WA 6164 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Treeby

At a median age of 32, Treeby runs 8 years younger than the national average, a gap that explains nearly everything about the suburb's character. Household income sits at the 92.1st percentile nationally, yet the median house price is around $540,000, which means Treeby attracts high-earning young families who carry mortgages rather than wealth. Nearly 69% of residents are on a home loan, and 56% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, a profile shaped by families buying their first large home. The overseas-born share of 47% is 25 points above national, drawing from English, Chinese and Indian ancestry communities.

Treeby urban fabric map

Population

4,214

Median Age

32.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,479/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

18

Median House

$540K

Estimated from rent (2025)

8.24 km²· 511.6 people/km²· Family income $2,705/wk

The median house price of approximately $540,000 gives Treeby strong affordability relative to Perth's inner suburbs, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.6% is well below the 30% stress threshold despite a 68.7% mortgage rate across households. This combination, high income and moderate prices, is why the suburb attracts first-owner families. Separate houses account for 79% of stock, and 55.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, so buyers get space at a price well below the national median for comparable configurations. Monthly mortgage repayments average around $2,000. Semi-detached dwellings make up 20.7% of stock, providing an entry-level alternative, while apartments are only 0.3%, meaning detached house buyers face little dilution from denser stock.

For Buyers

The median house price of approximately $540,000 gives Treeby strong affordability relative to Perth's inner suburbs, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.6% is well below the 30% stress threshold despite a 68.7% mortgage rate across households. This combination, high income and moderate prices, is why the suburb attracts first-owner families. Separate houses account for 79% of stock, and 55.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, so buyers get space at a price well below the national median for comparable configurations. Monthly mortgage repayments average around $2,000. Semi-detached dwellings make up 20.7% of stock, providing an entry-level alternative, while apartments are only 0.3%, meaning detached house buyers face little dilution from denser stock.

For Investors

A 6.3% vacancy rate is elevated compared to typical suburban Perth benchmarks, signalling some oversupply in the rental market. Weekly rent of $450 against a $540,000 median house price implies a gross yield around 4.3%, reasonable for a Perth growth corridor suburb. The renter share is only 15.7%, so rental demand is thin relative to the owner-occupier base, which can extend vacancy periods. Development activity is modest at 7 approvals in 12 months, mostly single dwellings, so supply pressure is not acute from new builds. The young population base, median age 32, combined with household income at the 92.1st percentile nationally, suggests strong tenant quality when rentals are filled. The suburb's affordable price point relative to income supports long-term capital growth more than short-term yield.

Development Activity

Total DAs

18

Last 12 Months

18

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

New Dwelling
10
Swimming Pool / Spa
3
Deck / Pergola / Patio
2
Garage / Carport / Shed
2
Other
1

Schools in Treeby iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Treeby Primary School

ICSEA 1083 Primary Government

K-6 · 559 students

Demographics

Treeby's median age of 32 is 8 years below the national figure, driven by families in the household formation stage rather than retirees or students. Overseas-born residents reach 46.8%, which is 25.2 points above the national rate, with English ancestry leading at 1,183 residents, followed by Chinese (511) and Indian (357). This multicultural composition is reflected in the language profile: Mandarin (119 speakers), Gujarati (43), Punjabi (37) and Malayalam (37) are the most common non-English languages. University qualifications stand at 48.4%, which is 18.3 points higher than the national figure. The average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national, consistent with couples-with-children families: 1,818 such families compared to 1,026 couples without children. Hinduism (333 residents) and Islam (125) sit behind Christianity (1,789) as notable faith communities.

Age Distribution

0-14
20.3%
15-24
9.9%
25-44
45.2%
45-64
13.8%
65+
10.8%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.5%
2 bed
3.3%
3 bed
40.7%
4+ bed
55.5%

Dwelling Structure

79.0%

Houses

20.7%

Townhouse

0.3%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 15.6% Mortgage 68.7% Rent 15.7%

The housing stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 79%, with semi-detached at 20.7% and apartments at just 0.3%, making Treeby one of the more homogeneously detached suburbs in Perth's outer south. Bedroom size skews large: 55.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 40.7% have 3, leaving under 4% with 2 or fewer, which is consistent with the family demographic. Tenure splits sharply toward mortgaged ownership at 68.7%, compared to outright ownership at only 15.6% and renting at 15.7%. The low outright ownership share reflects the suburb's youth; residents have not held properties long enough to pay them off. Monthly repayments average $2,000 and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.6% is well below stress levels. Rent-to-income at 18.2% is similarly comfortable for tenants.

