping explain Mandarin as the leading listed non-English language at 463 people. English ancestry is recorded for 3,335 people, Chinese for 1,820 and Irish for 1,157, while no religion is reported by 6,412. The average household size is 1.8, 0.7 below national, because couples without children represent 66.5% of families. Compared with larger-household suburbs, Perth's compact dwellings and high 45.0% turnover fit a more mobile inner-city population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
8.7%
Houses
11.2%
Townhouse
80.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Perth's housing market is defined by compact, high-density stock rather than detached ownership. Apartments make up 80.1% of dwellings, separate houses 8.7% and semi-detached homes 11.2%. Bedroom supply is concentrated in 2-bedroom homes at 49.4%, followed by 0 or 1-bedroom dwellings at 31.0%, which matches the 1.8-person average household size. Renting dominates at 66.3%, compared with 20.6% paying a mortgage and 12.3% owning outright. Vacancy is 22.3%, while rent equals 20.4% of household income and mortgage costs 23.0%, with neither marked as stressed. Compared with East Perth and Northbridge, Perth should be assessed building by building because apartment age, strata charges and amenity can vary more than suburb labels suggest.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$400
Census 2021
HH Size
1.8
Personal Income / wk
$1,139
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
22.3%
Unoccupied
1,718
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.9%
Couples with children
66.5%
Couples, no children
8.9%
Single parent
2,727
Total families
Economy & Employment
Perth combines a highly educated workforce with a mixed city-centre employment base. Professional and technical industries lead at 18.1% with 1,191 workers, followed by healthcare at 13.6% and hospitality at 12.7%; mining contributes 9.7% and education 6.2%. Professionals number 3,021 and managers 1,163, helping explain personal income of $1,139 a week and household income at the 73.8th percentile. Employment participation is 69.5%, unemployment 5.4% and full-time employment 67.4%. SEIFA is uneven: education and occupation reach decile 9, IRSAD is decile 8 and IRSD decile 7, but economic resources are only decile 2. Compared with outer suburban labour markets, this suggests stronger skills and access to professional work, alongside pockets of financial constraint linked to renting and inner-city costs.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
8,838
Unemployed
481
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.4%
Part-time
27.1%
Participation
69.5%
Employed
8,357
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
51.7%
Postgraduate
15.1%
Born Overseas
56.4%
Dwellings
5,986
Transport to Work
Perth is practical for residents who can use central services without relying on a car. Walking and cycling account for 28.9% of travel, public transport 17.2% and car driving 39.0%, while density reaches 3,001.4 people per sq km across 4.55 sq km. Two nearby schools are non-government, so families should check each address against enrolment zones and the preferred school sector rather than infer suitability from distance alone. The area has an IRSAD decile of 8 and an IRSD decile of 7, indicating relatively strong overall advantage but a more mixed deprivation picture. Compared with lower-density suburban settings, Perth trades private space for shorter daily trips, apartment living and access to city services. Check current WA Police information for street-level safety decisions, since conditions can vary within a dense 4.55 sq km area.
Drive
39.0%
Public Transport
17.2%
Walk / Cycle
28.9%
Work from Home
10.0%
Population Forecast
+3.35%/yr
(+532 people/yr)
EstablishedPerth's growth outlook is stronger than a static established-suburb label suggests. The annual trend is 3.35%, and population change across the wider area is 55.2% over 10 years, with overseas migration the primary driver. The shift trajectory is Mixed: affordability improved from 40.7% in 2011 to 34.9% in 2021, while real income growth was -13.5% and rent growth -8.9%. Gentrification signals are present but modest, with a score of 25 and a stage of Early signs; a separate shift measure records a score of 0 and Not gentrifying. Compared with mature low-turnover suburbs, Perth has stronger momentum because it combines international inflows, central employment and development activity, but the mixed trajectory means growth will not necessarily translate into uniformly higher rents or prices.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+899
Net Internal / yr
-126
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal outflow -126/yr, Strong overseas inflow +899/yr, Accelerating: 23% → 51%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Perth compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Perth a good suburb to live in?
Perth can suit residents who value central access, apartment living and active travel. Walking or cycling accounts for 28.9% of trips, public transport 17.2%, and the median age is 33. The trade-off is space: 80.1% of dwellings are apartments, so compare building quality, strata costs and noise as well as the address.
What is the median house price in Perth?
A median house price is not available for Perth, where separate houses represent only 8.7% of dwellings. Use property-level apartment sales for a more relevant comparison, and note that weekly rent is $400, 2-bedroom homes make up 49.4%, and vacancy is 22.3%.
What schools are in Perth?
Perth has 2 nearby schools, both in the non-government sector: Mercedes College and St George's Anglican Grammar School. School choice should be checked against the exact address, enrolment zones and transport plans. The suburb's apartment share is 80.1%, so access and daily travel may matter as much as dwelling size.
Is Perth safe?
Safety should be checked at street level using current WA Police information before signing a lease or contract. Perth's density is 3,001.4 people per sq km across 4.55 sq km, and 39.0% of commuters drive, so activity and traffic can vary between precincts. Review recent incidents, lighting and building security for the exact property.
Is Perth good for property investment?
Perth may suit investors seeking a renter-focused apartment market, but returns need conservative assumptions. Renting accounts for 66.3%, weekly rent is $400 and vacancy is 22.3%; rent growth is -8.9%. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver and 26 development applications were recorded in 12 months, so compare building supply, strata costs and leasing competition before buying.
How is Perth's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 55.2% over 10 years, while the annual growth trend is 3.35%. Overseas migration is the primary driver. The trajectory is Mixed, and the gentrification score is 25 with an Early signs stage, so Perth is growing but the effects are unlikely to be uniform across every apartment precinct.
What languages are spoken in Perth?
Perth has a strong overseas-born population, at 56.4%. Mandarin is the leading listed non-English language at 463 people, followed by Cantonese at 132, Italian at 87, Hindi at 76 and Arabic at 68. No religion is reported by 6,412 residents, compared with 3,581 identifying with Christianity.
Is Perth undergoing development?
Development activity is notable for an established inner-city suburb: 26 approvals were recorded in the past 12 months. Recent examples include additions and signage for a retail tenancy, an interior office fitout and redevelopment of the McAuley building. Buyers should check project impacts, construction timing and strata implications before committing.
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.
Explore Perth on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map