Murdoch vs North Lake

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In North Lake, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Murdoch: a median of $1.2 million, against $1.04 million in North Lake. On these figures, Murdoch tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while North Lake suits 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Murdoch has more parks and reserves (8 vs 1)
  • North Lake carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 74/100)

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

First-home buyers

North Lake

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,040,000 vs $1,200,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

North Lake

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 30%)

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

Commuting to the city

Murdoch

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 40/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Murdoch

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (22% vs 3%)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 40/100)
  • But North Lake carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 74/100)

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

Investors

North Lake

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (0.3% vs -4.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Murdoch North Lake
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.

Murdoch North Lake
Walkability 83 / 40
Murdoch — Walkability: 83/100 North Lake — Walkability: 40/100
Safety 26 / 63
Murdoch — Safety: 26/100 North Lake — Safety: 63/100
Low fire risk 100 / 58
Murdoch — Low fire risk: 100/100 North Lake — Low fire risk: 58/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Murdoch — Low flood risk: 100/100 North Lake — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Murdoch has more residents (3,352 vs 1,299); North Lake has higher household incomes ($126,568 vs $75,868).

Murdoch North Lake
Population 3,352
+61% vs other
 1,299
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -4.9% +0.3%
Median age 43 41
Median household income $75,868/yr $126,568/yr
+67% vs other
Median weekly rent $445/wk $450/wk
+1% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Murdoch North Lake
0-4 2.9% / 4.6%
Murdoch — 0-4: 2.9% North Lake — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 6.1% / 11.6%
Murdoch — 5-14: 6.1% North Lake — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 9.2% / 6.4%
Murdoch — 15-19: 9.2% North Lake — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 12.7% / 8.2%
Murdoch — 20-24: 12.7% North Lake — 20-24: 8.2%
25-34 11.7% / 9.9%
Murdoch — 25-34: 11.7% North Lake — 25-34: 9.9%
35-44 8.4% / 13.5%
Murdoch — 35-44: 8.4% North Lake — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 7.6% / 13.1%
Murdoch — 45-54: 7.6% North Lake — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 9.4% / 16.5%
Murdoch — 55-64: 9.4% North Lake — 55-64: 16.5%
65-74 12.5% / 10.2%
Murdoch — 65-74: 12.5% North Lake — 65-74: 10.2%
75-84 11.1% / 4.5%
Murdoch — 75-84: 11.1% North Lake — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 8.5% / 1.0%
Murdoch — 85+: 8.5% North Lake — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Murdoch 40.7% couple families
Murdoch — Couple Families: 40.7% Murdoch — Lone Person: 39.3% Murdoch — One Parent Families: 9.4% Murdoch — Group Household: 7.5% Murdoch — Other Families: 3.1%
North Lake 59.7% couple families
North Lake — Couple Families: 59.7% North Lake — Lone Person: 19.1% North Lake — One Parent Families: 14.4% North Lake — Group Household: 4.4% North Lake — Other Families: 2.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Murdoch 23.4% renting
Murdoch — Owned Outright: 53.2% Murdoch — Mortgage: 23.4% Murdoch — Renting: 23.4%
North Lake 14.8% renting
North Lake — Owned Outright: 39.6% North Lake — Mortgage: 45.6% North Lake — Renting: 14.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Murdoch North Lake
Bachelor Degree 19.2% / 20.7%
Murdoch — Bachelor Degree: 19.2% North Lake — Bachelor Degree: 20.7%
Certificate III & IV 8.3% / 12.0%
Murdoch — Certificate III & IV: 8.3% North Lake — Certificate III & IV: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 7.5%
Murdoch — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% North Lake — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 6.1% / 7.8%
Murdoch — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1% North Lake — Postgraduate Degree: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.1%
Murdoch — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% North Lake — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

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

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.

Murdoch North Lake
Malaysia 6.8% / 4.2%
Murdoch — Malaysia: 6.8% North Lake — Malaysia: 4.2%
England 4.8% / 5.9%
Murdoch — England: 4.8% North Lake — England: 5.9%
Singapore 3.1% / 2.2%
Murdoch — Singapore: 3.1% North Lake — Singapore: 2.2%
India 3.1% / 2.2%
Murdoch — India: 3.1% North Lake — India: 2.2%
China 2.5% / 1.8%
Murdoch — China: 2.5% North Lake — China: 1.8%
South Africa — / 2.9%
Murdoch — South Africa: not among its largest North Lake — South Africa: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Murdoch 77.7% houses
Murdoch — Houses: 77.7% Murdoch — Townhouses: 13.9% Murdoch — Flats / Apartments: 8.3%
North Lake 98.2% houses
North Lake — Houses: 98.2% North Lake — Townhouses: 3.1% North Lake — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Murdoch North Lake
Median house price $1,200,000 $1,040,000
Median unit price $1,100,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 48 days
from 19 sales
 16 days
from 12 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.

