Waikiki
Nearly two-thirds of Waikiki homes have 4 or more bedrooms (63.9%), while 97.8% are separate houses, making the 12,453-person suburb strongly oriented to larger households. The median age is 39, just 1 year below the national figure, and overseas-born residents account for 32.3%, 10.7 percentage points above national. Compared with nearby Rockingham and Safety Bay, its detached-house pattern gives Waikiki a lower-density suburban feel. Household income sits at the 53rd percentile, so the profile is broadly middle-market rather than affluent.
Population
12,453
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,611/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Waikiki suits buyers seeking conventional family housing: 97.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 63.9% have 4 or more bedrooms and 33.1% have 3 bedrooms. The 4-plus-bedroom share is above the 3-bedroom share, so larger households shape much of the market. Mortgage holders represent 46.7% of households, with a monthly mortgage figure of $1,600 and mortgage costs at 22.9% of household income; the stress flag is false. Weekly rent is $320 and vacancy is 6.8%, giving buyers useful leasing context. A current median sale price is unavailable, so compare like-for-like sales before setting a budget.
For Buyers
Waikiki suits buyers seeking conventional family housing: 97.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 63.9% have 4 or more bedrooms and 33.1% have 3 bedrooms. The 4-plus-bedroom share is above the 3-bedroom share, so larger households shape much of the market. Mortgage holders represent 46.7% of households, with a monthly mortgage figure of $1,600 and mortgage costs at 22.9% of household income; the stress flag is false. Weekly rent is $320 and vacancy is 6.8%, giving buyers useful leasing context. A current median sale price is unavailable, so compare like-for-like sales before setting a budget.
For Investors
Investor demand in Waikiki rests on a 23.3% renting share, weekly rent of $320 and a 6.8% vacancy rate. Owner-occupied tenure remains dominant: 29.3% own outright and 46.7% hold a mortgage, so renting is below the combined owner shares. There were 0 developments in the past 12 months, which may limit competing new stock but also reduces fresh supply. Growth is forecast at 0.67% annually, driven by overseas migration. Test yield, insurance and maintenance against current sales because no median price benchmark is available.
Schools in Waikiki
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
SOUTH COAST BAPTIST COLLEGE
CHARTHOUSE PRIMARY SCHOOL
WAIKIKI PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Waikiki has a median age of 39, one year below the national comparison, but its trajectory is older: the senior share has risen 4.7 percentage points while the young share has fallen 1.5. Overseas-born residents make up 32.3%, 10.7 points above national, with English, Scottish and Irish leading reported ancestries at 5,841, 1,269 and 1,141. University attainment is 16.8%, 13.3 points below national, alongside 1,127 trades workers and 783 community/personal workers. Average household size is 2.6, 0.1 above national. Compared with nearby Rockingham, 82.0% stayed at the same address, indicating settled rather than high-turnover movement.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.8%
Houses
1.8%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Waikiki's housing stock is unusually detached and large: 97.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 63.9% contain 4 or more bedrooms and only 0.4% are apartments. Four-plus-bedroom homes are above 3-bedroom homes at 33.1%, reinforcing a family-house profile. Tenure is led by mortgages at 46.7%, followed by outright ownership at 29.3% and renting at 23.3%. Mortgage costs equal 22.9% of household income, compared with 19.9% for rent, and neither stress flag is raised. For comparisons with Rockingham and Safety Bay, use recent like-for-like sales, especially for larger homes, because a current price median is unavailable.
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$320
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$740
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.8%
Unoccupied
331
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.7%
Couples with children
37.6%
Couples, no children
18.4%
Single parent
3,427
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is anchored by healthcare (17.3%, 603 workers), education (11.3%, 395), construction (11.0%, 384), public administration (9.7%, 337) and mining (9.1%, 317). Trades lead occupations at 1,127, ahead of community/personal workers at 783 and professionals at 767, matching the practical industry mix. The labour force is 6,031, with 7.2% unemployment and 60.8% participation. Household income is at the 53rd percentile. IEO is in decile 2, below IER in decile 6, signalling lower education and occupation outcomes than economic-resource standing. That gap helps explain why practical trades and service roles sit alongside healthcare and public-sector employment.
Unemployment
7.2%
Labour Force
6,031
Unemployed
433
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.8%
Part-time
33.5%
Participation
60.8%
Employed
5,598
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.8%
Postgraduate
2.6%
Born Overseas
32.3%
Dwellings
4,513
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-dependent: 81.2% drive, compared with 5.5% using public transport and 1.3% walking or cycling; 6.1% work from home. Three nearby schools provide 2 government primary options and 1 non-government school. Check exact enrolment zones and travel times because access varies by address. IRSAD is in decile 3, below higher socioeconomic deciles; need for assistance is 5.9% and volunteering is 12.3%. For safety decisions, use recent WA Police information and visit at different times. The 10.24 square kilometre footprint and density of 1,216 people per square kilometre support a more spread-out daily pattern.
Drive
81.2%
Public Transport
5.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
6.1%
Population Forecast
+0.67%/yr
(+92 people/yr)
EstablishedWaikiki is an established area with forecast growth of 0.67% a year, driven primarily by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 4.6% over 10 years, while the shift is labelled Aging: the senior share has increased 4.7 percentage points and the young share has declined 1.5. Rent growth is 10.3%, and affordability is labelled Improving from 49.6 in 2011 to 43.2 in 2021. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, so momentum is steadier than a renewal-led market.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+117
Net Internal / yr
-1
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Waikiki compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waikiki a good suburb to live in?
Waikiki suits buyers who prefer detached housing, with 97.8% of dwellings separate houses and 63.9% containing 4 or more bedrooms. Car use is higher than public transport use at 5.5%, with 81.2% driving, so it is more practical for drivers than car-free households.
What is the median house price in Waikiki?
A current median house price is unavailable for Waikiki. Compare recent sales for the relevant house type, because 97.8% of stock is detached and 63.9% has 4 or more bedrooms. The weekly rent benchmark is $320, but rent is not a substitute for a sale median.
What schools are in Waikiki?
Waikiki has 3 nearby schools: 2 government primary schools and 1 non-government school. Check the exact address against enrolment zones and confirm travel arrangements, as access can differ across the 10.24 square kilometre suburb. The sector mix is broader than a government-only catchment.
Is Waikiki safe?
For a current safety check, use recent WA Police information and inspect streets at different times. Conditions can vary across Waikiki's 10.24 square kilometres and 12,453 residents, so a single suburb label should not replace address-level checking. Compare recent local reports rather than relying on assumptions.
Is Waikiki good for property investment?
Waikiki may suit a long-term investor seeking detached family rentals: 23.3% of households rent, weekly rent is $320 and vacancy is 6.8%. Growth is forecast at 0.67% annually, driven by overseas migration, but no median sale price is available to test yield. The renting share is below the combined 29.3% outright and 46.7% mortgage shares.
How is Waikiki's population changing?
Waikiki is forecast to grow at 0.67% a year, with overseas migration the primary driver. The wider area records 4.6% population change over 10 years, while the trajectory is Aging and the senior share has risen 4.7 percentage points. The gentrification stage is Not gentrifying.
What languages are spoken in Waikiki?
English is the dominant reported ancestry at 5,841 people, followed by Scottish at 1,269 and Irish at 1,141. Other reported languages include Afrikaans at 54, Serbian at 26, German at 23 and Mandarin at 11. Overseas-born residents account for 32.3%, 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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