Willagee
A $421,000 median house price sits well below most metro Perth markets, yet Willagee carries the demographic markers of a gentrifying suburb rather than a static one. University qualifications reach 37.9%, which is 7.8 points above the national figure, and the population has grown roughly 24% since 2011 to 5,447 residents. The median age of 37 runs 3.0 years below national, and 79.4% of dwellings are separate houses across a compact 2.09 km2 footprint at 2,607.8 residents per km2. SEIFA places it mid-pack at IRSAD decile 5, but the gentrification signals, including net internal migration of 81 a year, point to upward movement from that base.
Population
5,447
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,660/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$421K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $421,000 median house price is the suburb's defining draw, sitting far below typical metropolitan Perth levels and pairing with monthly mortgage repayments of $1,967. That produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.4%, comfortably under the 30% stress threshold, so buyers here are not overextended relative to the 57.5th-percentile household income of $1,660 a week. Stock favours families: 79.4% of dwellings are separate houses, only 1.9% are apartments, and three-bedroom homes make up 47.7% with four-plus bedrooms a further 25.8%. Mortgage holders at 42.9% already outnumber outright owners at 20.3%, a sign of a relatively young buying cohort rather than long-settled debt-free residents.
For Buyers
The $421,000 median house price is the suburb's defining draw, sitting far below typical metropolitan Perth levels and pairing with monthly mortgage repayments of $1,967. That produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.4%, comfortably under the 30% stress threshold, so buyers here are not overextended relative to the 57.5th-percentile household income of $1,660 a week. Stock favours families: 79.4% of dwellings are separate houses, only 1.9% are apartments, and three-bedroom homes make up 47.7% with four-plus bedrooms a further 25.8%. Mortgage holders at 42.9% already outnumber outright owners at 20.3%, a sign of a relatively young buying cohort rather than long-settled debt-free residents.
For Investors
Renters make up 36.8% of households and weekly rent averages $283, which against the $421,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.5%, stronger than the sub-2% yields common in premium Perth suburbs. The 7.9% vacancy rate is moderate and rent has grown 65.5% over the period, a sharp move that supports rental income growth more than capital alone. Demand has two balanced legs: net internal migration adds 81 residents a year and net overseas migration a further 67, so the tenant pool is replenished from both sources rather than one. Development is quiet, with zero applications recorded in the past 12 months, which limits new supply and protects existing landlords. With annual population growth of 1.39% and gentrification at an early stage, the case rests on yield plus a credible path to capital uplift from a below-average price base.
Schools in Willagee iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Caralee Community School
K-6 · 333 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below national, and the trajectory is described as declining young, with the youth share down 2.6 points while the senior share edged up 1.6 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 26.9%, which is 5.3 points above national, though language diversity is thin: the top non-English languages are Italian (28 speakers), Mandarin (26) and French (16). Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,108), Scottish (556) and Irish (534). University qualifications at 37.9% run 7.8 points above the national figure, a key marker of the gentrifying profile. Average household size is 2.3, which is 0.2 below national, and couples with children (1,682 families) outnumber couples without children (887), consistent with the family-oriented, house-dominant housing stock.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.4%
Houses
18.6%
Townhouse
1.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward mortgaged ownership: 42.9% carry a mortgage, 20.3% own outright and 36.8% rent. Mortgage holders outnumbering outright owners points to a younger, recently arrived buying cohort rather than long-held wealth. The stock is overwhelmingly low density, with separate houses at 79.4%, semi-detached at 18.6% and apartments just 1.9%, so the suburb offers little for downsizers seeking units. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 47.7% and four-plus bedroom homes at 25.8%, reinforcing the family appeal. Against the $421,000 median, mortgage-to-income reads 27.4% and rent-to-income a comfortable 17.0%, both below stress thresholds. Affordability has slipped from 30.8% in 2011 to 34.1% in 2021, a worsening trend, because rents rose 65.5% while real incomes grew a smaller 21.4% over the same window.
