Ferndale vs Riverton

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Riverton, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Riverton: a median of $1.3 million, against $868,000 in Ferndale, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Ferndale tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Riverton suits families with children and couples.

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

Riverton

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • is already more of a family suburb (71% vs 55%)

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

First-home buyers

Ferndale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($537,500 vs $900,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($867,500 vs $1,305,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ferndale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($314/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Ferndale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 16%)

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

Investors

Ferndale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.9% vs 3.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Ferndale Riverton
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.

Ferndale Riverton
Walkability 79 / 82
Ferndale — Walkability: 79/100 Riverton — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 53 / 48
Ferndale — Safety: 53/100 Riverton — Safety: 48/100
Low fire risk 50 / 63
Ferndale — Low fire risk: 50/100 Riverton — Low fire risk: 63/100
Low flood risk 17 / 35
Ferndale — Low flood risk: 17/100 Riverton — Low flood risk: 35/100

Demographics

Riverton has more residents (6,078 vs 4,457); Riverton rents higher ($400/wk vs $314/wk).

Ferndale Riverton
Population 4,457 6,078
+36% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.9% +7.7%
Median age 41 39
Median household income $79,716/yr $99,112/yr
+24% vs other
Median weekly rent $314/wk $400/wk
+27% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ferndale Riverton
0-4 6.1% / 4.7%
Ferndale — 0-4: 6.1% Riverton — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 10.2% / 16.0%
Ferndale — 5-14: 10.2% Riverton — 5-14: 16.0%
15-19 5.1% / 8.1%
Ferndale — 15-19: 5.1% Riverton — 15-19: 8.1%
20-24 5.7% / 5.9%
Ferndale — 20-24: 5.7% Riverton — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 13.2% / 8.7%
Ferndale — 25-34: 13.2% Riverton — 25-34: 8.7%
35-44 14.0% / 15.6%
Ferndale — 35-44: 14.0% Riverton — 35-44: 15.6%
45-54 11.3% / 14.8%
Ferndale — 45-54: 11.3% Riverton — 45-54: 14.8%
55-64 11.4% / 10.1%
Ferndale — 55-64: 11.4% Riverton — 55-64: 10.1%
65-74 12.6% / 8.7%
Ferndale — 65-74: 12.6% Riverton — 65-74: 8.7%
75-84 6.9% / 5.8%
Ferndale — 75-84: 6.9% Riverton — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ 3.6% / 1.6%
Ferndale — 85+: 3.6% Riverton — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ferndale 40.1% couple families
Ferndale — Couple Families: 40.1% Ferndale — Lone Person: 38.9% Ferndale — One Parent Families: 14.7% Ferndale — Group Household: 4.2% Ferndale — Other Families: 2.1%
Riverton 57.3% couple families
Riverton — Couple Families: 57.3% Riverton — Lone Person: 25.0% Riverton — One Parent Families: 13.6% Riverton — Group Household: 2.9% Riverton — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ferndale 22.2% renting
Ferndale — Owned Outright: 36.5% Ferndale — Mortgage: 41.3% Ferndale — Renting: 22.2%
Riverton 26.3% renting
Riverton — Owned Outright: 37.7% Riverton — Mortgage: 36.1% Riverton — Renting: 26.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ferndale Riverton
Bachelor Degree 14.7% / 20.5%
Ferndale — Bachelor Degree: 14.7% Riverton — Bachelor Degree: 20.5%
Certificate III & IV 15.7% / 8.3%
Ferndale — Certificate III & IV: 15.7% Riverton — Certificate III & IV: 8.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 7.5%
Ferndale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Riverton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 9.3%
Ferndale — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Riverton — Postgraduate Degree: 9.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.3%
Ferndale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Riverton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

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.

