Lathlain vs Rivervale

In Lathlain, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Rivervale, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Lathlain: a median of $1.11 million, against $965,000 in Rivervale. On these figures, Rivervale tends to suit renters 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

Lathlain

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (78% vs 43%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (50% vs 35%)

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

First-home buyers

Rivervale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($965,000 vs $1,112,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Rivervale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (54% vs 36%)

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

Rivervale

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (57% vs 22%)
  • But Lathlain carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 83/100)

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

Investors

Rivervale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.6% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Lathlain 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.

Lathlain 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.

Lathlain Rivervale
Walkability 86 / 85
Lathlain — Walkability: 86/100 Rivervale — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 41 / 17
Lathlain — Safety: 41/100 Rivervale — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 74 / 100
Lathlain — Low fire risk: 74/100 Rivervale — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 69
Lathlain — Low flood risk: 100/100 Rivervale — Low flood risk: 69/100

Demographics

Rivervale has more residents (10,897 vs 3,699); Lathlain has higher household incomes ($106,080 vs $89,596).

Lathlain Rivervale
Population 3,699 10,897
+195% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.8% +5.1%
Median age 35 34
Median household income $106,080/yr
+16% vs other
 $89,596/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lathlain Rivervale
0-4 5.9% / 5.6%
Lathlain — 0-4: 5.9% Rivervale — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 11.1% / 8.0%
Lathlain — 5-14: 11.1% Rivervale — 5-14: 8.0%
15-19 5.4% / 3.0%
Lathlain — 15-19: 5.4% Rivervale — 15-19: 3.0%
20-24 7.5% / 8.3%
Lathlain — 20-24: 7.5% Rivervale — 20-24: 8.3%
25-34 18.8% / 25.8%
Lathlain — 25-34: 18.8% Rivervale — 25-34: 25.8%
35-44 15.1% / 16.6%
Lathlain — 35-44: 15.1% Rivervale — 35-44: 16.6%
45-54 12.2% / 10.6%
Lathlain — 45-54: 12.2% Rivervale — 45-54: 10.6%
55-64 12.4% / 10.5%
Lathlain — 55-64: 12.4% Rivervale — 55-64: 10.5%
65-74 7.2% / 7.0%
Lathlain — 65-74: 7.2% Rivervale — 65-74: 7.0%
75-84 3.0% / 3.5%
Lathlain — 75-84: 3.0% Rivervale — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 1.5% / 1.2%
Lathlain — 85+: 1.5% Rivervale — 85+: 1.2%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lathlain 38.2% lone person
Lathlain — Lone Person: 38.2% Lathlain — Couple Families: 40.0% Lathlain — One Parent Families: 10.4% Lathlain — Group Household: 8.7% Lathlain — Other Families: 2.8%
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.

Lathlain 35.6% renting
Lathlain — Owned Outright: 29.3% Lathlain — Mortgage: 35.1% Lathlain — Renting: 35.6%
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.

Lathlain Rivervale
England 4.4% / 4.2%
Lathlain — England: 4.4% Rivervale — England: 4.2%
New Zealand 2.4% / 2.8%
Lathlain — New Zealand: 2.4% Rivervale — New Zealand: 2.8%
China 1.7% / 3.0%
Lathlain — China: 1.7% Rivervale — China: 3.0%
India 1.5% / 3.0%
Lathlain — India: 1.5% Rivervale — India: 3.0%
Malaysia 1.3% / 2.2%
Lathlain — Malaysia: 1.3% Rivervale — Malaysia: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.4%).

