Highgate vs Mount Lawley

Highgate is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 38 in Mount Lawley. In Highgate, most households rent, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Mount Lawley, most households own their home and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Mount Lawley: a median of $1.61 million, against $1.25 million in Highgate. Highgate is closer to the city centre: 1.8 km, against 2.9 km. On these figures, Highgate tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone.

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

Mount Lawley

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (11 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Highgate has cheaper houses ($1,255,000 vs $1,610,000)
  • Mount Lawley has cheaper units ($597,500 vs $682,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Highgate

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (58% vs 37%)

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

Mount Lawley

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 1)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (16% vs 11%)
  • carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 86/100)
  • But Highgate has more units and townhouses to downsize into (79% vs 47%)

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

  • Highgate returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.0% vs 4.3%)
  • Mount Lawley returns a higher gross yield on units (5.6% vs 4.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Highgate Mount Lawley
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.

Highgate Mount Lawley
Walkability 93 / 92
Highgate — Walkability: 93/100 Mount Lawley — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 14 / 35
Highgate — Safety: 14/100 Mount Lawley — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Highgate — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mount Lawley — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 70
Highgate — Low flood risk: 100/100 Mount Lawley — Low flood risk: 70/100

Demographics

Mount Lawley has more residents (11,328 vs 2,326); Mount Lawley has higher household incomes ($109,616 vs $96,304).

Highgate Mount Lawley
Population 2,326 11,328
+387% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.6% +1.8%
Median age 34 38
Median household income $96,304/yr $109,616/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $365/wk
+4% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Highgate Mount Lawley
0-4 3.2% / 4.6%
Highgate — 0-4: 3.2% Mount Lawley — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 6.1% / 8.8%
Highgate — 5-14: 6.1% Mount Lawley — 5-14: 8.8%
15-19 2.1% / 5.2%
Highgate — 15-19: 2.1% Mount Lawley — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 7.7% / 7.5%
Highgate — 20-24: 7.7% Mount Lawley — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 32.2% / 18.2%
Highgate — 25-34: 32.2% Mount Lawley — 25-34: 18.2%
35-44 17.2% / 14.8%
Highgate — 35-44: 17.2% Mount Lawley — 35-44: 14.8%
45-54 11.2% / 12.5%
Highgate — 45-54: 11.2% Mount Lawley — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 9.8% / 11.7%
Highgate — 55-64: 9.8% Mount Lawley — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 7.0% / 9.3%
Highgate — 65-74: 7.0% Mount Lawley — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 3.3% / 4.4%
Highgate — 75-84: 3.3% Mount Lawley — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 0.9% / 2.8%
Highgate — 85+: 0.9% Mount Lawley — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Highgate 62.3% lone person
Highgate — Lone Person: 62.3% Highgate — Couple Families: 15.6% Highgate — Group Household: 13.6% Highgate — One Parent Families: 7.1% Highgate — Other Families: 1.4%
Mount Lawley 47.8% lone person
Mount Lawley — Lone Person: 47.8% Mount Lawley — Couple Families: 33.1% Mount Lawley — Group Household: 8.1% Mount Lawley — One Parent Families: 9.3% Mount Lawley — Other Families: 1.7%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Highgate 57.5% renting
Highgate — Owned Outright: 18.8% Highgate — Mortgage: 23.6% Highgate — Renting: 57.5%
Mount Lawley 37.4% renting
Mount Lawley — Owned Outright: 30.2% Mount Lawley — Mortgage: 32.4% Mount Lawley — Renting: 37.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Highgate Mount Lawley
Bachelor Degree 26.0% / 26.3%
Highgate — Bachelor Degree: 26.0% Mount Lawley — Bachelor Degree: 26.3%
Postgraduate Degree 11.1% / 9.4%
Highgate — Postgraduate Degree: 11.1% Mount Lawley — Postgraduate Degree: 9.4%
Certificate III & IV 9.7% / 8.2%
Highgate — Certificate III & IV: 9.7% Mount Lawley — Certificate III & IV: 8.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 8.2%
Highgate — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Mount Lawley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.6% / 3.8%
Highgate — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6% Mount Lawley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.3%).

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.

