Westminster
More than half of Westminster's 7,042 residents (52.3%) were born overseas, a share 30.7 points above the national figure, and that migrant majority shapes a market where the $402,000 median house price sits far below Perth's metropolitan benchmark. The affordability story is the headline: housing costs absorbed 53.9% of income in 2011 but only 41.8% by 2021, an improving trend rare in Australian suburbs. SEIFA places the area in IRSAD decile 3 nationally, reflecting modest incomes ($769 personal weekly) rather than disadvantage, while the working-age share climbed 3.2 points as overseas migration adds about 664 people a year against a net internal outflow of 328.
Population
7,042
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,404/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
27
Median House
$402K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $402,000 the median house price is a fraction of typical metropolitan Perth values, and the stock supports family buyers because 62.9% of dwellings are separate houses and 73.1% have three bedrooms, with apartments at just 1.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.0%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold despite modest local incomes. Owner-occupiers already hold ground here: 35.6% carry a mortgage and 19.1% own outright, higher than the 45.3% who rent. The catch for buyers is supply, since only 8.6% of homes have four or more bedrooms, so larger families compete for a thin slice of the market compared with the dominant three-bedroom inventory.
For Buyers
At $402,000 the median house price is a fraction of typical metropolitan Perth values, and the stock supports family buyers because 62.9% of dwellings are separate houses and 73.1% have three bedrooms, with apartments at just 1.4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.0%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold despite modest local incomes. Owner-occupiers already hold ground here: 35.6% carry a mortgage and 19.1% own outright, higher than the 45.3% who rent. The catch for buyers is supply, since only 8.6% of homes have four or more bedrooms, so larger families compete for a thin slice of the market compared with the dominant three-bedroom inventory.
For Investors
Westminster offers landlords a deep tenant pool, with 45.3% of households renting and weekly rent of $330 against the $402,000 median producing a gross yield near 4.3%, well above the sub-2% yields common in premium Perth suburbs. Rent grew 6.2% recently, supporting that return. The risk sits in the 7.7% vacancy rate, which is elevated and softens pricing power, so tenant selection matters. Demand is migration-driven: net overseas arrivals run about 664 a year, far higher than the 328 annual net internal departures, which keeps occupancy underpinned. Development is steady rather than speculative, with 20 applications lodged in 12 months, mostly single-dwelling builds and demolitions, signalling gradual renewal rather than large-scale unit oversupply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
27
Last 12 Months
27
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 Westminster iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Gerard's Catholic Primary School
PP-6 · 176 students
Westminster Primary School
K-6 · 372 students
Demographics
The median age of 34 is six years below the national figure, reflecting a working-age population, and the 52.3% born overseas runs 30.7 points above the national share. Ancestry is led by English (1,391), then Indian (564) and Italian (472), while Punjabi (142), Arabic (106) and Gujarati (97) top the non-English languages, a profile pointing to strong South Asian and Mediterranean migration streams. University qualifications at 34.6% sit 4.5 points above the national rate, higher than the IRSAD decile 3 might suggest. Couples with children (2,190 families) outnumber couples without children (1,248), and the average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below national, consistent with a young family suburb rather than a singles market.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
62.9%
Houses
35.7%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is balanced toward owner-occupation: 35.6% of households carry a mortgage and 19.1% own outright, together exceeding the 45.3% who rent. The dwelling stock is overwhelmingly low-density, with 62.9% separate houses and 35.7% semi-detached against just 1.4% apartments, and three-bedroom homes dominate at 73.1%. The $402,000 median and $330 weekly rent translate to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.0% and rent-to-income of 23.5%, both below stress thresholds because costs track the area's modest incomes rather than running ahead of them. The IER score of 918 lands in decile 2, lower than the IRSAD decile 3, because aggregate economic resources reflect lower asset wealth than the renter-heavy, migrant-driven tenure mix would otherwise mask.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$330
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$769
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.7%
Unoccupied
238
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.7%
Couples, no children
5,044
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates employment at 21.0% (489 workers), more than double the next sector, Retail at 8.6% (201), followed by Hospitality (7.9%), Construction (7.7%) and Professional/Tech (7.3%). Occupations split between Professionals (555) and Community/Personal Service workers (554), with Labourers (432) close behind, a blue-and-pink-collar mix consistent with the IEO decile 5 ranking. Full-time employment sits at 62.4% and the participation rate at 60.9%, below the national average, while unemployment at 7.3% runs higher than typical. Real incomes still grew 11.3% over the decade, and the four SEIFA deciles (IEO 5, IER 2, IRSD 3, IRSAD 3) together describe modest means rather than entrenched disadvantage, since the education score outranks the economic-resources score.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
13,962
Unemployed
752
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.4%
Part-time
30.3%
Participation
60.9%
Employed
3,242
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.6%
Postgraduate
8.7%
Born Overseas
52.3%
Dwellings
2,834
Transport to Work
Westminster is a car-dependent suburb, with 84.9% of commuters driving and only 7.5% using public transport, well below inner-city levels, while walking or cycling at 1.5% reflects the low-density, separate-house layout rather than a walkable core. The volunteering rate of 10.9% and a residential turnover of 25.7% point to a moderately settled community where about three-quarters of residents stayed put. Housing cost pressure is contained, with rent-to-income at 23.5% and mortgage-to-income at 25.0%, both below the 30% stress line, making day-to-day living more affordable than in higher-decile suburbs. The IRSAD decile 3 ranking signals modest advantage nationally, and 5.3% of residents need assistance with core activities, a share worth noting for service planning.
