Willetton
More than half of Willetton's residents were born overseas, with the overseas-born share at 53.2%, or 31.6 percentage points above the national figure. The suburb has 19,262 residents across 8.74 square kilometres, and its 54.6% university-educated share is 24.5 points above national. Household income ranks at the 82.9 percentile. Compared with nearby Bull Creek, Willetton presents a more detached profile for buyers, with 90.0% separate houses and 65.1% of dwellings containing 4 or more bedrooms. A median age of 40 matches the national average, but an aging trajectory is emerging.
Population
19,262
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,178/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Willetton suits buyers seeking established detached housing, particularly households needing space for children or home offices. Separate houses account for 90.0% of dwellings, while 65.1% have 4 or more bedrooms and 31.3% have 3 bedrooms. The tenure pattern is owner-occupier heavy, with 39.6% owned outright and another 39.6% under mortgage, compared with 19.9% renting. A monthly mortgage benchmark of $2,100 equates with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3%, while rent-to-income is 18.4%. The average household size is 3.1, or 0.6 above national, which helps explain the demand for larger homes compared with apartment-led options.
For Buyers
Willetton suits buyers seeking established detached housing, particularly households needing space for children or home offices. Separate houses account for 90.0% of dwellings, while 65.1% have 4 or more bedrooms and 31.3% have 3 bedrooms. The tenure pattern is owner-occupier heavy, with 39.6% owned outright and another 39.6% under mortgage, compared with 19.9% renting. A monthly mortgage benchmark of $2,100 equates with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3%, while rent-to-income is 18.4%. The average household size is 3.1, or 0.6 above national, which helps explain the demand for larger homes compared with apartment-led options.
For Investors
Willetton provides a family-housing investment profile, but rental returns should be assessed against the purchase price and ongoing costs. Weekly rent is $400, vacancy is 4.5%, and 19.9% of households rent. That renter share is lower than the 39.6% share carrying a mortgage, so tenant demand is not the suburb's dominant housing force. Rent growth of 11.1% supports recent income momentum, while overseas migration is the primary growth driver. The 90.0% separate-house share and 65.1% 4-plus-bedroom share can appeal to family tenants, but 0 developments were recorded over 12 months, making the existing dwelling stock more important than a near-term construction pipeline.
Schools in Willetton
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
CASTLEREAGH SCHOOL
ONESCHOOL GLOBAL WA
ORANA CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
BURRENDAH PRIMARY SCHOOL
ROSTRATA PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Willetton combines an age profile close to national norms with a strongly migrant and highly educated population. The median age is 40, matching the national average, while 53.2% of residents were born overseas, 31.6 percentage points above national. University participation is 54.6%, or 24.5 points above national. Chinese ancestry is reported by 5,064 people, English by 4,572 and Indian by 2,107; Mandarin is spoken by 1,285 residents and Canton by 436. Couples with children account for 59.7% of families, and the average household size of 3.1 is 0.6 above national. Christianity has 7,609 adherents, compared with 6,916 reporting no religion and 1,592 identifying with Hinduism.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.0%
Houses
4.3%
Townhouse
5.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Willetton's housing is overwhelmingly detached and designed around larger households. Separate houses make up 90.0% of dwellings, compared with 5.7% apartments and 4.3% semi-detached homes. The bedroom profile reinforces that pattern: 65.1% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, while 31.3% have 3 bedrooms and 2.4% have 2 bedrooms. Tenure is split evenly between outright ownership and mortgages at 39.6% each, with renting at 19.9%, so owner occupation is higher than renting. The $2,100 monthly mortgage benchmark sits alongside a $400 weekly rent figure, with mortgage-to-income at 22.3% and rent-to-income at 18.4%. Compared with higher-density nearby options, this mix keeps Willetton oriented toward long-term family occupation.
