South Lake
A 36-year median age, 34.2% overseas-born share and 92.8% separate-house rate give South Lake a clear established suburban profile. Its age is 4 years below the national median, while its overseas-born share is 12.6 percentage points above national levels, helping explain the mix of English, Scottish, Irish and Chinese ancestry. Household income of $1,742 a week sits at the 61.1st percentile, and 48.2% of dwellings are mortgaged. Compared with nearby Yangebup and Bibra Lake, South Lake aligns more with established family housing than apartment-led development, while its 5,831 residents and 1,813.1 people per square kilometre support a settled, compact feel.
Population
5,831
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,742/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
21
South Lake suits buyers seeking detached space, with 92.8% separate houses, 51.5% having four or more bedrooms and 43.6% having three bedrooms. The 48.2% mortgage share is higher than the 24.8% outright ownership share, so competition for family homes may matter more than apartment supply. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,600 compares with rent of $350 a week; mortgage costs equal 21.2% of household income and rent equals 20.1%. Buyers should establish a current price benchmark from recent settled sales by bedroom count, lot size and renovation level. Compared with apartment-oriented stock, the 0.4% apartment share points to fewer compact ownership options.
For Buyers
South Lake suits buyers seeking detached space, with 92.8% separate houses, 51.5% having four or more bedrooms and 43.6% having three bedrooms. The 48.2% mortgage share is higher than the 24.8% outright ownership share, so competition for family homes may matter more than apartment supply. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,600 compares with rent of $350 a week; mortgage costs equal 21.2% of household income and rent equals 20.1%. Buyers should establish a current price benchmark from recent settled sales by bedroom count, lot size and renovation level. Compared with apartment-oriented stock, the 0.4% apartment share points to fewer compact ownership options.
For Investors
For investors, South Lake presents a rental market with 26.3% of households renting, weekly rent of $350 and a 7.5% vacancy rate. The renting share is lower than the 48.2% mortgage share, showing an owner-occupier base that may limit tenant depth compared with more rental-heavy suburbs. Rent growth is forecast at 5.9%, while overseas migration is the primary growth driver, a combination that can support demand but does not remove vacancy risk. Twenty development applications were recorded over 12 months, with examples including patios and swimming pools rather than a clear wave of new dwellings. Review comparable rents, vacancy patterns and dwelling condition before committing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
21
Last 12 Months
21
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 South Lake
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
SOUTH LAKE PRIMARY SCHOOL
LAKELAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Demographics
South Lake's median age of 36 is 4 years below the national median, and 28.1% of residents have a university qualification, 2 percentage points below the national comparison. In contrast, 34.2% were born overseas, 12.6 points above the national share, with English ancestry recorded at 1,985 people and Chinese ancestry at 370. Household size is 2.6, slightly above the national comparison by 0.1, and couples with children make up 43.5% of families, versus 35.2% couples without children. Residential stability is notable: 80.3% stayed at the same address, while turnover was 19.7%. Compared with nearby Yangebup and Bibra Lake, this suggests an established family base with continuing overseas migration rather than a highly transient profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.8%
Houses
6.8%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in South Lake is overwhelmingly detached: 92.8% separate houses, 6.8% semi-detached homes and only 0.4% apartments. Larger formats dominate, with 51.5% of dwellings containing four or more bedrooms and 43.6% containing three. Tenure is tilted toward mortgages, at 48.2%, compared with 24.8% owned outright and 26.3% rented. Mortgage repayments represent 21.2% of household income and rent represents 20.1%, indicating that housing costs are material but not dominant for the typical household. The $1,742 weekly household income sits at the 61.1st percentile, while $350 weekly rent provides a useful affordability reference alongside recent sales. Compared with nearby Yangebup and Bibra Lake, the pattern is better read as established family stock than apartment-led supply.
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$350
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$795
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
171
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.5%
Couples with children
35.2%
Couples, no children
19.3%
Single parent
1,577
Total families
Economy & Employment
South Lake has a mixed employment base led by healthcare at 17.7% and 320 workers, followed by construction at 11.0% and 199, education at 10.0% and 181, professional and technical work at 8.7% and 157, and manufacturing at 7.4% and 134. That mix aligns with 545 trades workers, 486 professionals, 388 clerical and administrative workers, 383 labourers and 364 community and personal service workers, giving the suburb both practical and service-sector links. Labour-force participation is 66.4%, unemployment is 6.1% and 1,853 people work full time. Household income of $1,742 a week ranks at the 61.1st percentile, above the national midpoint, while SEIFA economic-resources decile 6 is higher than the education and occupation decile 5. The pattern points to moderate resources with some education and employment constraints, rather than a uniformly high-income profile.
