Shenton Park
Decile 10 on both IRSAD and IEO, the top advantage tier nationally, yet a $631,000 median house price keeps Shenton Park well below Perth's blue-chip western peers, and that gap is the suburb's defining feature. Household income sits in the 88.4th percentile and university qualifications reach 66.0%, which is 35.9 points above the national figure. The stock stays house-dominated at 67.2% separate dwellings across a low-density 3.33 km2 footprint, and the median age of 41 runs one year above national. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 5.7 points and the working-age share down 5.3 points over the decade, even as gentrification signals strengthen.
Population
4,638
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,313/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$631K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $631,000 median is modest for a decile 10 suburb, which is the buying case here: top-tier advantage without inner-Sydney pricing. Stock favours families, with 67.2% separate houses against 19.3% apartments, and three-bedroom dwellings the most common at 39.7% ahead of 4-plus bedroom homes at 26.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,980, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.8%, just under the 30% stress threshold despite household income in the 88.4th percentile. Outright owners at 38.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 28.6%, a sign that much of the housing is held by established, debt-free owners rather than recent buyers, so detached-house supply turns over slowly and competition for the 67.2% house stock stays firm.
For Buyers
The $631,000 median is modest for a decile 10 suburb, which is the buying case here: top-tier advantage without inner-Sydney pricing. Stock favours families, with 67.2% separate houses against 19.3% apartments, and three-bedroom dwellings the most common at 39.7% ahead of 4-plus bedroom homes at 26.8%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,980, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.8%, just under the 30% stress threshold despite household income in the 88.4th percentile. Outright owners at 38.2% outnumber mortgage holders at 28.6%, a sign that much of the housing is held by established, debt-free owners rather than recent buyers, so detached-house supply turns over slowly and competition for the 67.2% house stock stays firm.
For Investors
A 33.2% renter share and $420 weekly rent give landlords a steady tenant pool, and against the $631,000 median that rent implies a gross yield near 3.5%, healthier than most premium Perth suburbs. Rent-to-income sits at a comfortable 18.2%, well below the stress line, so tenants have headroom for escalation. The 7.9% vacancy rate is elevated and concentrated in the 19.3% apartment segment rather than the dominant 67.2% house stock. Demand support is real: overseas migration is the primary growth driver at an estimated 512 net arrivals across the wider area each year, alongside positive internal flows. Development is thin at just 1 application in 12 months, which constrains new supply and protects existing landlords from competition.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Shenton Park iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Rosalie Primary School
K-6 · 470 students
Shenton College
7-12 · 2757 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 is 1.0 year above national, and the profile is aging: the senior share rose 5.7 points while the working-age share fell 5.3 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 33.4%, which is 11.8 points above national. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,909), Irish (634) and Scottish (594), with Chinese (318) the largest non-European group, and the top non-English languages are Mandarin (55), French (19) and Persian (14). University qualifications at 66.0% run 35.9 points above national, among the highest in Perth. Average household size is 2.4, which is 0.1 below national, consistent with couples-with-children at 1,716 families outnumbering couples without children at 813, and only 5.7% of residents need daily assistance.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
67.2%
Houses
13.5%
Townhouse
19.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits into thirds: 38.2% own outright, 28.6% carry a mortgage and 33.2% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders points to long-held, debt-free wealth rather than a churn of new buyers, and turnover is low at 23.4% with 76.6% of residents having stayed put. The stock is 67.2% separate houses against 19.3% apartments and 13.5% semi-detached, so detached supply dominates and underpins values. Three-bedroom dwellings lead at 39.7% and 4-plus bedroom homes follow at 26.8%, a family-sized profile. The $631,000 median is modest for the area's decile 10 advantage. Mortgage-to-income at 29.8% sits just below the stress threshold, while rent-to-income at 18.2% stays comfortable, a divergence that reflects how owners carry the heavier housing cost here.