Qualifications

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

Lathlain Rivervale
Bachelor Degree 20.7% / 19.4%
Lathlain — Bachelor Degree: 20.7% Rivervale — Bachelor Degree: 19.4%
Certificate III & IV 12.0% / 12.6%
Lathlain — Certificate III & IV: 12.0% Rivervale — Certificate III & IV: 12.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 9.7%
Lathlain — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Rivervale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 6.6% / 6.4%
Lathlain — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6% Rivervale — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 2.2%
Lathlain — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Rivervale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lathlain 77.8% houses
Lathlain — Houses: 77.8% Lathlain — Flats / Apartments: 13.0% Lathlain — Townhouses: 9.2%
Rivervale 42.6% houses
Rivervale — Houses: 42.6% Rivervale — Flats / Apartments: 36.2% Rivervale — Townhouses: 21.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Lathlain Rivervale
Median house price $1,112,500 $965,000
Median unit price $549,000 $565,000
Median land price — $785,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 12 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.

Lathlain Rivervale
3 bed $1.08M / $935K
Lathlain — 3 bed: $1.08M (22 sales) Rivervale — 3 bed: $935K (65 sales)

22 vs 65 sales

4 bed $1.14M / $1.23M
Lathlain — 4 bed: $1.14M (9 sales) Rivervale — 4 bed: $1.23M (33 sales)

9 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.

Lathlain Rivervale
1 bed $510K / $512K
Lathlain — 1 bed: $510K (7 sales) Rivervale — 1 bed: $512K (110 sales)

7 vs 110 sales

2 bed $550K / $582K
Lathlain — 2 bed: $550K (15 sales) Rivervale — 2 bed: $582K (196 sales)

15 vs 196 sales

Development activity

Lathlain 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.

Lathlain Rivervale
Houses 3.6%
$872/wk on $1.25M
 4.6%
$795/wk on $900K
Units 5.7%
$650/wk on $595K
 5.7%
$680/wk on $625K

Ranking within WA

Lathlain Rivervale
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 72% of WA Higher than 54% of WA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 98% 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 99% of WA Higher than 96% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 17% of WA Higher than 66% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 67% of WA Higher than 66% of WA

Liveability

Lathlain scores higher overall (83 vs 66).

Lathlain Rivervale
Grade A B
Score 83/100 66/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Rivervale carries more flood risk (31 vs 0); Lathlain carries more bushfire risk (26 vs 0).

Lathlain Rivervale
Bushfire Low
26/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 High
83/100
Flood None
0/100
 Low
31/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 15
within 5 km
 19
within 5 km

Schools

Lathlain Rivervale
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Curtin University of Technology, 4.3 km
 3
Curtin University of Technology, 5.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8% 2.6%

Schools in Lathlain

  • Lathlain Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Clare's School Catholic · Secondary · Special school above peers

Schools in Rivervale

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

Amenities in the suburb

Lathlain Rivervale
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 6 3
Parks & reserves 5 7
Childcare 2 4
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Lathlain Rivervale
Walkability score 86/100 85/100
Distance to Perth 6.5 km 6.6 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min
same for both
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 74.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 237.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
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.

Lathlain Rivervale
Car (driver) 68.4% / 70.5%
Lathlain — Car (driver): 68.4% Rivervale — Car (driver): 70.5%
Bus 5.8% / 11.4%
Lathlain — Bus: 5.8% Rivervale — Bus: 11.4%
Worked from Home 9.9% / 7.0%
Lathlain — Worked from Home: 9.9% Rivervale — Worked from Home: 7.0%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 5.9%
Lathlain — Car (passenger): 4.9% Rivervale — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Train 7.3% / 2.5%
Lathlain — Train: 7.3% Rivervale — Train: 2.5%

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

Setting

Lathlain Rivervale
Elevation 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.3 km 15.3 km

NBN connectivity

Lathlain Rivervale
Connectivity score 100/100 92/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,789 premises
 85%
6,970 premises

Climate

Lathlain 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Lathlain

Easy Commute Inner Parks Transport Hub

Rivervale

Apartments Easy Commute Gentrifying Inner Parks Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lathlain

Lathlain vs East Victoria Park Lathlain vs Victoria Park Lathlain vs Carlisle Lathlain vs Burswood

Other comparisons with Rivervale

Rivervale vs Cloverdale Rivervale vs Kewdale Rivervale vs Belmont Rivervale vs Carlisle Rivervale vs Burswood
Full data on Lathlain 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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