Southern River WA — Suburb Profile

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

The population of Southern River WA is 12,852 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Southern River is $910 per week ($47,320 per year). Median rent in Southern River is $420 per week ($1,820 per month). Southern River has a median age of 33 years, younger than the national median of 38. Southern River has a population density of 972.5 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Southern River is India. The most common religion is No Religion (36% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Southern River is $2,100.

Southern River Map

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Southern River Population

0
residents (Census 2021)

Southern River Median Income & Rent

💰
Median Income
$910/wk
$47,320 per year
#2013 of 14,663
🏠
Median Rent
$420/wk
$1,820 per month
#1513 of 14,663
👤
Median Age
33years
5 years younger than national median
🏡
Mortgage
$2,100/mo
Avg household size: 3.3 · 0.8 per bedroom

Southern River Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.1% (6,303) Female 50.9% (6,547)

Population Density

972.5
people per km²
12,852 people · 13.2 km²

Households

3.3
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,471
Family income/wk

Southern River 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)

Southern River Housing Tenure

🏠
Owned outright
24.0% 756 dwellings
🏦
Owned with mortgage
76.0% 2,391 dwellings

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

Southern River Country of Birth

Australia
70.5%
India
11.0%
England
7.5%
China
4.3%
Afghanistan
2.8%
Indonesia
1.7%
Bangladesh
0.8%
Egypt
0.5%
Germany
0.5%
Iran
0.5%

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

Southern River Religion

No Religion
36.0%
Catholic
18.5%
Islam
16.1%
Hinduism
7.8%
Anglican
7.2%
Christian (other)
5.6%
Not stated
5.3%
Buddhism
3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Southern River Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
74.3%
Year 10 or equivalent
15.9%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.4%
Year 9 or equivalent
2.4%

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

Southern River Languages Spoken at Home

Other
23.4%
Mandarin
22.2%
SAL Tot
16.0%
Arabic
9.0%
Urdu
8.8%
IAL Punjabi
8.2%
Malayalam
6.8%
Tamil
5.6%

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

Southern River Employment

💼
Employed full-time
45.9% 4,109 people
Employed part-time
24.8% 2,216 people
🔍
Unemployed
4.0% 357 people
🏠
Not in labour force
25.3% 2,261 people

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

Southern River Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
35.1%
Certificate III/IV
27.8%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.1%
Postgraduate Degree
12.6%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.7%
Certificate I/II
2.8%

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

Southern River Occupation

Professionals
31.3%
Technicians & Trade Workers
16.3%
Clerical & Administrative
12.4%
Managers
12.2%
Community & Personal Service
12.0%
Labourers
5.4%
Sales Workers
5.3%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
5.1%

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

Southern River Field of Study

Management & Commerce
25.2%
Engineering
21.5%
Health
12.5%
Society & Culture
9.8%
Education
7.8%
Information Technology
6.1%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
5.8%
Architecture & Building
4.2%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.3%
Creative Arts
2.7%
Agriculture & Environment
1.0%

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

Southern River Dwelling Types

Separate house
97.5%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
2.1%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Southern River Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.5%
$1-$149/wk
0.3%
$150-$299/wk
0.5%
$300-$399/wk
1.0%
$400-$499/wk
2.1%
$500-$649/wk
2.7%
$650-$799/wk
3.7%
$800-$999/wk
3.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
4.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.6%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
14.7%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
11.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
11.5%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
6.0%
$4,000+/wk
17.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Southern River Marital Status

💍
Married
58.5% 5,620
↔️
Separated
2.1% 204
📋
Divorced
5.3% 506
🕊️
Widowed
2.3% 219
👤
Never married
31.8% 3,057

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Southern River Ancestry

Other
22.6%
English
21.6%
Australian
17.8%
Chinese
11.1%
Indian
9.4%
Scottish
4.2%
Irish
3.6%
Italian
2.7%
Filipino
2.4%
South African
1.8%
Dutch
1.4%
German
1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Southern River School & University Attendance

Primary — Government
33.5%
Secondary — Government
19.8%
Secondary — Other Non-Govt
10.1%
Primary — Other Non-Govt
9.5%
Vocational Education
8.9%
Pre-school
8.4%
Secondary — Catholic
4.9%
Primary — Catholic
4.9%

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

Southern River Need for Assistance

Needs assistance
2.7% 665
No need for assistance
97.3% 24,082

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

Southern River Volunteering

🤝
Volunteer
14.5% 1,334
Not a volunteer
85.5% 7,882

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Southern River Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
3.5%
$300-$449/mo
0.9%
$450-$599/mo
0.8%
$600-$799/mo
1.3%
$800-$999/mo
2.6%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
9.3%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
17.4%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
33.2%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
19.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
11.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Southern River How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
77.6%
Did not go to work
10.9%
Car (passenger)
5.2%
Other
1.6%
Bus
1.5%
Train
1.5%
Walked only
0.7%
Truck
0.5%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.3%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.2%
Bicycle
0.1%

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

Southern River Car Ownership

0 vehicles
1.2%
1 vehicle
22.0%
2 vehicles
48.9%
3 vehicles
18.1%
4+ vehicles
9.7%

