Salter Point
At a median age of 47, Salter Point residents are 7 years older than the national figure, and that single number shapes almost everything about the suburb. Household income sits at the 92.6th percentile nationally, yet the 49.6% outright ownership rate signals that wealth here is accumulated rather than leveraged. University qualifications reach 51.6% of residents, which is 21.5 percentage points above the national average. The suburb covers just 1.84 square kilometres near the Canning River in Perth's inner south, with 84.7% of dwellings being separate houses and 56.9% having four or more bedrooms, reflecting decades of family-scale living rather than recent densification.
Population
2,913
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,529/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
26
Median House
$639K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price in Salter Point is estimated at $639,000, with weekly rent averaging $450. Monthly mortgage repayments run around $2,860, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes at the 92.6th percentile nationally. The housing stock is overwhelmingly owner-occupied, with 49.6% owning outright and 37.2% carrying a mortgage. Only 13.2% of residents rent, lower than the state and national averages. Detached houses make up 84.7% of the stock, and 56.9% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms. Semi-detached and apartment dwellings together account for just 15.3%, so buyers seeking standalone homes face limited competition from alternative formats but a small overall pool of properties.
For Buyers
The median house price in Salter Point is estimated at $639,000, with weekly rent averaging $450. Monthly mortgage repayments run around $2,860, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold despite household incomes at the 92.6th percentile nationally. The housing stock is overwhelmingly owner-occupied, with 49.6% owning outright and 37.2% carrying a mortgage. Only 13.2% of residents rent, lower than the state and national averages. Detached houses make up 84.7% of the stock, and 56.9% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms. Semi-detached and apartment dwellings together account for just 15.3%, so buyers seeking standalone homes face limited competition from alternative formats but a small overall pool of properties.
For Investors
With only 13.2% of residents renting, Salter Point offers a shallow tenant pool compared to broader Perth and national benchmarks. Weekly rent averages $450 against the $639,000 median, implying a gross yield near 3.7%, modest relative to some outer-ring suburbs. The vacancy rate of 6.6% is elevated, indicating supply is not tight in the rental segment. Development activity reached 22 applications in the past 12 months, consistent with an infill and renovation-focused market rather than new supply. The suburb's high outright ownership at 49.6% and low turnover rate of 19.7% mean properties change hands infrequently. The investment case rests primarily on capital preservation in a tightly held, high-income suburb, not on rental yield or vacancy compression.
Development Activity
Total DAs
65
Last 12 Months
26
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+8.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Salter Point iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Aquinas College
PP-12 · 1332 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, placing Salter Point firmly in the aging-resident category. University qualifications reach 51.6%, which is 21.5 percentage points above the national rate, reflecting the suburb's concentration of professionals and managers. Overseas-born residents account for 27.4%, which is 5.8 points above the national average. The leading ancestry groups are English (1,082 residents), Irish (326), and Chinese (300). Average household size is 2.6, marginally above the national figure of 2.5, consistent with a couples-with-children profile: 796 families are couples with children versus 559 couples without. The volunteering rate of 28.1% is notably high, suggesting strong civic engagement among an established, settled resident base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.7%
Houses
7.9%
Townhouse
7.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Salter Point is heavily weighted towards ownership: 49.6% own their home outright and 37.2% carry a mortgage, leaving just 13.2% renting. This outright ownership share is well above the national average, pointing to long-held properties with minimal debt rather than active churn. The stock is dominated by large detached houses, with 84.7% separate dwellings and 56.9% having four or more bedrooms. Only 7.4% are apartments and 7.9% semi-detached. Rent-to-income sits at 17.8%, which is below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 26.1% is similarly comfortable relative to the 92.6th-percentile household incomes. The median house price of $639,000 reflects this established, large-lot character, with a monthly repayment of $2,860.
Mortgage / mo
$2,860
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$878
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.6%
Unoccupied
65
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.3%
Couples, no children
2,126
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare (16.2%, 160 workers), Professional/Technical services (15.8%, 156 workers), and Education (15.6%, 154 workers) are the three largest employing industries in Salter Point, together accounting for nearly half the working population. Mining adds 8.9% and Construction 7.7%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 502 workers and Managers follow at 250, consistent with the 51.6% university qualification rate, which is 21.5 points above national. The unemployment rate is 4.2% and the full-time employment rate is 60.1%. Participation is 53.7%, lower than headline rates would suggest because many older residents have moved out of the workforce, with 936 people not in the labour force. Weekly personal income averages $878.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.1%
Part-time
35.7%
Participation
53.7%
Employed
1,266
Occupations
Top Industries
University
51.6%
Postgraduate
14.1%
Born Overseas
27.4%
Dwellings
921
Transport to Work
Transport in Salter Point is car-dependent, with 82.3% of residents driving to work, above the national average. Public transport accounts for 7.6% and walking or cycling 3.3%. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby institutions in neighbouring suburbs. Crime statistics are not available in this dataset, but the low 4.2% unemployment rate, 28.1% volunteering rate, and household incomes at the 92.6th percentile nationally are all consistent with a low-disadvantage area. Rent stress is absent at 17.8% rent-to-income, well below the stress threshold, and 7.2% of residents (199 people) need daily assistance, which reflects the older median age of 47. The Canning River setting and proximity to Perth's inner south ring are practical drawcards for residents.
Drive
82.3%
Public Transport
7.6%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Salter Point compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salter Point a good suburb to live in?
Salter Point combines household incomes at the 92.6th percentile nationally with a 49.6% outright ownership rate and a low 4.2% unemployment rate. University qualifications reach 51.6%, which is 21.5 percentage points above the national figure. The suburb has low rental demand (13.2% renters) and very stable residency, with 80.3% of residents staying at the same address.
What is the median house price in Salter Point?
The median house price is estimated at $639,000. Weekly rent averages $450, and monthly mortgage repayments run around $2,860. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 26.1%, which is below the 30% stress threshold, reflecting the suburb's high household incomes in the 92.6th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Salter Point?
No schools are recorded within the Salter Point boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers just 1.84 square kilometres, so families access schools in neighbouring areas. The local population is highly educated, with 51.6% holding university qualifications, which is 21.5 percentage points above the national average.
Is Salter Point safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Salter Point in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb has a 4.2% unemployment rate, household incomes at the 92.6th percentile nationally, and a volunteering rate of 28.1%, all consistent with a low-disadvantage, established residential area. Only 7.2% of residents (199 people) require daily assistance.
Is Salter Point good for property investment?
The renter share is only 13.2%, below the national average, giving landlords a limited tenant pool. Rent of $450 a week against a $639,000 median implies a gross yield of around 3.7%. The 6.6% vacancy rate is elevated. The low 19.7% turnover rate and high outright ownership of 49.6% mean the market favours long-term capital hold over rental yield.
How is Salter Point's population changing?
Population currently stands at 2,913 across 1.84 square kilometres. Resident mobility is very low, with 80.3% staying at the same address. The suburb's median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, suggesting that natural population growth is slow and that the resident base is aging rather than renewing through younger family movement.
How much development is happening in Salter Point?
There were 22 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, consistent with an infill and renovation-focused market. Given the 84.7% detached house stock and 56.9% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, most activity reflects improvements to existing large-lot properties rather than subdivision or new apartment supply.
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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