Council (LGA) · Area profile
Perth
14 km²
High weekly incomes and a professional workforce define the city of Perth. This is a young and mobile community where nearly half the population was born overseas, contributing to a diverse, multilingual atmosphere. With a population that grew 70% since 2011, the area has become a hub for young adults and highly qualified professionals. Most residents live in apartments and rely on public transport, creating a dense, urban character that stands out from the rest of the state.
Perth's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
A fast-growing area where schools haven't kept pace per child.
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The community is noticeably younger than the national figure, with a typical resident aged 33. While children under 15 are far fewer than in most areas, there is a high proportion of people in de facto relationships.
This is an incredibly diverse area where 54.1% of people were born overseas, a figure far above the national average. The most common ancestries are English, Chinese, and Australian.
Language diversity is high, with 37.8% of residents using a language other than English at home. Mandarin is the most common non-English language, though the proportion of people who speak little or no English has fallen since 2016.
A large portion of the population reports having no religion, at 44.0%. This figure is higher than most areas and has risen by 18 points since 2011.
The workforce is exceptionally well-qualified, with 46.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far above the national figure, and the proportion of people who completed Year 12 has risen since 2011.
Typical incomes are much higher than in most areas, with the usual weekly family income at $2,480. About 20.4% of individuals earn $2,000 or more per week, which is well above the national average.
Residents are generally healthier than those in most other areas, with a much lower rate of long-term health conditions. Only 2.2% of people need help with daily activities, among the lowest for this level.
Unpaid care and housework are much less common here than in the rest of the state. However, volunteering is around the middle for similar areas and has risen since 2011.
First Nations residents have a Year 12 completion rate of 66.3%, which is far above the national average. The unemployment rate for this group is 16.3%, which is well above the national figure.
Homes are typically small, with just 1.8 people per household. A very high 43.0% of people live alone, which is far above the national figure.
The housing market is dominated by renters, who make up 64.7% of households. Apartments make up 90.1% of all homes, and typical weekly rents are $400, which is higher than most areas.
Public transport is very popular, with 19.2% of people using it to commute. About 21.1% of homes have no motor vehicle, a figure far above the national average.
The population is highly transient, with 68.3% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals also make up a very large share of the community at 36.7%.
Full-time employment is much higher than the national average at 64.4%. Professionals make up the largest occupational group at 36.8%, and most people work in professional, technical, or hospitality roles.
The area is ranked among the most advantaged for its level, scoring a 10 for overall advantage. This is supported by a very high level of education and job skills.
The area sees far more rainfall than the state average, with 661mm annually. Minimum temperatures are much higher than in most other areas.
This is a walker's paradise with a score of 9.0. Nearly every home is within a 15-minute walk of public transport, parks, and health services.