Southern River
A 33-year median age, 49.3% overseas-born share and 89.6th household-income percentile define Southern River as a young, high-earning family market. Its 12,852 residents live mainly in detached housing, with 97.2% of dwellings separate houses and 77.3% containing four or more bedrooms. Compared with nearby Gosnells and Canning Vale, the suburb sits in a newer south-east growth corridor with a strongly house-led profile. The 3.3-person average household helps explain demand for larger homes, while 62.6% mortgage ownership points to a substantial owner-occupier base.
Population
12,852
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,364/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Southern River suits buyers seeking a large detached home rather than an apartment, because 97.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 77.3% have four or more bedrooms. The recorded mortgage payment is $2,100 a month, while mortgage costs equal 20.5% of income and the mortgage-stress flag is false. Rent is $420 a week, providing a useful holding-cost reference, although recent comparable sales are more reliable than a suburb-wide price guide. Compared with compact housing markets, the trade-off is more internal space but heavier car dependence, with 82.1% driving to work.
For Buyers
Southern River suits buyers seeking a large detached home rather than an apartment, because 97.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 77.3% have four or more bedrooms. The recorded mortgage payment is $2,100 a month, while mortgage costs equal 20.5% of income and the mortgage-stress flag is false. Rent is $420 a week, providing a useful holding-cost reference, although recent comparable sales are more reliable than a suburb-wide price guide. Compared with compact housing markets, the trade-off is more internal space but heavier car dependence, with 82.1% driving to work.
For Investors
Investors get a family-oriented rental profile: 16.8% of households rent, weekly rent is $420 and vacancy is 3.6%. The 97.2% separate-house share and 77.3% four-plus-bedroom share point toward demand from larger households rather than apartment tenants. Compared with renter-heavy precincts, the smaller rental pool can limit depth, although a 2.76% annual growth trend and overseas migration as the primary driver support ongoing tenant demand. The 12-month development count is 0, so near-term new supply is not evident. Rent costs equal 17.8% of income, and the rent-stress flag is false.
Schools in Southern River
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
BLETCHLEY PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL
SOUTHERN GROVE PRIMARY SCHOOL
YARRALINKA PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Southern River's 33-year median age is 7 years below the national figure, while 49.3% of residents were born overseas, 27.7 percentage points above the national share. University attainment is 42.4%, or 12.3 points higher than the national comparison, and average household size is 3.3 people, 0.8 above national. Chinese and Indian ancestry counts are 1,658 and 1,403, alongside 3,236 English and 3,371 Other responses. Christianity counts 4,844, no religion 4,031 and Islam 1,798. Compared with older nearby Gosnells, this combination supports a younger, larger-household profile, with Mandarin, Arabic and Urdu among the most common home languages.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.2%
Houses
2.4%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Southern River is a mortgage-led, detached housing market. Separate houses account for 97.2% of dwellings, compared with just 0.3% apartments and 2.4% semi-detached homes. Tenure is concentrated in mortgages at 62.6%, while 19.8% own outright and 16.8% rent. The average household has 3.3 people, and 77.3% of homes contain four or more bedrooms, explaining the strong fit for families. Mortgage costs are $2,100 monthly, equal to 20.5% of income, while rent is $420 weekly and rent-to-income is 17.8%. Compared with apartment-oriented markets, the suburb provides more internal space but less tenure flexibility and greater dependence on cars.