Mortgage / mo

$2,000

Rent / wk

$450

HH Size

2.7

Personal Income / wk

$1,197

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

6.3%

Unoccupied

99

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

18.2%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

18.6%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
119
Guj
43
Punjabi
37
Malayalam
37
Canton
28
Korean
28

Ancestry

English
1,183
Other
812
Chinese
511
Indian
357
Scottish
252
Irish
249

Household Composition

29.3%

Couples, no children

3,501

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is by far the dominant industry at 20.5% of employed residents (384 workers), more than double the next sector, Professional/Tech at 10.7% (201). Education (9.2%), Construction (8.4%) and Mining (7.1%) round out the top five, a mix reflecting both the suburb's young families needing services and Perth's broader resource sector employment. By occupation, Professionals lead at 781, followed by Clerical/Admin (326) and Community/Personal (288), with Managers at 250. The full-time employment rate of 72% is strong, unemployment sits at 3.1%, and the labour force participation rate is 71.3%. The weekly family income of $2,705 and household income at the 92.1st percentile nationally signal that residents earn well above average, underpinning relatively stable housing demand.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

72.0%

Part-time

24.9%

Participation

71.3%

Employed

2,321

Occupations

Professionals 781
Clerical/Admin 326
Community/Personal 288
Managers 250
Sales 156
Labourers 131
Machinery/Drivers 128

Top Industries

Healthcare 20.5%
Professional/Tech 10.7%
Education 9.2%
Construction 8.4%
Mining 7.1%

University

48.4%

Postgraduate

11.6%

Born Overseas

46.8%

Dwellings

1,477

Transport to Work

Car dependence is high at 84.5% of commuters using private vehicles, compared to national averages, with public transport used by only 8.8% and walking or cycling by 1.3%. This reflects the outer suburban location without heavy rail within easy walking distance. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby institutions in the surrounding Cockburn area. The need-for-assistance rate of 4.5% (184 residents) is low relative to population, consistent with a young and working-age community. Housing stress indicators are favourable: mortgage-to-income at 18.6% and rent-to-income at 18.2% are both well below the 30% stress threshold. Volunteering runs at 13.3%, showing moderate community engagement. No specific crime data is available for this suburb.

Drive

84.5%

Public Transport

8.8%

Walk / Cycle

1.3%

Work from Home

N/A

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Treeby compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 13%
Household Income
Top 8%
Rent Level
Top 10%
Apartments
Bottom 4%
Renters
Bottom 36%
Uni Educated
Top 10%
Public Transport
Top 16%
Born Overseas
Top 4%
Density
Top 19%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Treeby a good suburb to live in?

Treeby suits young families well, with household income at the 92.1st percentile nationally and a median house price of around $540,000. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.6% is below the 30% stress threshold. The main trade-offs are high car dependence at 84.5% of commuters and no recorded schools within the suburb boundary.

What is the median house price in Treeby?

The median house price is approximately $540,000, estimated from rental data as of 2025. Weekly rent averages $450, implying a gross yield around 4.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average about $2,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.6%, well below stress levels.

What schools are in Treeby?

No schools are recorded within the Treeby suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in nearby Cockburn area suburbs. Despite this, 48.4% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 18.3 percentage points above the national figure, reflecting the highly educated resident base.

Is Treeby safe?

Specific crime statistics are not available for Treeby in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has a low unemployment rate of 3.1%, household income at the 92.1st percentile nationally, and a need-for-assistance rate of only 4.5% (184 residents), all consistent with a low-disadvantage community.

Is Treeby good for property investment?

Weekly rent of $450 against a $540,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.3%, reasonable for outer Perth. However, the 6.3% vacancy rate is elevated, and the renter share is just 15.7%. Long-term capital growth potential is supported by high household incomes at the 92.1st percentile nationally and a young median age of 32.

How is Treeby's population changing?

Treeby's population stands at 4,214 with a high turnover rate of 36.5%, meaning over a third of residents arrived in the past 5 years. The suburb is still in a growth phase, as evidenced by 7 development approvals in 12 months and a young median age of 32, which is 8 years below the national figure.

What languages are spoken in Treeby?

About 46.8% of Treeby residents were born overseas, which is 25.2 percentage points above the national rate. The most common non-English languages are Mandarin (119 speakers), Gujarati (43), Punjabi (37) and Malayalam (37), reflecting significant Chinese and South Asian communities.

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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