Mortgage / mo
$2,100
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$400
Census 2021
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$755
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.5%
Unoccupied
287
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
59.7%
Couples with children
27.1%
Couples, no children
12.4%
Single parent
5,328
Total families
Economy & Employment
Willetton's economy is anchored by service industries and a relatively skilled workforce. Healthcare is the largest industry at 18.9% and 1,268 workers, followed by education at 13.4% and 899, professional and technical services at 12.9% and 868, public administration at 7.2% and 484, and construction at 6.9% and 461. Professionals number 3,036, ahead of clerical and administrative workers at 1,124, trades at 1,053, community and personal service workers at 1,035, and managers at 985. Labour-force participation is 64.8%, unemployment is 5.9% and full-time employment is 57.8%. Household income ranks at the 82.9 percentile. SEIFA results are above the midpoint, with IEO and IRSD at decile 8, IRSAD at decile 8 and IER higher at decile 9, indicating especially strong economic resources.
Unemployment
5.9%
Labour Force
9,743
Unemployed
577
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.8%
Part-time
38.3%
Participation
64.8%
Employed
9,166
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
54.6%
Postgraduate
16.1%
Born Overseas
53.2%
Dwellings
6,155
Transport to Work
Willetton is practical for car-based households, with 78.8% driving to work compared with 4.2% using public transport, 2.1% walking or cycling and 9.8% working from home. That pattern supports access across the wider south-of-river area but makes daily convenience more dependent on the exact address and commute. Seven schools serve the suburb, including 5 government schools spanning primary, education support and senior high options, plus 2 non-government schools. Check enrolment zones against the exact property because boundaries can change across nearby streets. Socioeconomic conditions are comparatively strong, with IRSAD at decile 8 and IEO at decile 8, while IER is higher at decile 9. These results support a stable residential setting, although transport choice is lower than in more transit-oriented suburbs.
Drive
78.8%
Public Transport
4.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
9.8%
Population Forecast
+0.9%/yr
(+195 people/yr)
EstablishedWilletton has an established outlook, with the annual growth trend at 0.9% and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 10.8% over 10 years, compared with the current annual trend of 0.9%. The demographic trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased by 4.5 percentage points, while the working share has fallen by 5.2 points. Gentrification signals are mixed. One indicator assigns a score of 31 and the stage Early signs, while the shift indicator records a score of 15 and the stage Not gentrifying. This suggests gradual change driven more by migration and household turnover than by a rapid redevelopment cycle.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+585
Net Internal / yr
-192
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +18% since 2011, Net internal outflow -192/yr, Strong overseas inflow +585/yr, Accelerating: 2% → 16%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Willetton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Willetton a good suburb to live in?
Willetton suits households wanting detached housing, school access and a car-oriented routine. It has 19,262 residents, a median age of 40, 90.0% separate houses and an IRSAD decile of 8. Public transport use is lower at 4.2%, so the exact address and daily commute matter.
What is the median house price in Willetton?
Willetton's current median house price should be checked against recent comparable sales rather than assumed as one suburb-wide figure. The housing mix is broad, with 31.3% of dwellings having 3 bedrooms and 65.1% having 4 or more. Buyers can test comparable prices against the $2,100 monthly mortgage benchmark.
What schools are in Willetton?
Willetton has 7 schools, including 5 government schools covering primary, education support and senior high options, plus 2 non-government schools. Check the exact enrolment zone for each address because school access can change across nearby streets. The local mix supports pathways from primary through senior high.
Is Willetton safe?
A suburb-wide safety verdict needs current incident checks for the exact pocket. Compare recent local patterns with nearby suburbs before deciding, rather than inferring safety from the housing mix or the 78.8% car-driver share. Willetton has 19,262 residents across 8.74 square kilometres, so conditions can vary by street.
Is Willetton good for property investment?
Willetton can suit a long-term investor seeking detached family stock, but returns need careful testing. Weekly rent is $400, vacancy is 4.5% and renters make up 19.9% of households, below the 39.6% mortgaged share. Rent growth was 11.1%, while 0 developments were recorded over 12 months.
How is Willetton's population changing?
Willetton has 19,262 residents today. The wider-area outlook points to 0.9% annual growth, with overseas migration the primary driver, while 10.8% population change is indicated across 10 years. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 4.5 percentage points and the working share down 5.2 points.
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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