WA 6076 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Walliston

With 97.4% of dwellings being separate houses and nearly half of those carrying 4 or more bedrooms, Walliston reads as a genuinely family-oriented suburb in Perth's eastern hills. The median house price sits at $465,000, well below the Perth metro median, yet household income at the 70.4th percentile nationally suggests residents are comfortably middle-income rather than struggling. The population of 1,016 across 3.84 square kilometres keeps density low at 264 people per km2, and 79.7% of residents did not move in the five years before the census, signalling strong attachment to the area rather than transient churn.

Walliston urban fabric map

Population

1,016

Median Age

40.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,887/wk

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

0

Median House

$465K

Estimated from rent (2025)

3.84 km²· 264.5 people/km²· Family income $2,187/wk

At a median house price of $465,000, Walliston sits below many comparable Perth fringe suburbs, making entry accessible for families seeking space. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9% falls comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, so the typical buyer here is not financially stretched. The stock is almost entirely detached: 97.4% of dwellings are separate houses, and 49.4% have 4 or more bedrooms, which is substantially higher than the national average. Outright owners at 39.0% outnumber renters at 15.1%, a tenure mix that points to an established, largely debt-free ownership base sitting alongside the 45.9% still paying mortgages.

For Buyers

At a median house price of $465,000, Walliston sits below many comparable Perth fringe suburbs, making entry accessible for families seeking space. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9% falls comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, so the typical buyer here is not financially stretched. The stock is almost entirely detached: 97.4% of dwellings are separate houses, and 49.4% have 4 or more bedrooms, which is substantially higher than the national average. Outright owners at 39.0% outnumber renters at 15.1%, a tenure mix that points to an established, largely debt-free ownership base sitting alongside the 45.9% still paying mortgages.

For Investors

Rental demand in Walliston is thin because only 15.1% of dwellings are rented, compared to the national renter share that typically exceeds 30%. Weekly rent of $350 against a $465,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.9%, modest but not negligible for a low-density suburb. The vacancy rate is 5.9%, higher than a healthy landlord market, suggesting supply slightly exceeds current demand. Development activity is essentially flat with zero applications lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply is not a concern. The investment case relies on the suburb's affordability relative to the Perth metro and the stability signalled by 79.7% of residents remaining in place, rather than on yield or rapid capital appreciation.

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

Kalamunda Christian School

ICSEA 1080 Primary Independent

PP-6 · 150 students

Walliston Primary School

ICSEA 1041 Primary Government

K-6 · 344 students

Demographics

The median age of 40 is exactly in line with the national figure, and the household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above the national average, consistent with the family-oriented, detached-house character of the suburb. Overseas-born residents make up 23.4% of the population, 1.8 points above national. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English leads at 492 residents, followed by Italian (117), Irish (103) and Scottish (103). University qualifications at 25.9% sit 4.2 points below the national rate, while the top occupations are Professionals (96 workers) and Clerical/Admin (75), suggesting a mix of trade and knowledge workers. Volunteering is high at 22.1%, above the rate seen in many comparable outer suburban areas.

Age Distribution

0-14
21.3%
15-24
11.0%
25-44
23.4%
45-64
24.4%
65+
20.7%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.2%
2 bed
4.1%
3 bed
45.3%
4+ bed
49.4%

Dwelling Structure

97.4%

Houses

N/A

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 39.0% Mortgage 45.9% Rent 15.1%

Walliston's housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 97.4%, with apartments and semi-detached dwellings each registering below the level of statistical significance. Bedroom sizes skew large: 49.4% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and another 45.3% have 3 bedrooms, meaning nearly every home suits a family. Tenure splits into 39.0% outright owners, 45.9% on mortgages and 15.1% renters, so owner-occupiers dominate at a combined 84.9%. The median house price is $465,000, estimated from 2025 rental data, and the rent-to-income ratio of 18.5% is below the national stress threshold, meaning the suburb is affordable for both buyers and tenants relative to local incomes.