Murdoch North Lake
3 bed $1.15M / $909K
Murdoch — 3 bed: $1.15M (13 sales) North Lake — 3 bed: $909K (6 sales)

13 vs 6 sales

4 bed $1.26M / $1.07M
Murdoch — 4 bed: $1.26M (19 sales) North Lake — 4 bed: $1.07M (20 sales)

19 vs 20 sales

Development activity

Murdoch North Lake
New dwellings approved 727
across Melville
 1,395
across Cockburn
Approvals change year on year +268% +14%

Ranking within WA

Murdoch North Lake
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 38% of WA Higher than 89% of WA
Schools Higher than 57% of WA —
Walkability Higher than 97% of WA Higher than 80% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 97% of WA Higher than 83% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of WA Higher than 90% of WA

Liveability

Murdoch is more walkable (83 vs 40).

Murdoch North Lake
Grade A
same for both
Score 70/100 74/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

North Lake carries more bushfire risk (42 vs 0); Murdoch carries more crime risk (74 vs 37).

Murdoch North Lake
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
42/100
Crime High
74/100
 Low
37/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 13
within 5 km
 16
within 5 km

Schools

Murdoch North Lake
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Murdoch University (Murdoch), 0.0 km
 2
Murdoch University (Murdoch), 1.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 13.8% 4.2%

Schools in Murdoch

  • Kennedy Baptist College Independent · Secondary above peers
  • SEDA College WA (Murdoch) Independent · Secondary
  • School Of Special Educational Needs: Medical And Mental Health - Fiona Stanley Hospital: Paediatrics Government · Combined · Special school
  • School Of Special Educational Needs: Medical And Mental Health - Fiona Stanley Hospital: State Rehabilitation Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in North Lake

  • SEDA College WA (Lakeside) Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Murdoch North Lake
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 7 0
Parks & reserves 8 1
Childcare 3 0
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Murdoch North Lake
Walkability score 83/100 40/100
Distance to Perth 16 km 17.3 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 18 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 58/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 467.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 20.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 6150
 1.2%
postcode 6163
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 66
postcode 6150
 49
postcode 6163

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.

Murdoch North Lake
Car (driver) 68.8% / 74.6%
Murdoch — Car (driver): 68.8% North Lake — Car (driver): 74.6%
Worked from Home 9.1% / 9.5%
Murdoch — Worked from Home: 9.1% North Lake — Worked from Home: 9.5%
Train 9.4% / 7.5%
Murdoch — Train: 9.4% North Lake — Train: 7.5%
Car (passenger) 5.6% / 5.2%
Murdoch — Car (passenger): 5.6% North Lake — Car (passenger): 5.2%
Bus 3.3% / 1.1%
Murdoch — Bus: 3.3% North Lake — Bus: 1.1%
Bicycle 1.0% / 1.6%
Murdoch — Bicycle: 1.0% North Lake — Bicycle: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.6%).

Setting

Murdoch North Lake
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.0 km 7.1 km

NBN connectivity

Murdoch North Lake
Connectivity score 63/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
1,775 premises
 58%
519 premises

Climate

Murdoch North Lake
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

Murdoch North Lake
Average residential rate $2,396/yr $2,754/yr
Council Melville Cockburn

Federal electorate

Murdoch North Lake
Division Tangney Fremantle
Member Sam Lim Josh Wilson
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Murdoch North Lake
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Murdoch

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Quiet Retirees Students Transport Hub

North Lake

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Murdoch

Murdoch vs Leeming Murdoch vs Kardinya Murdoch vs Bull Creek Murdoch vs Winthrop Murdoch vs Bateman

Other comparisons with North Lake

North Lake vs Leeming North Lake vs Kardinya North Lake vs Bibra Lake North Lake vs Coolbellup North Lake vs Jandakot
Full data on Murdoch Full data on North Lake
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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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