Wembley
With 60.8% of adults university qualified and household income in the 75.2 percentile, Wembley reads as an inner-west professional base rather than a conventional family-only suburb. It has 12,061 residents in 4.28 sq km, so its 2,820.5 people per sq km feels denser than nearby Floreat yet less CBD-like than Subiaco. The 38.6% overseas-born share sits 17.0 percentage points above national, while 48.8% separate houses and 33.1% apartments explain the mixed household profile.
Population
12,061
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,005/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Median House
$482K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Homebuyers get variety rather than a single dominant dwelling type: 48.8% are separate houses, 33.1% apartments and 18.1% semi-detached homes. Larger households compete for the 25.8% of stock with 4 or more bedrooms, while 32.6% 2-bedroom homes suit downsizers and professional couples. Mortgage costs sit at $2,458 a month and 28.3% of income, below common stress thresholds because household income is high at $2,005 a week. A current median house price is not quoted, so recent comparable sales matter.
For Buyers
Homebuyers get variety rather than a single dominant dwelling type: 48.8% are separate houses, 33.1% apartments and 18.1% semi-detached homes. Larger households compete for the 25.8% of stock with 4 or more bedrooms, while 32.6% 2-bedroom homes suit downsizers and professional couples. Mortgage costs sit at $2,458 a month and 28.3% of income, below common stress thresholds because household income is high at $2,005 a week. A current median house price is not quoted, so recent comparable sales matter.
For Investors
Wembley has a deep tenant pool, with 38.4% renting compared with 29.4% owned outright and 32.1% under mortgage. The median rent is $290 a week, rent to income is 14.5%, and rent stress is not flagged, which supports affordability for tenants. The caution is vacancy: 9.0% is higher than a tight market, so leasing quality and presentation matter. New supply pressure looks limited, with only 1 development approval in 12 months.
Development Activity
Total DAs
8
Last 12 Months
8
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
Schools in Wembley iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Wembley Primary School
K-6 · 756 students
Bold Park Community School
PP-12 · 189 students
Lake Monger Primary School
K-6 · 335 students
SEDA College WA
11-12 · 531 students
Demographics
Median age is 37, which is 3.0 years below the national benchmark, and the 2.4 average household size is only 0.1 below national. Education is the standout: 60.8% hold a university qualification, 30.7 percentage points above national, shaping a professional labour pool. Wembley is also internationally linked, with 38.6% born overseas and Chinese ancestry at 878 people alongside English 4,270, Irish 1,480 and Scottish 1,070. Mandarin is the largest non-English language group at 162 speakers.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
48.8%
Houses
18.1%
Townhouse
33.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is genuinely mixed: 48.8% separate houses, 33.1% apartments and 18.1% semi-detached dwellings, a higher-density pattern than many middle-ring Perth suburbs. Tenure is also balanced, with 29.4% owned outright, 32.1% mortgaged and 38.4% rented. Bedroom supply leans compact, as 43.7% of homes have 0 to 2 bedrooms, while 25.8% have 4 or more. With mortgage costs at 28.3% of income and rent at 14.5%, housing stress is not flagged, despite no current median house price being quoted.
Mortgage / mo
$2,458
Rent / wk
$290
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$1,054
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.0%
Unoccupied
476
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.1%
Couples, no children
9,172
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is strong and skills-heavy. Unemployment is 4.1%, participation is 67.9%, and 59.7% of employed residents work full time, above what is typical for many inner suburban areas. Healthcare leads at 21.8% of jobs, followed by Professional/Tech 14.5%, Education 10.6%, Mining 7.5% and Construction 5.8%. The occupation base reinforces this, with 2,489 professionals and 949 managers. SEIFA shows IEO decile 9, IRSAD 9 and IRSD 8, while IER decile 6 is lower, likely because renters and apartments dilute economic resources compared with education levels.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
13,349
Unemployed
519
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.7%
Part-time
36.2%
Participation
67.9%
Employed
6,312
Occupations
Top Industries
University
60.8%
Postgraduate
19.1%
Born Overseas
38.6%
Dwellings
4,779
Transport to Work
Wembley works best for households wanting inner-west amenity with schools close by, though commuting is still car-led. Car driving accounts for 76.5% of trips to work, compared with 10.2% by public transport and 6.4% walking or cycling. There are 4 local schools across Government and Independent sectors, with ICSEA scores from 1014 to 1166, above the national benchmark. Wembley Primary is the largest at 756 enrolments, while Bold Park Community School adds a smaller Independent option at 189. IRSAD decile 9 supports a high-advantage living environment.
Drive
76.5%
Public Transport
10.2%
Walk / Cycle
6.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.3%/yr
(+285 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than speculative. The annual trend is 1.3%, or 285 people a year, and the medium path rises from 21,706 in 2026 to 23,130 in 2031. Migration explains the pressure: overseas migration averages +713 a year, while internal migration averages -188, so arrivals from abroad more than offset local outflow. The 10-year population change is 15.3%, affordability improved from 36.1 in 2011 to 28.4 in 2021, and the gentrification score of 33 is classed as Early signs, below a full transformation story.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+713
Net Internal / yr
-188
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +24% since 2011, Net internal outflow -188/yr, Strong overseas inflow +713/yr, Accelerating: 5% → 17%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wembley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wembley a good suburb to live in?
Yes. Wembley suits buyers who value education, inner-west access and mixed housing. It has 4 local schools, 60.8% university-qualified adults and household income in the 75.2 percentile, which is above many national benchmarks.
What is the median house price in Wembley?
A current median house price is not quoted for Wembley, so recent comparable sales by dwelling type matter. The housing mix is broad, with 48.8% separate houses, 33.1% apartments and 18.1% semi-detached homes.
What schools are in Wembley?
Wembley has 4 local schools: Wembley Primary School, Bold Park Community School, Lake Monger Primary School and SEDA College WA. ICSEA scores range from 1014 to 1166, with Government and Independent sectors represented.
Is Wembley safe?
No current suburb crime rate is quoted for Wembley, so safety should be checked street by street. Local activity indicators are still positive, with 4 schools, 10.2% public transport commuting and 6.4% walking or cycling to work.
Is Wembley good for property investment?
Wembley has investor appeal because 38.4% of households rent and median weekly rent is $290. The risk is a 9.0% vacancy rate, higher than a tight market, so property quality and tenant targeting are important.
How is Wembley's population changing?
Wembley's growth outlook is moderate, with an annual trend of 1.3% or 285 people. The medium path rises from 21,706 in 2026 to 23,130 in 2031, driven mainly by +713 overseas migrants a year.
What languages are spoken in Wembley?
English remains dominant, but Wembley has a clear international layer, with 38.6% of residents born overseas. Mandarin is the largest listed non-English language at 162 speakers, followed by Italian at 66 and Nepali at 49.
How renter-friendly is Wembley?
Wembley is relatively renter-friendly because 38.4% of households rent and rent-to-income sits at 14.5%, below common stress levels. Vacancy of 9.0% gives tenants more choice than in tighter rental suburbs.
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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