Highgate Mount Lawley
England 5.2% / 7.0%
Highgate — England: 5.2% Mount Lawley — England: 7.0%
New Zealand 2.1% / 2.1%
Highgate — New Zealand: 2.1% Mount Lawley — New Zealand: 2.1%
Italy 1.8% / 2.1%
Highgate — Italy: 1.8% Mount Lawley — Italy: 2.1%
Vietnam 1.7% / 1.2%
Highgate — Vietnam: 1.7% Mount Lawley — Vietnam: 1.2%
South Africa 1.6% / 1.1%
Highgate — South Africa: 1.6% Mount Lawley — South Africa: 1.1%
India 1.3% / 1.2%
Highgate — India: 1.3% Mount Lawley — India: 1.2%
Scotland — / 1.2%
Highgate — Scotland: not among its largest Mount Lawley — Scotland: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Highgate 53.4% flats / apartments
Highgate — Flats / Apartments: 53.4% Highgate — Houses: 21.2% Highgate — Townhouses: 25.5%
Mount Lawley 27.7% flats / apartments
Mount Lawley — Flats / Apartments: 27.7% Mount Lawley — Houses: 52.6% Mount Lawley — Townhouses: 19.7%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Highgate Mount Lawley
Median house price $1,255,000 $1,610,000
Median unit price $682,500 $597,500
Median land price — $1,325,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 8 sales
 35 days
from 107 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.

Highgate Mount Lawley
1 bed $550K / $486K
Highgate — 1 bed: $550K (19 sales) Mount Lawley — 1 bed: $486K (53 sales)

19 vs 53 sales

2 bed $720K / $626K
Highgate — 2 bed: $720K (29 sales) Mount Lawley — 2 bed: $626K (98 sales)

29 vs 98 sales

Development activity

Highgate Mount Lawley
New dwellings approved 219
across Vincent
 1,557
across Stirling
Approvals change year on year -73% +23%

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.

Highgate Mount Lawley
Houses 5.0%
$800/wk on $824K
 4.3%
$900/wk on $1.1M
Units 4.8%
$650/wk on $699K
 5.6%
$650/wk on $600K

Ranking within WA

Highgate Mount Lawley
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 60% of WA Higher than 75% of WA
Schools — Higher than 97% of WA
Walkability Higher than 100% of WA Higher than 99% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 93% of WA Higher than 98% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of WA
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 84% of WA Higher than 41% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 23% of WA Higher than 62% of WA

Liveability

Highgate Mount Lawley
Grade A A+
Score 84/100 87/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Mount Lawley carries more flood risk (30 vs 0); Highgate carries more crime risk (86 vs 65).

Highgate Mount Lawley
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
86/100
 Moderate
65/100
Flood None
0/100
 Low
30/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Highgate Mount Lawley
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 1 3
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
ECU City Campus, 1.9 km
 3
ECU City Campus, 3.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.6% 4.7%

Schools in Highgate

  • Sacred Heart Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Schools in Mount Lawley

  • Mount Lawley Senior High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Perth College Independent · Combined above peers
  • St Paul's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Mount Lawley Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Highgate Mount Lawley
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 9 46
Parks & reserves 3 8
Childcare 2 11
GPs 1 5
Pharmacies 0 3
Hospitals 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 4
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Highgate Mount Lawley
Walkability score 93/100 92/100
Distance to Perth 1.8 km 2.9 km
+61% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 5 min 7 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 87.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 431.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.8%
postcode 6003
 2.7%
postcode 6050
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 10
postcode 6003
 33
postcode 6050

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.

Highgate Mount Lawley
Car (driver) 53.0% / 59.6%
Highgate — Car (driver): 53.0% Mount Lawley — Car (driver): 59.6%
Bus 15.8% / 13.0%
Highgate — Bus: 15.8% Mount Lawley — Bus: 13.0%
Worked from Home 10.5% / 12.3%
Highgate — Worked from Home: 10.5% Mount Lawley — Worked from Home: 12.3%
Walked Only 8.6% / 3.8%
Highgate — Walked Only: 8.6% Mount Lawley — Walked Only: 3.8%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 5.1%
Highgate — Car (passenger): 5.3% Mount Lawley — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Train 3.5% / 4.0%
Highgate — Train: 3.5% Mount Lawley — Train: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.6%).

Setting

Highgate Mount Lawley
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.9 km 11.3 km

NBN connectivity

Highgate Mount Lawley
Connectivity score 67/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 28%
1,683 premises
 33%
6,378 premises

Climate

Highgate Mount Lawley
Annual rainfall 650 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Highgate Mount Lawley
Average residential rate $3,974/yr $1,615/yr
Council Vincent Stirling

Federal electorate

Highgate Mount Lawley
Division Perth
same for both
Member Patrick Gorman
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Highgate Mount Lawley
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Highgate

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

Mount Lawley

Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Highgate

Highgate vs Perth

Other comparisons with Mount Lawley

Mount Lawley vs Perth Mount Lawley vs Maylands Mount Lawley vs East Perth Mount Lawley vs North Perth Mount Lawley vs Inglewood Mount Lawley vs Menora
Full data on Highgate Full data on Mount Lawley
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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