South Fremantle
At a median age of 48, South Fremantle sits 8 years above the national figure, yet its gentrification score of 64 places it in the Active stage, with population up 43% since 2011. That combination, an aging, educated, established-wealth base in a suburb still absorbing growth, is what makes this 1.53 km2 pocket unusual. University qualifications reach 54.6%, which is 24.5 percentage points above the national average, and household income lands at the 71.5th percentile nationally. Overseas-born residents account for 35.9% of the population, some 14.3 points above national.
Population
3,398
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,914/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$569K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $569,000, and 57.7% of dwellings are separate houses, giving buyers a reasonable supply of detached stock in a compact suburb. Semi-detached homes account for 20.4%, with apartments at 12.2%. The three-bedroom configuration dominates at 39.6% of all dwellings. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,249, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 27.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, which is more affordable than many comparable coastal suburbs. Outright owners make up 46% of households, well above the national average, signalling an established, low-debt ownership base rather than a suburb driven by recent leveraged buyers.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $569,000, and 57.7% of dwellings are separate houses, giving buyers a reasonable supply of detached stock in a compact suburb. Semi-detached homes account for 20.4%, with apartments at 12.2%. The three-bedroom configuration dominates at 39.6% of all dwellings. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,249, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 27.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, which is more affordable than many comparable coastal suburbs. Outright owners make up 46% of households, well above the national average, signalling an established, low-debt ownership base rather than a suburb driven by recent leveraged buyers.
For Investors
Renters account for 28.3% of households, providing a steady tenant pool against a weekly rent of $450. The vacancy rate of 9.6% is elevated compared to typical low-vacancy coastal suburbs, signalling softer demand relative to available stock. Net overseas arrivals contribute 416 residents per year and internal migration adds 338 annually, supporting long-term demand above the national growth baseline. Development activity is low at only 2 applications in the past 12 months. Annual population growth is forecast at 1.84%, supporting gradual rental absorption, but the current vacancy rate suggests yields may compress before that demand fully arrives.
Development Activity
Total DAs
4
Last 12 Months
4
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
Demographics
The median age of 48 is 8 years above the national figure, and the suburb is on an aging trajectory, with the senior share rising 3.9 percentage points over the decade while the working-age share fell 3.1 points. University qualifications at 54.6% are 24.5 points above national, reflecting a well-educated, professional resident base. Overseas-born residents reach 35.9%, which is 14.3 points above the national figure. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic with English (1,577), Irish (507) and Scottish (445) leading, alongside Italian (236). Italian (50 speakers) and French (22) are the most common non-English languages, consistent with the Mediterranean and European heritage thread in this part of Fremantle. Average household size is 2.2, slightly below national, and 39.3% of families are couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
57.7%
Houses
20.4%
Townhouse
12.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in South Fremantle leans heavily toward ownership: 46% own outright and 25.7% carry a mortgage, leaving only 28.3% renting, below the national renter share. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders by nearly 2-to-1 points to an established, debt-light ownership cohort. The stock is 57.7% separate houses, 20.4% semi-detached and 12.2% apartments. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 39.6%, followed by two-bedroom at 27% and four-plus bedroom at 18.3%. Rent-to-income sits at 23.5%, below the 30% stress threshold, so existing renters carry a manageable housing cost relative to the suburb's income levels. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1% similarly stays inside the stress zone, placing South Fremantle below many coastal WA peers on housing affordability pressure.
Mortgage / mo
$2,249
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$963
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.6%
Unoccupied
153
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.3%
Couples, no children
2,297
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 18.6% (250 workers), followed by Education at 14.7% (198) and Professional/Tech at 13.8% (186). Mining accounts for 7.4% (99 workers), above what you find in most metropolitan suburbs, reflecting proximity to Fremantle's port and WA's resource-sector workforce. By occupation, Professionals dominate at 728, well ahead of Managers at 270 and Community/Personal service workers at 198. The unemployment rate is 5.5% and the participation rate is 58.4%, lower than the participation you would expect from the income level, which is consistent with the older median age of 48 drawing more residents into retirement. SEIFA places the suburb at IEO decile 9 for education and occupation advantage, but the IER decile 4 reflects modest economic resource endowment relative to education levels.