Mortgage / mo
$2,980
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$1,145
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.9%
Unoccupied
153
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.5%
Couples, no children
3,464
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce is concentrated in knowledge and care sectors: Healthcare leads at 23.5% (438 workers), Professional/Tech follows at 21.8% (406) and Education at 14.1% (262), with Mining at 6.8% and Public Admin at 5.9%. By occupation, Professionals (1,162) and Managers (341) dominate, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 4.3% and the full-time employment rate is 58.7%, with participation at 61.5%, restrained because the aging profile leaves 1,127 residents not in the labour force. One anomaly stands out: the IER economic-resources score sits at decile 6 against decile 10 on IRSAD and IEO, because the 33.2% renter base depresses aggregate household wealth measures even where education and income rank near the top.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
11,899
Unemployed
375
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.7%
Part-time
37.0%
Participation
61.5%
Employed
2,181
Occupations
Top Industries
University
66.0%
Postgraduate
24.0%
Born Overseas
33.4%
Dwellings
1,776
Transport to Work
Transport leans on cars at 61.9% of commutes, below the national norm for an outer-suburban area, while 15.8% walk or cycle and 15.4% use public transport, both healthy for a low-density 3.33 km2 setting. The suburb earns decile 10 on IRSAD, the top advantage tier nationally, and decile 9 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, meaning very few residents face deprivation. Volunteering runs high at 29.7%, and only 5.7% of the 4,638 residents need daily assistance despite the older median age of 41. No schools are recorded inside the boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off offset by the leafy, house-dominated character at just 1,394 residents per km2.
Drive
61.9%
Public Transport
15.4%
Walk / Cycle
15.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.46%/yr
(+302 people/yr)
EstablishedShenton Park is an established suburb growing at a measured 1.46% a year, with the broader catchment up 16.4% over the past decade. Overseas migration is the primary driver, adding an estimated 512 net arrivals annually across the wider area against positive internal flows of around 84, so growth leans on international rather than domestic inflows. The gentrification reading has shifted to active at a score of 45, with signals including population up 28% since 2011 and an acceleration from 7% to 20% on earlier measures. Affordability improved from 39.4% in 2011 to 33.7% in 2021, a rare easing for a decile 10 area, while rent grew 9.5% and real incomes rose 4.0%, pointing to gradual upmarket pressure rather than a boom.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+512
Net Internal / yr
+84
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +28% since 2011, Net internal migration +84/yr, Strong overseas inflow +512/yr, Accelerating: 7% → 20%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Shenton Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shenton Park a good suburb to live in?
Shenton Park ranks in decile 10 on IRSAD and IEO, the top advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 88.4th percentile. University qualifications reach 66.0%, which is 35.9 points above national. At a $631,000 median house price it offers that advantage well below Perth's most expensive western suburbs.
What is the median house price in Shenton Park?
The median house price is $631,000, modest for a decile 10 suburb. Weekly rent averages $420 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,980, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold despite income in the 88.4th percentile.
What schools are in Shenton Park?
No schools are recorded inside the Shenton Park boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 66.0%, which is 35.9 points above the national figure.
Is Shenton Park safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Shenton Park in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, near the highest tier, and only 5.7% of its 4,638 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Shenton Park good for property investment?
Rent of $420 a week against a $631,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.5%, healthier than most premium Perth suburbs, and rent-to-income at 18.2% leaves room to grow. A 7.9% vacancy rate, mostly in apartments, is the main caution, while a 33.2% renter share supports demand.
How is Shenton Park's population changing?
The suburb is growing at about 1.46% a year, with the wider catchment up 16.4% over the past decade. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 5.7 points and the working-age share down 5.3 points, while overseas migration of around 512 net arrivals a year drives most of the growth.
What languages are spoken in Shenton Park?
About 33.4% of residents were born overseas, 11.8 points above the national figure. English is the dominant language, with Mandarin (55 speakers), French (19) and Persian (14) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a small but international resident mix led by a Chinese ancestry group of 318.
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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