Mortgage / mo
$1,967
Rent / wk
$283
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$829
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.9%
Unoccupied
182
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.1%
Couples, no children
3,838
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in public-facing service sectors: Healthcare leads at 17.3% (325 workers), Education follows at 14.3% (268) and Professional/Tech at 9.9% (186), with Construction at 9.4% and Public Admin at 6.9%. By occupation, Professionals (750) and Managers (311) form the largest groups, which aligns with the IEO score of decile 7 for education and occupation, the suburb's strongest SEIFA index. Unemployment is 5.3% and the full-time employment rate is 62.0%, while participation reads 58.6%, held down by 1,294 residents not in the labour force. Real incomes grew 21.4% over the decade. One anomaly stands out: the IER economic resources score sits at decile 3 against the decile 7 IEO, because the 36.8% renter base and 42.9% mortgaged households depress aggregate wealth measures despite the educated workforce.
Unemployment
5.8%
Labour Force
3,500
Unemployed
202
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.0%
Part-time
32.7%
Participation
58.6%
Employed
2,447
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.9%
Postgraduate
8.2%
Born Overseas
26.9%
Dwellings
2,125
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 87.5% driving to work against just 4.2% on public transport and 2.5% walking or cycling, well above the national reliance on cars and a function of the low-density, house-dominant layout. The suburb scores IRSAD decile 5, mid-range on relative advantage and disadvantage, and IRSD decile 3 for relative disadvantage, so it sits below the most affluent areas but is not deprived. Volunteering runs at 16.8% and 9.2% of residents (469 people) need daily assistance. No schools are recorded inside the 2.09 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off offset by the affordable $421,000 median and comfortable 17.0% rent-to-income ratio.
Drive
87.5%
Public Transport
4.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.39%/yr
(+87 people/yr)
EstablishedWillagee is an established suburb with steady momentum: annual population growth runs 1.39%, adding about 87 residents a year, and the 10-year change is 14.3%. The population has climbed from 5,964 in 2023 to 6,253 in 2025, and medium forecasts extend that to 6,602 by 2031. Growth is balanced across migration sources, with net internal migration of 81 a year and net overseas migration of 67, rather than relying on a single driver. Gentrification reads at an early-signs stage with a score of 33, supported by a roughly 24% population rise since 2011 and accelerating internal inflows. The affordability trend is worsening, moving from 30.8% in 2011 to 34.1% in 2021, which is itself a symptom of rising demand against a below-average price base.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+67
Net Internal / yr
+81
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +24% since 2011, Net internal migration +81/yr, Accelerating: 1% → 23%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Willagee compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Willagee a good suburb to live in?
Willagee offers an affordable entry point with a $421,000 median house price, well below most metro Perth markets, while university qualifications reach 37.9%, 7.8 points above national. It scores IRSAD decile 5, mid-range, and 79.4% of dwellings are separate houses, suiting families over unit downsizers.
What is the median house price in Willagee?
The median house price is $421,000, below typical metropolitan Perth levels. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,967, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.4%, under the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $283, a comfortable 17.0% of household income.
What schools are in Willagee?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.09 km2 Willagee boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 37.9%, which is 7.8 points above the national figure.
Is Willagee safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Willagee in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 3 on relative disadvantage and IRSAD decile 5, mid-range rather than deprived, while 9.2% of its 5,447 residents need daily assistance.
Is Willagee good for property investment?
Rent of $283 a week against a $421,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.5%, stronger than the sub-2% common in premium Perth suburbs. The 7.9% vacancy rate is moderate and rent has grown 65.5%, while balanced migration adds 81 internal and 67 overseas residents a year.
How is Willagee's population changing?
Population growth runs 1.39% annually, about 87 residents a year, with a 14.3% rise over 10 years. Numbers climbed from 5,964 in 2023 to 6,253 in 2025, with medium forecasts reaching 6,602 by 2031. The profile is younger than national, with a median age of 37.
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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