Ravenswood
All four SEIFA indexes place Ravenswood in the national decile 1, the lowest advantage tier, yet rents rose 55.2% over the past decade, a faster pace than most low-income areas. The suburb spans 54 square kilometres south of Perth with 2,483 residents at a density of 45.8 per km2. Household income sits at the 28.8th percentile nationally, with a weekly median of $1,272, and unemployment runs at 7.8%, above state averages. The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses, at 96% of dwellings, with 53% having four or more bedrooms, pointing to family-oriented development on larger lots at an affordable median price of $424,000.
Population
2,483
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,272/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$424K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $424,000, the median house price sits well below the WA state median, making Ravenswood one of the more affordable entry points in the greater Perth region. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, but mortgage-to-income reaches 31.5%, above the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes at the 28.8th percentile nationally are modest. The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96%, with 53% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, suiting buyers who need space rather than density. Outright owners account for 30.3% of households and 52.9% carry a mortgage, indicating a resident base still working through purchase commitments rather than an established wealth base. The large-lot, detached format has no meaningful apartment alternative, so buyers choose between this entry-level market and more expensive suburban corridors.
For Buyers
At $424,000, the median house price sits well below the WA state median, making Ravenswood one of the more affordable entry points in the greater Perth region. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, but mortgage-to-income reaches 31.5%, above the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes at the 28.8th percentile nationally are modest. The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96%, with 53% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, suiting buyers who need space rather than density. Outright owners account for 30.3% of households and 52.9% carry a mortgage, indicating a resident base still working through purchase commitments rather than an established wealth base. The large-lot, detached format has no meaningful apartment alternative, so buyers choose between this entry-level market and more expensive suburban corridors.
For Investors
A rental vacancy rate of 11.3% is the critical number for investors: it is high by any standard and signals that landlords are competing for a thin tenant pool in a suburb with 2,483 residents. Weekly rent of $325 against a $424,000 median gives a gross yield of around 4%, reasonable on paper but undermined by elevated vacancy. Renters account for only 16.9% of households, compared to the national average closer to 30%, so the rental market is structurally small. Rents did rise 55.2% over the past decade, faster than income growth of 12.3% in real terms, suggesting landlords have repriced. Net internal migration is negative at minus 12 per year on average, while overseas arrivals add 10, leaving the population essentially flat to slightly declining at minus 0.05% annually. Development activity recorded zero applications in the past 12 months, so new supply is not a near-term concern.
Demographics
The median age of 41 is 1.0 year above the national figure, and the trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 4.4 points and the young adult share falling 3.8 points over the decade. University qualifications reach 9.0%, which is 21.1 percentage points below the national average, the largest single gap between this suburb and Australian norms. Overseas-born residents at 21.4% are near the national average of 21.6%. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,203 residents), Scottish (271) and Irish (186). Average household size is 2.4, slightly below the national figure by 0.1 persons, and 33.9% of families are couples without children. Volunteering reaches 15.6% of residents, and 7.2% need daily assistance, figures that point to a stable, community-connected population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.0%
Houses
0.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The ownership structure reflects a suburb still in active mortgage stage: 52.9% of households carry a mortgage and 30.3% own outright, with only 16.9% renting, well below the national rental share. The stock is 96% separate houses, with semi-detached at 0.4% and no meaningful apartment supply. Four-plus bedroom dwellings make up 53% of stock, and three-bedroom homes add another 20.8%, giving this suburb one of the larger average footprints in the Perth fringe. Mortgage-to-income at 31.5% sits just above the stress threshold despite a $424,000 median, because household incomes at the 28.8th percentile nationally are not large. Rent-to-income at 25.6% stays below the 30% stress boundary for tenants. A vacancy rate of 11.3% is the most significant structural signal in the housing data, indicating an oversupply of available rental stock for a small residential base.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$325
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$613
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.3%
Unoccupied
122
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.9%
Couples, no children
1,931
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs 16.9% of local workers (92 people) and Mining 16.2% (88 people), the two dominant industries, which reflects proximity to both regional service delivery and Western Australia's resources sector. Manufacturing adds 9.9% (54 workers), Construction 8.5% (46) and Education 8.3% (45). By occupation, Machinery and Drivers lead at 160 workers, followed by Community and Personal Services at 127 and Labourers at 121, consistent with the blend of trade, resources and care-sector work. All four SEIFA deciles sit at 1, the lowest national tier, across IRSD, IRSAD, IEO and IER, meaning the suburb scores below 90% of Australian communities on disadvantage, economic resources, education, and occupation. The unemployment rate is 7.8% against a participation rate of 47.0%, indicating that a large share of working-age residents are outside the labour force entirely.