Drive
84.9%
Public Transport
7.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.13%/yr
(+491 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 2.13% per year, about 491 persons annually, and the suburb expanded 31.6% over the past decade, classifying it as a high-growth established area. The driver is overseas migration, adding roughly 664 people a year, which more than offsets a net internal outflow of 328, a pattern where new arrivals replace departing domestic residents. The working-age share rose 3.2 points while the senior share fell 0.5 points, reinforcing the young-family trajectory. Gentrification scores 39 on the early-signs tier, with rent up 6.2% and affordability improving from 53.9% to 41.8% of income, an unusual combination where growth has not yet priced out the migrant base that fuels it.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+664
Net Internal / yr
-328
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +43% since 2011, Net internal outflow -328/yr, Strong overseas inflow +664/yr, Accelerating: 16% → 23%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Westminster compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Westminster a good suburb to live in?
Westminster suits affordability-focused buyers and young families. The $402,000 median house price is well below typical Perth values, and housing costs fell from 53.9% to 41.8% of income between 2011 and 2021. The IRSAD decile 3 ranking reflects modest incomes rather than disadvantage, with university qualifications at 34.6% running above the national rate. The trade-off is car dependence at 84.9% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Westminster?
The median house price is $402,000, well below typical metropolitan Perth values. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.0%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent is $330, producing a gross rental yield near 4.3%, far higher than premium inner-Perth suburbs.
What schools are in Westminster?
The data brief does not list individual schools located within Westminster's 2.31 square kilometre boundary, so specific ICSEA scores and enrolments cannot be confirmed here. Families typically draw on schools in adjoining Mirrabooka and Balga, and with three-bedroom family homes making up 73.1% of stock and 2,190 couples-with-children families, education demand in the area is substantial.
Is Westminster safe?
Verified crime statistics for Westminster were not available in this dataset, so a crime rate cannot be quoted. As context, the suburb has a residential turnover of 25.7%, meaning about 74.3% of residents stayed put, and a volunteering rate of 10.9%, indicators of a reasonably settled community. The IRSAD decile 3 ranking points to modest socioeconomic standing rather than concentrated disadvantage.
Is Westminster good for property investment?
The 45.3% renter share provides a deep tenant pool, and weekly rent of $330 on a $402,000 median produces a gross yield near 4.3%, well above premium Perth suburbs. Rent grew 6.2% recently. The main risk is a 7.7% vacancy rate, which is elevated. Net overseas migration of about 664 per year underpins demand against 328 internal departures.
How is Westminster's population changing?
Population grows at 2.13% per year, roughly 491 persons, with a 31.6% increase over the past decade. Overseas migration drives this, adding about 664 people annually, offsetting a net internal outflow of 328. The working-age share rose 3.2 points while the senior share fell 0.5 points, and the median age of 34 sits six years below national.
Why is Westminster so culturally diverse?
At 52.3% born overseas, Westminster's migrant share runs 30.7 points above the national figure. Ancestries are led by English (1,391), Indian (564) and Italian (472), while Punjabi (142), Arabic (106) and Gujarati (97) top the non-English languages, reflecting strong South Asian and Mediterranean migration into an affordable, family-oriented housing market.
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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