Unemployment
4.9%
Labour Force
11,964
Unemployed
590
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.4%
Part-time
35.1%
Participation
58.4%
Employed
1,646
Occupations
Top Industries
University
54.6%
Postgraduate
16.5%
Born Overseas
35.9%
Dwellings
1,429
Transport to Work
Walking and cycling account for 13% of commute modes, which is notably high compared to most Australian suburbs, reflecting the compact 1.53 km2 footprint and coastal connectivity. Car reliance at 73.4% is still dominant, and public transport use is low at 8%, below what metropolitan train-corridor suburbs achieve. The IRSAD decile of 8 indicates the suburb falls in the upper advantage tier nationally. Only 4.2% of residents (134 people) need assistance with daily activities despite the older median age of 48, suggesting a functionally healthy population. Volunteering runs at 23.3%, above the national average, pointing to an engaged community. No schools are recorded within the South Fremantle boundary, so families draw on neighbouring suburb options. The 9.6% vacancy rate is one practical drawback for the rental market.
Drive
73.4%
Public Transport
8.0%
Walk / Cycle
13.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.84%/yr
(+376 people/yr)
EstablishedSouth Fremantle carries a gentrification score of 64, placing it in the Active stage, with signals including population up 43% since 2011, net internal migration of 338 per year and overseas inflow of 416 per year. The affordability index improved from 41.1% in 2011 to 36.4% in 2021, showing the suburb becoming relatively more accessible over the decade. Annual population growth is forecast at 1.84%, adding roughly 376 persons per year. Medium-scenario projections show the broader area reaching approximately 20,667 by 2028 and 21,795 by 2031. Real income grew 10.7% over the decade. The aging trajectory, with median age 8 years above national, means the growth is coming from new arrivals rather than natural increase, which keeps the demand base sensitive to migration policy.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+416
Net Internal / yr
+338
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +43% since 2011, Net internal migration +338/yr, Strong overseas inflow +416/yr, Accelerating: 9% → 31%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How South Fremantle compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Fremantle a good suburb to live in?
South Fremantle scores well on most liveability measures. Household income sits at the 71.5th percentile nationally, IRSAD is decile 8, and 54.6% of residents hold university qualifications, some 24.5 points above the national figure. The main trade-offs are a high median age of 48 and a 9.6% vacancy rate in the rental market.
What is the median house price in South Fremantle?
The median house price is estimated at $569,000. Weekly rent averages $450 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,249, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.1%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners account for 46% of households.
What schools are in South Fremantle?
No schools are recorded inside the South Fremantle boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the Fremantle area. The local population is highly educated, with 54.6% holding university qualifications, which is 24.5 percentage points above the national average.
Is South Fremantle safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for South Fremantle in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSAD index of advantage, placing it in the upper tier nationally. Only 4.2% of residents (134 people) need assistance with daily activities, consistent with a low-disadvantage profile.
Is South Fremantle good for property investment?
The 28.3% renter share and $450 weekly rent provide a reasonable tenant base. However, the 9.6% vacancy rate signals above-average supply pressure. Net overseas migration of 416 per year and annual population growth of 1.84% support medium-term demand. The low development pipeline (2 applications in 12 months) limits new competition.
How is South Fremantle's population changing?
The suburb is in an Active gentrification stage with a score of 64. Population grew 43% since 2011 and the forecast adds roughly 376 people per year at 1.84% annual growth. Overseas migration contributes 416 net arrivals per year and internal migration 338. The median age is aging, rising toward an established 48, which is 8 years above the national figure.
What languages are spoken in South Fremantle?
About 35.9% of residents were born overseas, which is 14.3 percentage points above the national figure. Italian (50 speakers) and French (22) are the most common non-English languages, reflecting a long-standing European heritage in the Fremantle area. Portuguese (14 speakers) also features in the language profile.
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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