Unemployment
13.4%
Labour Force
1,606
Unemployed
216
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.6%
Part-time
29.6%
Participation
47.0%
Employed
858
Occupations
Top Industries
University
9.0%
Postgraduate
1.3%
Born Overseas
21.4%
Dwellings
962
Transport to Work
Ravenswood is a car-dependent suburb, with 87.8% of residents commuting by private vehicle and only 3.2% using public transport, compared to higher public transport use in Perth inner suburbs. Walking and cycling account for 1.5% of commute modes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in surrounding areas. Crime statistics are not available for Ravenswood. The IRSAD decile of 1 signals high relative disadvantage nationally, placing the suburb in the most constrained tier for access to services and resources. On a positive note, 7.2% of residents need daily assistance, and 15.6% volunteer, indicating community engagement despite economic constraint. The suburb's 54 square kilometre area at low density of 45.8 people per km2 provides space and separation, a trade-off against limited local amenity.
Drive
87.8%
Public Transport
3.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.05%/yr
(-2 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has been declining over the decade, down 4.2% across the 10-year period, and the current annual trend is minus 0.05%, roughly 2 fewer residents per year. Historical estimates put population at 3,950 in both 2024 and 2025, with medium-case forecasts projecting gradual further decline to around 3,881 by 2031. Internal migration is net negative at minus 12 per year on average, partially offset by net overseas arrivals of 10 annually. The gentrification score in the shift data is 47 and the stage is noted as active, driven by a 55.2% rent increase over the period and real income growth of 12.3%, though starting from a low base given decile 1 SEIFA. The affordability index worsened from 40.4% in 2011 to 45.4% in 2021, meaning residents are now spending a higher share of income on housing costs than a decade ago.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+10
Net Internal / yr
-12
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ravenswood compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ravenswood a good suburb to live in?
Ravenswood offers affordable housing at a $424,000 median and 96% detached houses, but it scores in the national decile 1 across all four SEIFA indexes, the lowest advantage tier. Unemployment is 7.8% and only 3.2% of residents use public transport, so car access is essential. The suburb suits buyers seeking space and low entry cost rather than amenity-rich inner-suburban living.
What is the median house price in Ravenswood?
The median house price is approximately $424,000, estimated from rental data as of 2025. Weekly rent averages $325 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,733. Despite the affordable price, mortgage-to-income sits at 31.5% because household incomes are at the 28.8th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Ravenswood?
No schools are recorded within the Ravenswood suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding suburbs. University qualifications in the suburb reach 9.0% of residents, which is 21.1 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the broader educational profile of the area.
Is Ravenswood safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Ravenswood in this dataset. As context, the suburb scores in the national decile 1 on IRSD, the index of relative disadvantage, meaning it ranks below 90% of Australian communities. The unemployment rate of 7.8% is above typical suburban averages, which can be associated with higher social stress.
Is Ravenswood good for property investment?
The 11.3% vacancy rate is the main caution for investors: it signals that available rentals exceed demand from a small tenant base of 16.9% of households, well below the national rental share near 30%. Weekly rent of $325 gives a gross yield around 4% against the $424,000 median. Rents rose 55.2% over the past decade, but population is declining at minus 0.05% annually, limiting upside from demand growth.
How is Ravenswood's population changing?
The population declined 4.2% over the past decade and the current annual trend is roughly minus 2 residents per year. Medium-case forecasts project the population falling from around 3,950 today to approximately 3,881 by 2031. Net internal migration averages minus 12 per year, partly offset by overseas arrivals of 10 annually.
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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