Port Kennedy
Four-plus bedroom homes at 80.1% of stock, the highest share in this entire analysis cohort, define Port Kennedy as Perth's large-house outer suburb, yet the 15.1% university qualification rate sits 15.0 percentage points below the national baseline, the widest education gap in this group. SEIFA IRSAD decile 4 and IEO decile 2 confirm the suburb sits in the lower tier of national advantage. The paradox is that IER decile 8 (strong economic resources) far outpaces IEO, an extreme 6-point gap reflecting a population of trade workers and miners who earn above-average income without university qualifications. The 7.6% unemployment rate is elevated, and the population actually shrank 4.4% over the past decade before recent growth resumed, a pattern linked to the mining downturn that hit Perth's outer suburbs hardest.
Population
13,477
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,921/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$437K
Estimated from rent (2025)
No median house price data is available, but the $1,700 monthly mortgage repayment produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.4%, the second-lowest in this cohort, reflecting affordable large homes. Detached houses at 93.9% dominate overwhelmingly, and four-plus bedroom homes at 80.1% dwarf all other sizes. Three-bedroom homes at 15.4% and two-bedroom at 4.1% are scarce. Mortgage holders at 54.2% are the largest tenure group, with outright owners at 22.4% and renters at 23.4%. Average household size of 2.8 is above the national figure. Couples with children at 4,707 families form the dominant household type. Rent-to-income at 18.2% and mortgage-to-income at 20.4% are both very low, confirming that housing costs consume a small share of income at the 71.9 percentile, despite the large house sizes.
For Buyers
No median house price data is available, but the $1,700 monthly mortgage repayment produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.4%, the second-lowest in this cohort, reflecting affordable large homes. Detached houses at 93.9% dominate overwhelmingly, and four-plus bedroom homes at 80.1% dwarf all other sizes. Three-bedroom homes at 15.4% and two-bedroom at 4.1% are scarce. Mortgage holders at 54.2% are the largest tenure group, with outright owners at 22.4% and renters at 23.4%. Average household size of 2.8 is above the national figure. Couples with children at 4,707 families form the dominant household type. Rent-to-income at 18.2% and mortgage-to-income at 20.4% are both very low, confirming that housing costs consume a small share of income at the 71.9 percentile, despite the large house sizes.
For Investors
Renters make up 23.4% of households, a moderate share. Median weekly rent of $350 sits below the Perth median. The 6.1% vacancy rate is moderate. No development applications were lodged in 12 months, meaning zero new supply pipeline. The population shrank 4.4% over the past decade before recent recovery, making long-term tenant demand uncertain. Net overseas migration averages 145 per year, while internal migration shows a near-zero outflow of 9 per year. Rent growth of only 6.1% over the decade is the lowest in this analysis cohort, barely keeping pace with inflation and indicating weak rental market conditions. The investor case here is challenging: low yield potential, low rent growth, no price data for capital growth assessment, and a suburb that has already experienced population decline. The IER decile 8 means tenants have economic resources but the low IEO decile 2 signals limited upward mobility.
Schools in Port Kennedy iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School
PP-6 · 408 students
Endeavour Primary School
K-6 · 387 students
Port Kennedy Primary School
K-6 · 362 students
Rockingham Lakes Primary School
K-6 · 450 students
Demographics
English (6,679) ancestry dominates overwhelmingly, followed by Scottish (1,422) and Irish (1,098), a strongly Anglo profile. Non-English languages are minimal: Afrikaans (43), Serbian (29), Italian (21), German (19) and Portuguese (19). With 30.7% born overseas, 9.1 points above the national baseline, the overseas-born population is mostly from English-speaking countries (UK, South Africa, New Zealand). The 15.1% university qualification rate is 15.0 points below the national average, the widest education gap in this cohort. Median age of 36 is 4 years below the national figure. Christianity dominates at 5,289, with small Buddhist (88) and Muslim (88) populations. The aging trajectory is pronounced: young share dropped 5.0 points and senior share rose 5.0 points over the decade, among the largest age shifts in this group. The 5.6% needing assistance rate is above average.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.9%
Houses
6.1%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Mortgage holders dominate at 54.2%, the highest mortgage share in this cohort, with outright owners at 22.4% and renters at 23.4%. Detached houses at 93.9% leave almost no alternative housing form. The bedroom mix is extraordinary: 80.1% four-plus bedrooms, 15.4% three-bedroom, 4.1% two-bedroom and 0.4% studio/one-bedroom. This is the most skewed bedroom distribution in the entire analysis. Semi-detached at 6.1% is the only non-detached option. No price history is available. Rent-to-income at 18.2% and mortgage-to-income at 20.4% are both very low, the lowest stress readings in this cohort alongside Norman Gardens. The 93.9% detached share and 80.1% four-plus bedroom stock are both well above the national average, reflecting a suburb designed for one type of household: families with children in large freestanding homes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,700
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$755
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
292
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.1%
Couples, no children
11,110
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 17.0%, followed by Education at 10.7%, Construction at 10.4%, Public Administration at 9.0% and Mining at 8.9%. The Mining share at 8.9% is the second-highest in this cohort, reflecting FIFO (fly-in fly-out) workers living in Perth's outer suburbs. Community/Personal workers lead occupations at 869, followed by Professionals (744), Labourers (733), Clerical/Admin (687) and Machinery/Drivers (660). The occupation profile is the most blue-collar in this cohort, with Labourers, Machinery/Drivers and Community workers outnumbering Professionals and Managers. The SEIFA IER decile 8 vs IEO decile 2 gap of 6 points is the most extreme in this analysis: residents have solid economic resources from trade and mining wages but very low formal education levels. Unemployment at 7.6% is well above the national average.
