Winthrop
Winthrop's most distinctive feature is the combination of an older resident base and strong international links: 47.9% of residents were born overseas, the median age is 45, and household income sits at the 88.6th percentile. Age is 5 years above the national figure, while the 3.48 sq km suburb accommodates 6,020 people at a density of 1,730.4 residents per sq km. Compared with nearby Murdoch's university precinct, Winthrop is more oriented to established family households, reflected in 99.1% separate houses and 90.7% of homes with 4 or more bedrooms. Long-term ownership and high professional employment support stability, although growth is slow and the resident profile is ageing.
Local council: Melville
Population
6,020
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,324/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
For buyers, Winthrop is shaped by large detached homes rather than compact stock: 99.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 90.7% have 4 or more bedrooms. The 55.0% outright ownership share is higher than the 33.6% mortgage-held share, reflecting long-term tenure and a median age of 45. A monthly mortgage benchmark of $2,317 represents 23.0% of household income, slightly below the 23.5% rent-to-income measure. This supports a relatively established ownership market, but buyers should compare recent settled sales carefully because large homes can vary substantially by land size, renovation level and street. Compared with smaller-home areas around Murdoch, Winthrop is better suited to households seeking space, schools and a long holding period.
For Buyers
For buyers, Winthrop is shaped by large detached homes rather than compact stock: 99.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 90.7% have 4 or more bedrooms. The 55.0% outright ownership share is higher than the 33.6% mortgage-held share, reflecting long-term tenure and a median age of 45. A monthly mortgage benchmark of $2,317 represents 23.0% of household income, slightly below the 23.5% rent-to-income measure. This supports a relatively established ownership market, but buyers should compare recent settled sales carefully because large homes can vary substantially by land size, renovation level and street. Compared with smaller-home areas around Murdoch, Winthrop is better suited to households seeking space, schools and a long holding period.
For Investors
Winthrop presents a selective investment case rather than a high-turnover rental market. Only 10.6% of households rent, compared with 55.0% owning outright and 33.6% paying a mortgage, so the tenant pool is smaller and the suburb is dominated by owner-occupier family homes. Weekly rent is $545 and vacancy is 5.9%, giving landlords a useful income reference but also indicating that tenant competition should be monitored. There were 0 development applications or projects recorded over the past 12 months, which limits near-term new-supply pressure. Overseas migration is the primary migration driver, yet the annual trend is -0.06%, so investors should favour well-maintained 4-bedroom-plus homes and assess rental demand street by street rather than assume rapid capital growth.
Schools in Winthrop
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
WINTHROP PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Winthrop's median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, while 56.8% of residents have university qualifications, 26.7 percentage points above national levels. Overseas-born residents account for 47.9%, which is 26.3 points above the national share. Chinese ancestry is reported by 1,747 people, followed by English ancestry at 1,550; Mandarin is spoken by 251 residents and Cantonese by 126. Christianity has 3,250 adherents and 1,917 residents report no religion. Average household size is 3.0 people, 0.5 above the national figure. Compared with nearby Murdoch, Winthrop has a more settled family profile, supported by 922 couples with children and 83.0% of residents staying at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.1%
Houses
0.9%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Winthrop's housing stock is unusually consistent: 99.1% of dwellings are separate houses, only 0.9% are semi-detached, and 90.7% contain 4 or more bedrooms. Ownership is also pronounced, with 55.0% owned outright, 33.6% owned with a mortgage and 10.6% rented. The outright-owned share is higher than the mortgage-held share, which fits the suburb's median age of 45 and established resident base. Mortgage costs are benchmarked at $2,317 per month, while mortgage payments equal 23.0% of household income and rent equals 23.5%. Compared with the more apartment-oriented setting around Murdoch, Winthrop offers greater dwelling space but less variety for buyers seeking smaller or lower-maintenance homes.
