Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Rivervale
3 km²
Daily life in Rivervale is defined by a fast-paced, urban feel where almost every home is within a short walk of shops, parks, and transport. It is a notably young and diverse community, with the typical resident aged just 34 and a high proportion of people born overseas. This is a mobile population where many live in rentals or alone, creating a high-density atmosphere that sits just minutes from the city center.
Rapid population growth here is outstripping school provision.
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The area is much younger than most, with a typical age of 34 and far fewer children and seniors than the state and national figures. A higher number of residents live in de facto relationships compared to the rest of the country.
Rivervale is far more diverse than the national average, with 41.3% of people born overseas. English, Australian, and Chinese are the most common ancestries.
More than 31% of residents use a language other than English at home, which is far above the state average. This is reflected in the variety of languages spoken, including Mandarin, Cantonese, and Arabic.
About 41.4% of the community report no religion, which is roughly in line with the Western Australian average.
The workforce is well-qualified, with 32.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 67.2% having completed Year 12, both of which are well above national figures.
Typical personal weekly income is $1,015, which is well above the national figure. While typical family incomes are about the same as the state average, 15.5% of people earn over $2,000 a week.
Residents generally report better health than most, with fewer people needing help with daily activities and a much lower rate of long-term health conditions than the national average.
Participation in unpaid work is much lower than in other areas, with far fewer people caring for children or doing significant housework.
First Nations residents here are noticeably older than those in the rest of the state, with a typical age of 31.
Homes are smaller than usual, with just 2.1 people per household. This is consistent with the fact that 38.5% of people live alone, a figure far above the national average.
Renting is very common here, with 53.1% of households renting compared to just 30.6% nationally. Consequently, far fewer people own their homes outright, and there are fewer large, detached houses.
Public transport use is very high, with 9.4% of people commuting by bus and a higher-than-average number of homes without a car. The area is exceptionally well-connected, with a drive time to the city of only 7 minutes.
The community is highly transient, as 54.5% of people moved house in the last five years. This includes a high number of recent arrivals from overseas.
A high proportion of the population is working or looking for work, and full-time employment is well above the national average. Many residents work in health care, professional services, or mining.
The area has seen strong growth, with the population rising 13.5% since 2021. It is generally viewed as having an advantage in terms of education and job skills.
The local climate is warmer than the state average, though it receives much more annual rainfall than the Western Australian figure.
Rivervale is very walkable, with 100% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport and a park. Nearly all residents can reach groceries and schools within 15 minutes on foot.