Burswood vs Rivervale

Rivervale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 38 in Burswood. In both, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Burswood, most homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Burswood: a median of $1.5 million, against $965,000 in Rivervale, and rent is higher there too. Burswood is closer to the city centre: 5 km, against 6.6 km. On these figures, Rivervale tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Rivervale

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (43% vs 18%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Rivervale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($965,000 vs $1,500,000)
  • has cheaper units ($565,000 vs $670,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Rivervale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $430/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Rivervale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 42/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Burswood has more units and townhouses to downsize into (82% vs 57%)
  • Rivervale is more walkable (85/100 vs 42/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Burswood is growing faster (18.8% vs 5.1%)
  • Rivervale returns a higher gross yield on units (5.7% vs 4.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Burswood and Rivervale drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Burswood Rivervale
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Burswood Rivervale
Walkability 42 / 85
Burswood — Walkability: 42/100 Rivervale — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 8 / 17
Burswood — Safety: 8/100 Rivervale — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Burswood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Rivervale — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 28 / 69
Burswood — Low flood risk: 28/100 Rivervale — Low flood risk: 69/100

Demographics

Rivervale has more residents (10,897 vs 2,779); Burswood rents higher ($430/wk vs $350/wk).

Burswood Rivervale
Population 2,779 10,897
+292% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +18.8% +5.1%
Median age 38 34
Median household income $102,700/yr
+13% vs other
 $89,596/yr
Median weekly rent $430/wk
+19% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Burswood Rivervale
0-4 4.1% / 5.6%
Burswood — 0-4: 4.1% Rivervale — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 4.7% / 8.0%
Burswood — 5-14: 4.7% Rivervale — 5-14: 8.0%
15-19 3.1% / 3.0%
Burswood — 15-19: 3.1% Rivervale — 15-19: 3.0%
20-24 8.5% / 8.3%
Burswood — 20-24: 8.5% Rivervale — 20-24: 8.3%
25-34 22.2% / 25.8%
Burswood — 25-34: 22.2% Rivervale — 25-34: 25.8%
35-44 16.0% / 16.6%
Burswood — 35-44: 16.0% Rivervale — 35-44: 16.6%
45-54 12.7% / 10.6%
Burswood — 45-54: 12.7% Rivervale — 45-54: 10.6%
55-64 13.1% / 10.5%
Burswood — 55-64: 13.1% Rivervale — 55-64: 10.5%
65-74 10.9% / 7.0%
Burswood — 65-74: 10.9% Rivervale — 65-74: 7.0%
75-84 3.9% / 3.5%
Burswood — 75-84: 3.9% Rivervale — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 1.0% / 1.2%
Burswood — 85+: 1.0% Rivervale — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Burswood 53.2% lone person
Burswood — Lone Person: 53.2% Burswood — Couple Families: 23.8% Burswood — One Parent Families: 10.3% Burswood — Group Household: 9.7% Burswood — Other Families: 3.1%
Rivervale 52.0% lone person
Rivervale — Lone Person: 52.0% Rivervale — Couple Families: 24.7% Rivervale — One Parent Families: 10.3% Rivervale — Group Household: 10.0% Rivervale — Other Families: 3.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Burswood 50.5% renting
Burswood — Owned Outright: 23.9% Burswood — Mortgage: 25.6% Burswood — Renting: 50.5%
Rivervale 54.3% renting
Rivervale — Owned Outright: 16.2% Rivervale — Mortgage: 29.4% Rivervale — Renting: 54.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Burswood Rivervale
England 6.1% / 4.2%
Burswood — England: 6.1% Rivervale — England: 4.2%
China 3.6% / 3.0%
Burswood — China: 3.6% Rivervale — China: 3.0%
India 2.8% / 3.0%
Burswood — India: 2.8% Rivervale — India: 3.0%
New Zealand 2.8% / 2.8%
Burswood — New Zealand: 2.8% Rivervale — New Zealand: 2.8%
Malaysia 2.9% / 2.2%
Burswood — Malaysia: 2.9% Rivervale — Malaysia: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.1%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Burswood Rivervale
Bachelor Degree 22.2% / 19.4%
Burswood — Bachelor Degree: 22.2% Rivervale — Bachelor Degree: 19.4%
Certificate III & IV 10.8% / 12.6%
Burswood — Certificate III & IV: 10.8% Rivervale — Certificate III & IV: 12.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.1% / 9.7%
Burswood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1% Rivervale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 9.1% / 6.4%
Burswood — Postgraduate Degree: 9.1% Rivervale — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 2.2%
Burswood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Rivervale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Burswood 63.3% flats / apartments
Burswood — Flats / Apartments: 63.3% Burswood — Houses: 18.4% Burswood — Townhouses: 18.3%
Rivervale 36.2% flats / apartments
Rivervale — Flats / Apartments: 36.2% Rivervale — Houses: 42.6% Rivervale — Townhouses: 21.2%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Burswood Rivervale
Median house price $1,500,000 $965,000
Median unit price $670,500 $565,000
Median land price — $785,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 31 days
from 9 sales
 21 days
from 73 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Burswood Rivervale
3 bed $900K / $935K
Burswood — 3 bed: $900K (9 sales) Rivervale — 3 bed: $935K (65 sales)

