South Perth WA — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for South Perth, Western Australia. ABS Census 2021.

The population of South Perth WA is 12,596 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in South Perth is $1,147 per week ($59,644 per year). Median rent in South Perth is $375 per week ($1,625 per month). South Perth has a median age of 42 years, older than the national median of 38. South Perth has a population density of 2443.5 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in South Perth is England. The most common religion is No Religion (46% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in South Perth is $2,200.

South Perth Map

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South Perth Population

0
residents (Census 2021)

South Perth Median Income & Rent

💰
Median Income
$1,147/wk
$59,644 per year
#557 of 14,663
🏠
Median Rent
$375/wk
$1,625 per month
#2632 of 14,663
👤
Median Age
42years
4 years older than national median
🏡
Mortgage
$2,200/mo
Avg household size: 2.1 · 0.8 per bedroom

South Perth Demographics

Gender Split

Male 50.2% (6,323) Female 49.8% (6,268)

Population Density

2443.5
people per km²
12,596 people · 5.2 km²

Households

2.1
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,864
Family income/wk

South Perth Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

South Perth Housing Tenure

🏠
Owned outright
60.3% 1,853 dwellings
🏦
Owned with mortgage
39.7% 1,221 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

South Perth Country of Birth

Australia
79.7%
England
10.6%
India
3.6%
China
2.0%
Indonesia
1.1%
Iran
1.0%
Germany
0.6%
Hong Kong
0.6%
Canada
0.5%
Brazil
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

South Perth Religion

No Religion
45.8%
Catholic
22.5%
Anglican
11.6%
Not stated
7.9%
Christian (other)
3.2%
Buddhism
3.2%
Uniting Church
3.1%
Hinduism
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

South Perth Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
81.4%
Year 10 or equivalent
11.2%
Year 11 or equivalent
5.9%
Year 9 or equivalent
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

South Perth Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
23.5%
Other
20.1%
SAL Tot
11.8%
Spanish
11.4%
Cantonese
9.8%
Italian
9.6%
Vietnamese
7.6%
Persian ED
6.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

South Perth Employment

💼
Employed full-time
42.0% 4,269 people
Employed part-time
23.4% 2,378 people
🔍
Unemployed
3.2% 321 people
🏠
Not in labour force
31.4% 3,187 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

South Perth Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
44.3%
Postgraduate Degree
19.7%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
15.2%
Certificate III/IV
13.6%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
5.8%
Certificate I/II
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

South Perth Occupation

Professionals
46.1%
Managers
17.3%
Clerical & Administrative
10.7%
Technicians & Trade Workers
8.3%
Community & Personal Service
8.1%
Sales Workers
4.5%
Labourers
3.0%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

South Perth Field of Study

Management & Commerce
25.7%
Engineering
16.5%
Health
15.0%
Society & Culture
13.7%
Education
6.7%
Natural & Physical Sciences
6.0%
Architecture & Building
4.2%
Creative Arts
3.7%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
3.5%
Information Technology
3.3%
Agriculture & Environment
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

South Perth Dwelling Types

Separate house
48.1%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
42.4%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
9.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

South Perth Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.9%
$1-$149/wk
0.8%
$150-$299/wk
1.5%
$300-$399/wk
1.9%
$400-$499/wk
4.2%
$500-$649/wk
4.1%
$650-$799/wk
3.8%
$800-$999/wk
4.5%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
6.5%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.0%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.0%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
11.9%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
5.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
6.2%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.6%
$4,000+/wk
23.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

South Perth Marital Status

💍
Married
45.0% 4,985
↔️
Separated
3.1% 344
📋
Divorced
10.2% 1,126
🕊️
Widowed
3.9% 430
👤
Never married
37.9% 4,205

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

South Perth Ancestry

English
30.3%
Australian
20.7%
Other
12.2%
Irish
8.7%
Scottish
7.7%
Chinese
6.6%
Italian
4.4%
Indian
2.9%
German
2.7%
Dutch
1.7%
South African
1.0%
Croatian
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

South Perth School & University Attendance

Secondary — Other Non-Govt
24.3%
Primary — Government
18.5%
Vocational Education
13.9%
Pre-school
10.2%
Primary — Other Non-Govt
9.9%
Secondary — Catholic
8.5%
Primary — Catholic
7.5%
Secondary — Government
7.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

South Perth Need for Assistance

Needs assistance
2.9% 687
No need for assistance
97.1% 23,059

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

South Perth Volunteering

🤝
Volunteer
22.0% 2,303
Not a volunteer
78.0% 8,148

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

South Perth Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
10.8%
$300-$449/mo
1.1%
$450-$599/mo
2.7%
$600-$799/mo
3.0%
$800-$999/mo
2.3%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
12.9%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
15.8%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
21.6%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
13.5%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
16.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

South Perth How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
63.9%
Did not go to work
12.1%
Bus
10.0%
Car (passenger)
5.4%
Walked only
2.6%
Bicycle
2.3%
Other
1.7%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.9%
Ferry
0.7%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.3%
Truck
0.1%
Train
0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

South Perth Car Ownership

0 vehicles
5.9%
1 vehicle
47.8%
2 vehicles
34.8%
3 vehicles
8.1%
4+ vehicles
3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