Unemployment
6.8%
Labour Force
8,218
Unemployed
560
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.6%
Part-time
27.8%
Participation
59.8%
Employed
5,801
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.1%
Postgraduate
2.5%
Born Overseas
30.7%
Dwellings
4,480
Transport to Work
Car dependence is very high at 86.4%, with 5.2% using public transport and only 1.6% walking or cycling. Port Kennedy has 4 primary schools. St Bernadette's Catholic Primary (ICSEA 1,029, 408 students) is the only school above the national ICSEA benchmark. Endeavour Primary (957, 387 students), Port Kennedy Primary (956, 362 students) and Rockingham Lakes Primary (952, 450 students) all sit below the 1,000 benchmark, consistent with the IEO decile 2 rating. The gap between the Catholic school (above benchmark) and the three government schools (below) is notable. No crime data is available. IRSD decile 4 (slightly above-average disadvantage) combined with the 7.6% unemployment rate suggests moderate to elevated crime risk relative to Perth averages.
Drive
86.4%
Public Transport
5.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.68%/yr
(+100 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation is growing at 0.68% per year, adding about 100 persons annually. The medium forecast projects 15,327 by 2031, up from 14,828 in 2026. However, the suburb shrank 4.4% over the past decade, the only suburb in this cohort to experience population decline, before recovery began recently. No COVID dip was recorded. Net overseas migration averages 145 per year, while internal migration shows a near-zero outflow of 9 per year. Real income actually declined 5.7% over the decade, the only negative income growth in this cohort, reflecting the mining downturn's lasting impact on the local economy. The gentrification score is 0 (not gentrifying). The aging trajectory is the most pronounced in this group: young share dropped 5.0 points and senior share rose 5.0 points, suggesting the suburb's original young-family cohort is aging in place without adequate replacement.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+145
Net Internal / yr
-9
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Port Kennedy compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Kennedy a good suburb to live in?
Port Kennedy offers large, affordable housing with 80.1% four-plus bedroom homes and mortgage stress at just 20.4%. However, IRSAD decile 4 places it below the national median, and IEO decile 2 reflects limited educational attainment. Car dependence at 86.4% is very high. The suburb suits families prioritising house size and affordability over walkability, school performance and services.
What is the median house price in Port Kennedy?
No median house price data is available for Port Kennedy. Monthly mortgage repayments sit at $1,700, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.4%, the second-lowest in this analysis cohort. Median weekly rent is $350, below the Perth median. Rent growth of 6.1% over the decade is the lowest in this group, indicating a flat rental market.
What schools are in Port Kennedy?
Port Kennedy has 4 primary schools. St Bernadette's Catholic Primary (ICSEA 1,029, 408 students) is the only school above the national benchmark. Endeavour Primary (957), Port Kennedy Primary (956) and Rockingham Lakes Primary (952) all sit 40-48 points below 1,000. IEO decile 2 confirms that educational attainment among adults is in the bottom 20% nationally.
Is Port Kennedy safe?
No crime data is available for Port Kennedy. SEIFA IRSD decile 4 (slightly above-average disadvantage) is a proxy, and suburbs at this level typically record crime rates near or slightly above the metropolitan median. The 7.6% unemployment rate is well above the national average. The 5.6% needing assistance rate is above the national figure.
Is Port Kennedy good for property investment?
The 23.4% renter share is moderate, with $350 median weekly rent. The 6.1% vacancy rate is manageable. However, rent growth of only 6.1% over the decade is the weakest in this cohort. The population shrank 4.4% over the past decade, and real income declined 5.7%. No DAs were lodged in 12 months. The investment case is weak without price data, population growth or rental momentum.
How is Port Kennedy's population changing?
Port Kennedy is growing at 0.68% per year (100 persons), but the suburb shrank 4.4% over the prior decade, the only decline in this cohort. The medium forecast projects 15,327 by 2031. The aging trajectory is severe: young share dropped 5.0 points and senior share rose 5.0 points. Real income declined 5.7%, reflecting the mining downturn's lasting impact on Perth's outer 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.
Explore Port Kennedy on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map