Swanbourne
Swanbourne's standout feature is household income at the 98.9th percentile nationally, alongside 65.0% university attainment, 81.4% separate houses and a population of 4,592. At a median age of 38, it is 2 years younger than the national figure, yet its trajectory is Aging. Compared with nearby Cottesloe, Swanbourne reads as a smaller, detached-home market with strong professional capacity; its IRSAD decile 10 reinforces a higher-than-average socioeconomic position. Overseas-born residents account for 25.1%, 3.5 percentage points above the national comparison.
Population
4,592
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,418/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Buyers need to approach Swanbourne without a quoted median house price, so current comparable sales matter more than a headline suburb figure. The physical stock is strongly detached: 81.4% separate houses versus 11.1% apartments, while 50.1% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. Existing owners are prominent, with 41.3% owning outright and 31.1% paying a mortgage, because this is an established, higher-income market. Indicative carrying costs are $3,504 monthly for a mortgage and $470 weekly rent; mortgage payments equal 23.7% of household income, while rent equals 13.8%, with neither flagged as stressed.
For Buyers
Buyers need to approach Swanbourne without a quoted median house price, so current comparable sales matter more than a headline suburb figure. The physical stock is strongly detached: 81.4% separate houses versus 11.1% apartments, while 50.1% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms. Existing owners are prominent, with 41.3% owning outright and 31.1% paying a mortgage, because this is an established, higher-income market. Indicative carrying costs are $3,504 monthly for a mortgage and $470 weekly rent; mortgage payments equal 23.7% of household income, while rent equals 13.8%, with neither flagged as stressed.
For Investors
Rental demand is present but not dominant: 25.4% of households rent, below the owner-occupier shares represented by 41.3% owning outright and 31.1% paying a mortgage. Weekly rent is $470 and vacancy is 7.9%, so investors should test achievable rent carefully and allow for more leasing competition than in a tighter market. Swanbourne recorded 0 development activity in the last 12 months, which supports an established-stock thesis rather than a new-supply strategy. The growth signal is 1.27% annually, driven primarily by overseas migration, while rent growth reached 19.0%.
Schools in Swanbourne
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
SCOTCH COLLEGE
SWANBOURNE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
With 4,592 residents and a median age of 38, Swanbourne is 2 years younger than Australia overall, but its trajectory is Aging as the senior share has increased 4.0 percentage points. University attainment is 65.0%, 34.9 points above the national comparison, while overseas-born residents are 25.1%, 3.5 points above. English ancestry leads at 2,226 people, followed by Scottish at 626 and Irish at 610. No religion accounts for 2,152 people versus 2,063 identifying with Christianity. Average household size is 2.8, 0.3 above the national figure, and 74.9% stayed at the same address, indicating lower turnover than the 25.1% who moved. That mix helps explain the suburb's stable, professional character.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
81.4%
Houses
7.5%
Townhouse
11.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Swanbourne's housing profile is conventional and family-capable: 81.4% of dwellings are separate houses, 7.5% semi-detached and 11.1% apartments. Larger formats dominate, with 50.1% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 34.9% containing 3 bedrooms, a materially larger-house mix than the apartment share. Tenure is split between 41.3% outright owners, 31.1% mortgagors and 25.4% renters, which supports a more established pattern than a predominantly rental profile. Weekly rent is $470 and monthly mortgage cost is $3,504, while the mortgage-to-income ratio is 23.7%. A median house price and price-to-income ratio are not available, so relative value versus Perth or neighbouring suburbs cannot be stated responsibly.
Mortgage / mo
$3,504
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$470
Census 2021
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$1,362
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.9%
Unoccupied
130
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
13.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
53.8%
Couples with children
35.2%
Couples, no children
10.6%
Single parent
1,218
Total families
Economy & Employment
Household finances sit well above the national norm: weekly household income is $3,418 at the 98.9th percentile, with personal income of $1,362 and family income of $4,179. Employment is comparatively solid, with unemployment at 4.0% and participation at 66.5%; 57.7% of employed residents work full time. Healthcare leads local employment at 20.6% or 369 workers, followed by Professional/Tech at 17.9% or 321, Education at 11.3% or 203, Public Administration at 9.5% or 171, and Mining at 8.0% or 143. Professionals number 962 and managers 498, helping explain the high income position. IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD all rank in decile 10, so the socioeconomic advantage is broader than a single income measure.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
2,386
Unemployed
96
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.7%
Part-time
37.3%
Participation
66.5%
Employed
2,290
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
65.0%
Postgraduate
19.3%
Born Overseas
25.1%
Dwellings
1,518
Transport to Work
Daily movement is car-led: 66.5% travel as car drivers, compared with 6.5% using public transport and 7.4% walking or cycling. Work-from-home reaches 15.2%, which adds flexibility for households that do not need a daily commute. Local education access includes 2 schools, with 1 government primary and 1 non-government school; check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across suburb lines. Swanbourne sits in IRSAD decile 10 and 2.5% of residents need assistance, a higher socioeconomic profile but not a substitute for safety evidence. A suburb-level crime rate is not available, so check current WA Police information and visit at different times before deciding.
Drive
66.5%
Public Transport
6.5%
Walk / Cycle
7.4%
Work from Home
15.2%
Population Forecast
+1.27%/yr
(+135 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is positive but moderated by an established, aging profile. The trend is 1.27% a year and is driven primarily by overseas migration, while population change across the wider area is 21.9% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging because the senior share rose 4.0 percentage points and the working share fell 2.4 points. Gentrification remains at Early signs with a score of 24, while rent growth is 19.0%. Compared with a stagnant suburb, the annual trend is clearly positive, but the age shift suggests demand may favour established homes and services over rapid population turnover.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+140
Net Internal / yr
+17
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +26% since 2011, Accelerating: 8% → 17%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Swanbourne compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Swanbourne a good suburb to live in?
Yes, Swanbourne suits households seeking established detached housing, strong incomes and local school access. Its population is 4,592, IRSAD is decile 10, and 66.5% drive to work. Compared with a transit-led suburb, daily life is more car dependent, so check your commute and address-level enrolment zone.
What is the median house price in Swanbourne?
A current median house price is not available for Swanbourne. For context, weekly rent is $470, 81.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 50.1% have 4 or more bedrooms. Buyers should obtain current comparable sales because a rent figure alone cannot rank value against Cottesloe or the wider Perth market.
What schools are in Swanbourne?
Education access includes Swanbourne Primary School, a government primary school, and Scotch College, a non-government school. That is 2 local schools across 2 sectors, but enrolment eligibility varies by address. Check current zones, application rules and transport times rather than assuming every nearby option is available.
Is Swanbourne safe?
Swanbourne has a high socioeconomic profile, with IRSAD and IRSD both in decile 10 and 2.5% needing assistance. Those measures are higher than many suburbs but do not establish a crime rate. For a current safety comparison, check WA Police incident information and inspect the street at daytime and night.
Is Swanbourne good for property investment?
It can suit a long-term investor, but the numbers call for careful underwriting. Weekly rent is $470, vacancy is 7.9%, renters are 25.4% and development activity was 0 in the last 12 months. Compared with a high-rental, new-supply market, Swanbourne is more established, so achievable rent and purchase price matter more than a growth story.
How is Swanbourne's population changing?
Swanbourne's wider-area growth trend is 1.27% annually, with overseas migration the primary driver. Population change over 10 years is 21.9%, while the trajectory is Aging and the senior share has risen 4.0 percentage points. Gentrification is at Early signs, score 24, so change is positive but likely gradual compared with a fast-turnover growth corridor.
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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