Region (SA4) · Area profile
Perth - Inner
92 km²
High earners and university graduates dominate the landscape of Perth - Inner. This is a highly educated, professional community where nearly half of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. The area is characterised by a cosmopolitan feel, with over a third of residents born overseas and a very high proportion of people living in apartments or rentals. It is a fast-moving urban hub where most people live within a short walk of everything they need.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
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The population grew by 17% since 2011 and remains younger than most areas, with a typical age of 38. There are far fewer children here than in most other regions, while those aged 65 and over rose to 16.6% of the population.
A strong international presence defines the area, with 36.1% of people born overseas, which is well above the national figure of 27.7%. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.
About 20.2% of residents use a language other than English at home, a figure that rose 2.4 percentage points since 2011. Mandarin is the most common non-English language spoken.
The area is much less religious than most, with 45.9% of people reporting no religion. This figure has climbed significantly, rising 18 percentage points since 2011.
Education levels are among the highest in the country; nearly half of adults have a bachelor degree or higher, far above the national figure of 26.3%. Most residents finished Year 12, and qualifications are concentrated in management, health, and society and culture.
Wealth is high here, with 36.2% of households earning $3,000 or more a week, far above the national average. The typical family income of $3,239 is well above the Australian figure of $2,120.
Residents are generally healthier than those in most other areas, with a much lower rate of long-term health conditions (23.8%) and fewer people needing help with daily activities.
Volunteering is very common, with 22.2% of people helping out, a rate well above the national figure. However, fewer people spend significant time on unpaid housework compared to most areas.
First Nations residents in the area have a Year 12 completion rate of 64.3%, which is far above the state average. Typical personal incomes for this group are also much higher than in most other areas.
Homes are smaller and more likely to be occupied by single people, with 32.4% of residents living alone. This is well above the national figure and consistent with the lower number of children in the area.
Rental properties are very common here, with 38.9% of households renting, far above the national average. Detached houses are much less common than elsewhere, and typical weekly rents of $400 are higher than the state figure.
Public transport use is among the highest in the country, with 11.4% of people using it to commute. This is supported by a very high density of transport stops and a higher proportion of homes with no car.
The community is highly transient, with 48.6% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals are also much more common here than in most other areas.
The workforce is very active, with 67.1% of adults working or looking for work, well above the national average. Most jobs are in professional roles, particularly in health, technical services, and education.
The area continues to grow quickly, with a population increase of 12.5% since the 2021 census, which is higher than the state average.
The local climate features average minimum temperatures that are slightly lower than the state average, while annual rainfall is far above the Western Australian figure.
This is a walker's paradise, where 97.3% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed. Almost every resident lives within a 15-minute walk of a park, school, or health service.