Ferndale Riverton
England 8.1% / 4.0%
Ferndale — England: 8.1% Riverton — England: 4.0%
India 2.1% / 8.9%
Ferndale — India: 2.1% Riverton — India: 8.9%
Malaysia 3.0% / 7.3%
Ferndale — Malaysia: 3.0% Riverton — Malaysia: 7.3%
China 2.4% / 6.0%
Ferndale — China: 2.4% Riverton — China: 6.0%
New Zealand 2.6% / 1.5%
Ferndale — New Zealand: 2.6% Riverton — New Zealand: 1.5%
Sri Lanka — / 4.1%
Ferndale — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Riverton — Sri Lanka: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ferndale 82.2% houses
Ferndale — Houses: 82.2% Ferndale — Townhouses: 17.4% Ferndale — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Riverton 88.4% houses
Riverton — Houses: 88.4% Riverton — Townhouses: 9.3% Riverton — Flats / Apartments: 2.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ferndale Riverton
Median house price $867,500 $1,305,000
Median unit price $752,000 —
Median land price $537,500 $900,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 20 sales
 28 days
from 49 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.

Ferndale Riverton
3 bed $855K / $1.2M
Ferndale — 3 bed: $855K (28 sales) Riverton — 3 bed: $1.2M (27 sales)

28 vs 27 sales

4 bed $950K / $1.3M
Ferndale — 4 bed: $950K (19 sales) Riverton — 4 bed: $1.3M (40 sales)

19 vs 40 sales

Development activity

Ferndale Riverton
New dwellings approved 423
across Canning
same for both
Approvals change year on year -3%
same for both

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.

Ferndale Riverton
Houses 4.9%
$750/wk on $799K
 3.5%
$850/wk on $1.26M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within WA

Ferndale Riverton
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 41% of WA Higher than 66% of WA
Schools — Higher than 92% of WA
Walkability Higher than 95% of WA Higher than 96% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 96% of WA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of WA Higher than 89% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 77% of WA Higher than 14% of WA

Liveability

Riverton scores higher overall (68 vs 45).

Ferndale Riverton
Grade C B
Score 45/100 68/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Ferndale carries more bushfire risk (50 vs 37); Ferndale carries more flood risk (83 vs 65).

Ferndale Riverton
Bushfire Moderate
50/100
 Low
37/100
Crime Moderate
47/100
 Moderate
52/100
Flood High
83/100
 Moderate
65/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 22
within 5 km
 17
within 5 km

Schools

Ferndale Riverton
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Curtin University of Technology, 3.1 km
 3
Curtin University of Technology, 3.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 4.3%

Schools in Ferndale

  • Fountain College - Ferndale Campus Independent · Combined above peers

Schools in Riverton

  • Queen of Apostles School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Riverton Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Riverton Education Support Centre Government · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Ferndale Riverton
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 9
same for both
Childcare 1 4
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 7 2

Mobility

Ferndale Riverton
Walkability score 79/100 82/100
Distance to Perth 14.7 km 14.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min 22 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 124.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 159.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.3%
postcode 6148
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 62
postcode 6148
same for both

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.

Ferndale Riverton
Car (driver) 77.7% / 73.4%
Ferndale — Car (driver): 77.7% Riverton — Car (driver): 73.4%
Worked from Home 8.2% / 9.4%
Ferndale — Worked from Home: 8.2% Riverton — Worked from Home: 9.4%
Train 4.4% / 7.3%
Ferndale — Train: 4.4% Riverton — Train: 7.3%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 4.7%
Ferndale — Car (passenger): 4.7% Riverton — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Bus 3.3% / 3.4%
Ferndale — Bus: 3.3% Riverton — Bus: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.7%).

Setting

Ferndale Riverton
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.4 km
4.0 km to a named beach
 14.1 km
1.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Ferndale Riverton
Connectivity score 77/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 58%
2,093 premises
 54%
2,486 premises

Climate

Ferndale Riverton
Annual rainfall 745 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.6°C
same for both

Council rates

Ferndale Riverton
Average residential rate $1,833/yr
same for both
Council Canning
same for both

Federal electorate

Ferndale Riverton
Division Swan Tangney
Member Zaneta Mascarenhas Sam Lim
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Ferndale Riverton
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Ferndale

Middle-Ring Parks Quiet

Riverton

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Quiet Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ferndale

Ferndale vs Beckenham Ferndale vs Cannington Ferndale vs Wilson Ferndale vs Parkwood Ferndale vs Langford Ferndale vs Lynwood

Other comparisons with Riverton

Riverton vs Willetton Riverton vs Wilson Riverton vs Parkwood Riverton vs Shelley
Full data on Ferndale Full data on Riverton
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or