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

Southern River Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
0.2%
2 bedrooms
2.4%
3 bedrooms
20.0%
4 bedrooms
69.3%
5 bedrooms
7.2%
6+ bedrooms
0.9%

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

Southern River Population Mobility

12.0%
moved in the last year
39.3%
moved in the last 5 years
5.1%
unemployment rate (Census)
72.9%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Southern River Indigenous Population

1.0%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander
242
Indigenous residents
24,780
Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Southern River Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
692
Asthma
326
Diabetes
254
Arthritis
170
Heart disease
142
Lung condition
90
Cancer
83
Kidney disease
61
Stroke
38
Dementia
7

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

Southern River Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
16.5%
$1-$149/wk
4.5%
$150-$299/wk
5.4%
$300-$399/wk
2.1%
$400-$499/wk
1.9%
$500-$649/wk
2.2%
$650-$799/wk
6.9%
$800-$999/wk
8.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.0%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
8.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.9%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
11.3%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.0%
$3,500+/wk
3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Southern River Family Structure

Couple — children under 15
57.0%
Couple — no children under 15
19.2%
Couple — no children
14.6%
One parent — children under 15
5.6%
One parent — no children under 15
3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Southern River Military Service

🎖️
Current ADF — Regular
0.0% 4
🛡️
Current ADF — Reserves
0.0% 3
🏅
Previously served
1.3% 122
👤
Never served
98.6% 9,118

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Southern River Unpaid Carers

🤲
Provided unpaid assistance
9.9% 911
Did not provide
90.1% 8,267

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Southern River Children Ever Born

No children
31.2%
1 child
14.5%
2 children
32.2%
3 children
16.1%
4 children
4.9%
5+ children
1.3%

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

Southern River When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
11
1951–1960
40
1961–1970
195
1971–1980
253
1981–1990
482
1991–2000
610
2001–2010
2,432
2011–2015
1,300
2016
186
2017
150
2018
114
2019
190
2020
85
2021
17

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

Southern River Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
22.1%
5–14 hours
26.7%
15–29 hours
11.4%
30+ hours
9.1%
Did not do domestic work
30.6%

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

Southern River Household Size

1 person
11.4%
2 persons
23.3%
3 persons
19.7%
4 persons
27.4%
5 persons
12.3%
6+ persons
5.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Southern River Where Residents Moved From

Same address
10,837
Moved from WA
959
Moved — same area (SA2)
293
Moved from overseas
106
Moved from NSW
52
Moved from VIC
22
Moved from QLD
11
Moved from SA
9
Moved from NT
7
Moved from TAS
4

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

Southern River Family Blending

Intact family — no other children
84.6%
Step family — no other children
11.6%
Blended family — no other children
2.3%
Intact family — other children present
1.1%
Other couple — children only
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Southern River Schools

16
schools nearby
11
government
1044
avg ICSEA score
11,860
total students
Carey Baptist College Independent
Combined · PP-12 · 1,484 students
1114
ICSEA
Providence Christian College Independent
Combined · PP-12 · 1,041 students
1109
ICSEA
St Emilie's Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · PP-6 · 394 students
1103
ICSEA
Harrisdale Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 1,028 students
1092
ICSEA
Campbell Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 530 students
1089
ICSEA
North Harrisdale Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 805 students
1077
ICSEA
Harrisdale Senior High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 2,303 students
1072
ICSEA
Excelsior Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 330 students
1060
ICSEA
Bletchley Park Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 692 students
1050
ICSEA
Yarralinka Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 253 students
1040
ICSEA
Southern Grove Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 530 students
1038
ICSEA
St Munchin's Catholic School Catholic
Primary · PP-6 · 388 students
995
ICSEA
Huntingdale Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 439 students
956
ICSEA
Southern River College Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,209 students
941
ICSEA
Ashburton Drive Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 434 students
931
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 16 schools

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

View all schools in Southern River with map →

Southern River Rent Prices & Affordability

18%
of income
Affordable
Household Income $2,364/wk
Median Rent $420/wk
Rent-to-Income 17.8%

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

If you earn X in Southern River

≈ $10,244/month
Median rent $420/wk
Left after rent $1,944/wk
Rent share 17.8%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Southern River vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in WA

Frequently Asked Questions About Southern River

What is the population of Southern River WA?

The population of Southern River WA is 12,852 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 972.5 people per km².Southern River is ranked #381 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Southern River?

The median personal income in Southern River WA is $910 per week, or $47,320 per year.The median household income is $2,364 per week.Family income is $2,471 per week.Southern River is ranked #2,013 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Southern River?

Median rent in Southern River WA is $420 per week ($1,820 per month).Rent represents 17.8% of household income, which is considered affordable.Southern River ranks #1,513 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Southern River?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Southern River WA is $2,100. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Southern River?

The median age in Southern River WA is 33 years.This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Southern River a good suburb to live in?

Southern River is a suburb in Western Australia with a population of 12,852.The median income is $910/wk, which is above the WA average of $909/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (17.8% 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: 51394. All dollar figures in AUD.