South Perth Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
10.6%
2 bedrooms
31.7%
3 bedrooms
38.0%
4 bedrooms
15.0%
5 bedrooms
4.1%
6+ bedrooms
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

South Perth Population Mobility

19.5%
moved in the last year
53.2%
moved in the last 5 years
4.4%
unemployment rate (Census)
65.7%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

South Perth Indigenous Population

0.9%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander
226
Indigenous residents
23,817
Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

South Perth Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
841
Asthma
387
Arthritis
326
Heart disease
298
Diabetes
246
Cancer
192
Lung condition
160
Stroke
92
Kidney disease
79
Dementia
20

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

South Perth Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.7%
$1-$149/wk
3.9%
$150-$299/wk
4.5%
$300-$399/wk
2.3%
$400-$499/wk
2.3%
$500-$649/wk
2.6%
$650-$799/wk
6.1%
$800-$999/wk
7.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.0%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
8.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.4%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
12.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
4.5%
$3,500+/wk
11.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

South Perth Family Structure

Couple — no children
40.4%
Couple — children under 15
34.4%
Couple — no children under 15
15.9%
One parent — no children under 15
4.9%
One parent — children under 15
4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

South Perth Military Service

🎖️
Current ADF — Regular
0.1% 13
🛡️
Current ADF — Reserves
0.1% 15
🏅
Previously served
2.2% 234
👤
Never served
97.5% 10,219

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

South Perth Unpaid Carers

🤲
Provided unpaid assistance
11.5% 1,198
Did not provide
88.5% 9,221

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

South Perth Children Ever Born

No children
45.1%
1 child
12.4%
2 children
26.2%
3 children
12.6%
4 children
3.1%
5+ children
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

South Perth When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
57
1951–1960
143
1961–1970
368
1971–1980
451
1981–1990
628
1991–2000
546
2001–2010
892
2011–2015
664
2016
146
2017
150
2018
181
2019
281
2020
130
2021
42

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

South Perth Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
26.2%
5–14 hours
32.3%
15–29 hours
12.1%
30+ hours
6.7%
Did not do domestic work
22.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

South Perth Household Size

1 person
36.7%
2 persons
38.1%
3 persons
12.2%
4 persons
9.5%
5 persons
2.9%
6+ persons
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

South Perth Where Residents Moved From

Same address
9,548
Moved from WA
1,377
Moved — same area (SA2)
420
Moved from overseas
200
Moved from VIC
83
Moved from NSW
69
Moved from QLD
68
Moved from TAS
20
Moved from SA
19
Moved from NT
17
Moved from ACT
8

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

South Perth Family Blending

Intact family — no other children
87.0%
Step family — no other children
10.0%
Blended family — no other children
2.2%
Other couple — children only
0.4%
Intact family — other children present
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

South Perth Schools

22
schools nearby
9
government
1103
avg ICSEA score
10,290
total students
Wesley College Independent
Combined · PP-12 · 1,312 students
1147
ICSEA
Penrhos College Independent
Combined · PP-12 · 1,033 students
1143
ICSEA
Regent College Independent
Primary · PP-6 · 340 students
1142
ICSEA
Como Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 460 students
1140
ICSEA
St Columba's Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · PP-6 · 381 students
1140
ICSEA
St George's Anglican Grammar School Independent
Secondary · 7-12 · 596 students
1139
ICSEA
Victoria Park Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 510 students
1127
ICSEA
South Perth Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 395 students
1122
ICSEA
Mercedes College Independent
Secondary · 7-12 · 910 students
1122
ICSEA
Kensington Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 447 students
1121
ICSEA
Trinity College Catholic
Combined · 4-12 · 1,347 students
1113
ICSEA
Hensman Street Elementary Independent
Primary · PP-4 · 13 students
1080
ICSEA
Collier Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 298 students
1076
ICSEA
Como Secondary College Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 838 students
1056
ICSEA
Kent Street Senior High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,215 students
1041
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 22 schools

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in South Perth with map →

South Perth Rent Prices & Affordability

19%
of income
Affordable
Household Income $2,026/wk
Median Rent $375/wk
Rent-to-Income 18.5%

Rent is under 25% of household income — generally considered affordable.

If you earn X in South Perth

≈ $8,779/month
Median rent $375/wk
Left after rent $1,651/wk
Rent share 18.5%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

South Perth vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in WA

Frequently Asked Questions About South Perth

What is the population of South Perth WA?

The population of South Perth WA is 12,596 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 2443.5 people per km².South Perth is ranked #400 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in South Perth?

The median personal income in South Perth WA is $1,147 per week, or $59,644 per year.The median household income is $2,026 per week.Family income is $2,864 per week.South Perth is ranked #557 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in South Perth?

Median rent in South Perth WA is $375 per week ($1,625 per month).Rent represents 18.5% of household income, which is considered affordable.South Perth ranks #2,632 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in South Perth?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in South Perth WA is $2,200. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in South Perth?

The median age in South Perth WA is 42 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is South Perth a good suburb to live in?

South Perth is a suburb in Western Australia with a population of 12,596.The median income is $1,147/wk, which is above the WA average of $909/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (18.5% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Looking for schools, childcare centres, and playgrounds in this area? See kid.com.au for family facilities data.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 51381. All dollar figures in AUD.