Mortgage / mo
$2,317
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$545
Census 2021
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$762
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.9%
Unoccupied
123
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.8%
Couples with children
38.5%
Couples, no children
9.4%
Single parent
1,815
Total families
Economy & Employment
Winthrop has an educated, service-oriented economy. Healthcare is the largest industry at 16.1% and 359 workers, followed by Education at 13.8% and 307, Professional and Technical services at 13.0% and 289, Retail at 7.1% and 158, and Public Administration at 6.8% and 152. Professionals number 1,066 and managers 461, reinforcing the suburb's high household income percentile of 88.6. The unemployment rate is 4.7%, participation is 62.3% and the full-time employment rate is 56.6%. SEIFA results sit above the middle of the scale: education and occupation are in decile 9, economic resources in decile 10, disadvantage in decile 10 and advantage in decile 9. This combination helps explain stable ownership and demand for larger homes.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
3,134
Unemployed
148
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.6%
Part-time
39.5%
Participation
62.3%
Employed
2,986
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.8%
Postgraduate
14.4%
Born Overseas
47.9%
Dwellings
1,960
Transport to Work
Daily life in Winthrop is strongly car-oriented: 74.2% of residents drive to work, compared with 4.4% using public transport and 1.5% walking or cycling. A further 14.0% work from home, which may reduce peak commuting pressure. The suburb has 1 local primary school, Winthrop Primary School, in the government sector; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address and plan secondary access separately. Socioeconomic conditions are favourable, with an IRSAD decile of 9 and an IRSD decile of 10, both above the national midpoint. This supports household stability, while the 3.0-person average household size and 90.7% share of 4-bedroom-plus homes suit families more than apartment-focused living.
Drive
74.2%
Public Transport
4.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
14.0%
Growth Outlook
Winthrop is in an established, slow-growth phase. The annual trend is -0.06%, below a flat 0% benchmark, while population change across the wider area is -3.0% over 10 years. The primary migration driver is overseas migration, consistent with an overseas-born share of 47.9%, but that inflow has not offset the ageing trajectory. The senior share has increased by 10.8 percentage points, while the working-age share has fallen 3.0 points. Gentrification is not evident: the score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying. Compared with faster-expanding outer suburban markets, Winthrop's outlook is more about maintaining established housing and services than adding large volumes of new stock.
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Winthrop compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Winthrop a good suburb to live in?
Winthrop suits households seeking established streets, large detached homes and access to a local primary school. The median age is 45, household income ranks at the 88.6th percentile and 99.1% of dwellings are separate houses. Car dependence is high, with 74.2% driving to work.
What is the median house price in Winthrop?
A current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales for the exact street and property type. Winthrop is dominated by 99.1% separate houses and 90.7% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, while the mortgage benchmark is $2,317 per month.
What schools are in Winthrop?
Winthrop Primary School is the local government primary school in the suburb. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address, because 1 nearby primary school does not describe secondary, specialist or independent-school access across the wider area.
Is Winthrop safe?
Assess safety at the exact address by checking current WA Police incident figures and visiting at different times of day and night. Winthrop has 6,020 residents, so conditions can vary between streets, especially around traffic routes, shared paths and areas with less passive surveillance.
Is Winthrop good for property investment?
Winthrop may suit a long-term investor targeting established family housing. Rent is $545 per week, vacancy is 5.9% and only 10.6% of households rent, while development activity was 0 projects over the past 12 months. The annual growth trend is -0.06%, so rapid capital growth should not be assumed.
How is Winthrop's population changing?
Winthrop has an ageing population trajectory. The annual trend is -0.06% and population change across the wider area is -3.0% over 10 years. The senior share has risen 10.8 percentage points, while overseas migration remains the primary driver and 47.9% of residents were born overseas.
What languages are spoken in Winthrop?
Mandarin is spoken by 251 residents and Cantonese by 126, alongside Italian at 38 and Hindi at 20. Overseas-born residents represent 47.9% of the population, which is 26.3 percentage points above the national share and contributes to the suburb's strong international profile.
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).
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