Mortgage / mo
$2,100
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$420
Census 2021
HH Size
3.3
Personal Income / wk
$910
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.6%
Unoccupied
144
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
63.6%
Couples with children
24.2%
Couples, no children
11.0%
Single parent
3,484
Total families
Economy & Employment
Household income sits at the 89.6th percentile, helping support Southern River's mortgage-belt profile. Healthcare is the largest industry at 18.6% with 827 workers, followed by Education at 11.1% and 496, Professional/Tech at 8.8% and 392, Construction at 7.6% and 338, and Mining at 7.1% and 318. The occupational mix is led by Professionals at 1,539, Trades at 1,026 and Clerical/Admin at 885. Labour-force participation is 73.0%, full-time employment is 61.8% and unemployment is 5.1%. Compared with a lower-income suburb, this combination should support owner-occupier demand, although 82.1% drive to work, indicating substantial commuting reliance.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
7,010
Unemployed
361
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.8%
Part-time
33.3%
Participation
73.0%
Employed
6,649
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.4%
Postgraduate
11.2%
Born Overseas
49.3%
Dwellings
3,862
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 82.1% travel as car drivers, versus 3.2% using public transport and 0.8% walking or cycling, while 8.4% work from home. That pattern matters because local errands and commuting are less suited to non-car travel than in transit-focused suburbs. Four local schools provide a practical mix of 3 government primary schools and 1 non-government college; families should check exact enrolment zones because catchments can cross local roads. Southern River's IRSAD decile is 6, above the midpoint, while its IER decile is 9 and IEO decile is 5. Compared with lower-advantage areas, the decile profile suggests solid economic resources, but school quality and safety should be assessed at address level.
Drive
82.1%
Public Transport
3.2%
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
8.4%
Population Forecast
+2.76%/yr
(+725 people/yr)
EstablishedSouthern River's growth outlook is strong but not uniform. The annual trend is 2.76%, and overseas migration is the primary driver, which fits the suburb's 49.3% overseas-born share. Population change across the wider area is 50.5% over 10 years, above a zero-growth baseline, while the shift trajectory is labelled Mixed. Gentrification signals are transitional: the forecast score is 35 with an Early signs stage, yet the shift measure records 0 and Not gentrifying. Compared with a mature, low-growth suburb, the combination points to continued expansion rather than a finished cycle, although the 3.0-point rise in senior share and 0.6-point fall in young share indicate gradual ageing.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+388
Net Internal / yr
+255
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal migration +255/yr, Strong overseas inflow +388/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Southern River compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Southern River a good suburb to live in?
Southern River can suit households wanting space and a newer, family-focused setting. The median age is 33, 97.2% of homes are separate houses and 77.3% have four or more bedrooms. Daily life is car-led, with 82.1% travelling as drivers, so it is less convenient than transit-focused suburbs for people without a car.
What is the median house price in Southern River?
A single suburb-wide median house price is not available. Compare recent settled sales and current listings for the exact dwelling type, noting that 97.2% of homes are separate houses and 77.3% have four or more bedrooms. Those characteristics can make the price range wider than a simple suburb average suggests.
What schools are in Southern River?
Four local schools are identified: 3 government primary schools and 1 non-government college. Check the exact enrolment zone before signing a contract, because school access depends on address and year level rather than suburb name alone. Families should also confirm current intake rules and transport arrangements for each of the 4 options.
Is Southern River safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available, so the absence of a figure should not be treated as a safety guarantee. Check current WA Police or local council information and inspect the exact street at different times. Southern River's IRSAD decile is 6, but that measures relative advantage rather than crime.
Is Southern River good for property investment?
It may suit investors seeking detached family rentals: rent is $420 a week, vacancy is 3.6% and 16.8% of households rent. The 2.76% annual growth trend and overseas migration driver are supportive, but the 0 development count and smaller renter share mean investors should test tenant depth and future supply carefully.
How is Southern River's population changing?
Southern River has 12,852 residents today. Population change across the wider area is 50.5% over 10 years, with annual growth trending at 2.76% and overseas migration the primary driver. The shift is labelled Mixed, so growth is strong but the 3.0-point increase in senior share and 0.6-point decline in young share point to gradual ageing.
What languages are common in Southern River?
Mandarin, Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi and Malayalam are among the common languages spoken, with counts of 414, 167, 164, 153 and 126 respectively. The 49.3% overseas-born share is well above the national comparison, helping explain the suburb's broad cultural and language mix.
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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