Unemployment
6.1%
Labour Force
3,177
Unemployed
194
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.1%
Part-time
31.9%
Participation
66.4%
Employed
2,983
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.1%
Postgraduate
5.5%
Born Overseas
34.2%
Dwellings
2,133
Transport to Work
South Lake's 3.22 square kilometres and density of 1,813.1 people per square kilometre create a compact suburban setting, but daily mobility is strongly car-led: 82.4% drive, compared with 3.5% using public transport and 1.1% walking or cycling. Work-from-home is 5.6%, so access to roads and local services remains important for many households. Two government schools serve the local education mix, covering primary and senior-high years; check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can affect practical access. The IRSAD decile is 5, the same as the IRSD decile, while the IER decile is 6, indicating middle-range socioeconomic conditions compared with higher-decile areas. For safety, inspect current street-level incident information and visit prospective streets at different times before deciding.
Drive
82.4%
Public Transport
3.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
5.6%
Population Forecast
+0.73%/yr
(+95 people/yr)
EstablishedSouth Lake is on an established, gradual growth path: the forecast annual trend is 0.73%, while population change across the wider area is 6.1% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, which fits the suburb's 34.2% overseas-born share and may sustain household demand even as the local profile ages. The trajectory is explicitly Aging, with the senior share up 4.9 percentage points and the young share down 2.7 points. Gentrification is not currently signalled: the score is 19 and the stage is Not gentrifying. Compared with a high-growth redevelopment market, South Lake's 20 development applications are more consistent with incremental established-suburb change than wholesale renewal.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+180
Net Internal / yr
-40
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +11% since 2011, Accelerating: 1% → 10%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How South Lake compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Lake a good suburb to live in?
South Lake can suit households wanting established detached housing: 92.8% of dwellings are separate houses and 51.5% have 4 or more bedrooms. Its 82.4% car-driver share means transport choice is important, while 2 government schools and a 36 median age support a settled family setting. Check the exact street, school zone and commute before buying.
What is the median house price in South Lake?
Use recent settled sales to establish a current median house price for South Lake. The housing profile is 92.8% separate houses, with 43.6% containing 3 bedrooms and 51.5% containing 4 or more. Compare like-for-like homes by land size, condition and bedroom count, then test repayments against the $1,742 weekly household income.
What schools are in South Lake?
South Lake has 2 government schools: a primary school and a senior high school. Confirm the exact enrolment zone and year-level availability for any address, because school boundaries can affect daily travel. The suburb has 43.5% couples with children and 5,831 residents, so local family demand is a relevant planning factor.
Is South Lake safe?
Safety should be assessed using current street-level information and an in-person visit at different times, rather than a suburb label alone. South Lake has 5,831 residents, 3.22 square kilometres and 82.4% car drivers, so traffic, parking and activity can vary between streets. Check recent incidents before signing a lease or contract.
Is South Lake good for property investment?
South Lake may suit a long-term investor seeking an established detached-house market, but it needs careful checking. Rent is $350 a week, vacancy is 7.5% and 26.3% of households rent, while rent growth is forecast at 5.9%. Compare these figures with current comparable listings and allow for maintenance, insurance, vacancy and finance costs before deciding.
How is South Lake's population changing?
South Lake has 5,831 residents today. The wider-area forecast records 6.1% population change over 10 years and a 0.73% annual growth trend, driven primarily by overseas migration. Its trajectory is Aging: the senior share is up 4.9 percentage points and the young share is down 2.7, pointing to gradual change rather than rapid rejuvenation.
What languages are spoken in South Lake?
English ancestry is the largest recorded ancestry at 1,985 people, while Chinese ancestry is 370. Mandarin is the most common listed non-English language at 81 speakers, followed by Portuguese at 35 and Serbian at 29. Overall, 34.2% of residents were born overseas, 12.6 percentage points above the national comparison.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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