Mortgage / mo

$1,950

Rent / wk

$350

HH Size

2.8

Personal Income / wk

$835

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

5.9%

Unoccupied

22

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

18.5%

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

23.9%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Italian
21

Ancestry

English
492
Italian
117
Irish
103
Scottish
103
Other
78
Ancestry NS
36

Household Composition

25.3%

Couples, no children

847

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 16.2% of the local workforce (51 workers), followed by Construction at 13.7% (43 workers) and Education at 13.0% (41 workers), a spread that mirrors the service-dependent economy of a residential outer suburb. Professional/Tech at 8.6% rounds out the top five. The unemployment rate is 2.1%, well below the national average, and 60.5% of employed residents work full-time. Personal weekly income averages $835 and family weekly income $2,187, placing the household at the 70.4th income percentile nationally. The participation rate of 60.4% is similar to the national rate, and 251 residents are not in the labour force, likely reflecting early retirees and carers in a suburb where 39.0% of homeowners have paid off their mortgage.

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

Full-time

60.5%

Part-time

37.4%

Participation

60.4%

Employed

471

Occupations

Professionals 96
Clerical/Admin 75
Managers 59
Community/Personal 45
Labourers 43
Machinery/Drivers 38
Sales 31

Top Industries

Healthcare 16.2%
Construction 13.7%
Education 13.0%
Other Services 9.2%
Professional/Tech 8.6%

University

25.9%

Postgraduate

5.2%

Born Overseas

23.4%

Dwellings

346

Transport to Work

Car dependence is near-total in Walliston: 88.7% of residents drive to work, and only 1.8% use public transport, one of the lower public transport rates compared to inner-suburban benchmarks. This reflects the suburb's position in Perth's eastern hills, where bus services are limited. On the positive side, 5.2% walk or cycle, which is above the national average for outer suburbs. Housing stress is absent: mortgage-to-income at 23.9% and rent-to-income at 18.5% both sit below the 30% stress threshold. No schools are recorded inside the Walliston boundary, so families rely on neighbouring suburbs for education. Only 4.9% of residents (48 people) need daily assistance, and the volunteering rate of 22.1% indicates strong community participation.

Drive

88.7%

Public Transport

1.8%

Walk / Cycle

5.2%

Work from Home

N/A

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

How Walliston compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 28%
Household Income
Top 30%
Rent Level
Top 28%
Renters
Bottom 34%
Uni Educated
Top 44%
Public Transport
Bottom 31%
Born Overseas
Top 23%
Density
Top 22%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Walliston a good suburb to live in?

Walliston suits families who prioritise space and low housing costs. About 97.4% of homes are separate houses, nearly half with 4 or more bedrooms, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9% is below the 30% stress threshold. The main limitation is car dependence, with only 1.8% of residents using public transport.

What is the median house price in Walliston?

The median house price is approximately $465,000, estimated from 2025 rental data, placing Walliston below many comparable Perth metro suburbs. Weekly rent averages $350 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,950, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9%.

What schools are in Walliston?

No schools are recorded inside the Walliston boundary in this dataset, so residents rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs for primary and secondary education. The suburb has a population of 1,016 and a relatively high proportion of families with children, with 372 couples with children recorded at the census.

Is Walliston safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Walliston in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, household income sits at the 70.4th percentile nationally, unemployment is 2.1%, and only 4.9% of residents (48 people) require daily assistance, all pointing to a stable, low-disadvantage residential community.

Is Walliston good for property investment?

Weekly rent of $350 against a $465,000 median house price implies a gross yield around 3.9%, and the vacancy rate of 5.9% is somewhat elevated. Only 15.1% of dwellings are rented, limiting the tenant pool compared to higher-density suburbs. Zero development applications in the past 12 months means no new supply pressure, which supports medium-term price stability.

How is Walliston's population changing?

Walliston has a population of 1,016 and shows strong residential stability, with 79.7% of residents having not moved in the five years prior to the census. The turnover rate is 20.3%, consistent with normal household change rather than speculative movement. No forward population forecast is available in this dataset.

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.

Explore Walliston on the Map

View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.

Open Interactive Map

More Suburbs in WA