9 vs 65 sales

4 bed $1.75M / $1.23M
Burswood — 4 bed: $1.75M (8 sales) Rivervale — 4 bed: $1.23M (33 sales)

8 vs 33 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Burswood Rivervale
1 bed $495K / $512K
Burswood — 1 bed: $495K (22 sales) Rivervale — 1 bed: $512K (110 sales)

22 vs 110 sales

2 bed $710K / $582K
Burswood — 2 bed: $710K (69 sales) Rivervale — 2 bed: $582K (196 sales)

69 vs 196 sales

3 bed $1.29M / $740K
Burswood — 3 bed: $1.29M (8 sales) Rivervale — 3 bed: $740K (41 sales)

8 vs 41 sales

Development activity

Burswood Rivervale
New dwellings approved 135
across Victoria Park
 595
across Belmont
Approvals change year on year +89% +71%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Burswood Rivervale
Houses 4.9%
$850/wk on $900K
 4.6%
$795/wk on $900K
Units 4.9%
$810/wk on $860K
 5.7%
$680/wk on $625K

Ranking within WA

Burswood Rivervale
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 69% of WA Higher than 54% of WA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 81% of WA Higher than 97% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 93% of WA Higher than 87% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of WA
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 79% of WA Higher than 66% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 30% of WA Higher than 66% of WA

Liveability

Rivervale is more walkable (85 vs 42); Rivervale scores higher overall (66 vs 54).

Burswood Rivervale
Grade B
same for both
Score 54/100 66/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Burswood carries more flood risk (72 vs 31).

Burswood Rivervale
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
92/100
 High
83/100
Flood High
72/100
 Low
31/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 19
within 5 km

Schools

Burswood Rivervale
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 3
ECU City Campus, 3.3 km
 3
Curtin University of Technology, 5.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.2% 2.6%

Schools in Burswood

  • Perth Montessori School Independent · Combined below peers

Schools in Rivervale

  • Rivervale Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Augustine's Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Burswood Rivervale
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 3
same for both
Parks & reserves 6 7
Childcare 1 4
GPs 2 3
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Burswood Rivervale
Walkability score 42/100 85/100
Distance to Perth 5 km 6.6 km
+32% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 9 min 10 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 260.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 237.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.9%
postcode 6100
 1.2%
postcode 6103
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 6100
 22
postcode 6103

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Burswood Rivervale
Car (driver) 64.4% / 70.5%
Burswood — Car (driver): 64.4% Rivervale — Car (driver): 70.5%
Bus 7.3% / 11.4%
Burswood — Bus: 7.3% Rivervale — Bus: 11.4%
Worked from Home 11.1% / 7.0%
Burswood — Worked from Home: 11.1% Rivervale — Worked from Home: 7.0%
Car (passenger) 6.3% / 5.9%
Burswood — Car (passenger): 6.3% Rivervale — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Train 6.4% / 2.5%
Burswood — Train: 6.4% Rivervale — Train: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.5%).

Setting

Burswood Rivervale
Elevation 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 13.1 km 15.3 km

NBN connectivity

Burswood Rivervale
Connectivity score 91/100 92/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 74%
1,990 premises
 85%
6,970 premises

Climate

Burswood Rivervale
Annual rainfall 663 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 32.3°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Burswood Rivervale
Average residential rate $3,148/yr $2,937/yr
Council Victoria Park Belmont

Federal electorate

Burswood Rivervale
Division Swan
same for both
Member Zaneta Mascarenhas
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Burswood Rivervale
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Burswood

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Trains Transport Hub

Rivervale

Apartments Easy Commute Gentrifying Inner Parks Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Burswood

Burswood vs East Perth Burswood vs Victoria Park Burswood vs Lathlain

Other comparisons with Rivervale

Rivervale vs Cloverdale Rivervale vs Kewdale Rivervale vs Belmont Rivervale vs Carlisle Rivervale vs Lathlain
Full data on Burswood Full data on Rivervale
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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