Parkwood vs Ferndale

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Parkwood, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Parkwood: a median of $1.03 million, against $868,000 in Ferndale, and rent is higher there too. Ferndale is closer to the city centre: 14.7 km, against 20.3 km. On these figures, Ferndale 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

They split

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

  • Parkwood has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • Ferndale carries lower crime risk (47/100 vs 59/100)

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

First-home buyers

Ferndale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($867,500 vs $1,030,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ferndale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($314/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Ferndale

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (14.7 km vs 20.3 km)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 64/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Ferndale

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (47/100 vs 59/100)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 64/100)
  • But Parkwood has more GPs (4 vs 1)

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 4.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Parkwood Ferndale
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.

Parkwood Ferndale
Walkability 64 / 79
Parkwood — Walkability: 64/100 Ferndale — Walkability: 79/100
Safety 41 / 53
Parkwood — Safety: 41/100 Ferndale — Safety: 53/100
Low fire risk 100 / 50
Parkwood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ferndale — Low fire risk: 50/100
Low flood risk 100 / 17
Parkwood — Low flood risk: 100/100 Ferndale — Low flood risk: 17/100

Demographics

Parkwood has more residents (5,995 vs 4,457); Parkwood rents higher ($350/wk vs $314/wk).

Parkwood Ferndale
Population 5,995
+26% vs other
 4,457
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.6% +2.9%
Median age 42 41
Median household income $83,148/yr
+4% vs other
 $79,716/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+10% vs other
 $314/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Parkwood Ferndale
0-4 5.6% / 6.1%
Parkwood — 0-4: 5.6% Ferndale — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 10.6% / 10.2%
Parkwood — 5-14: 10.6% Ferndale — 5-14: 10.2%
15-19 4.8% / 5.1%
Parkwood — 15-19: 4.8% Ferndale — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 5.3% / 5.7%
Parkwood — 20-24: 5.3% Ferndale — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 12.6% / 13.2%
Parkwood — 25-34: 12.6% Ferndale — 25-34: 13.2%
35-44 13.9% / 14.0%
Parkwood — 35-44: 13.9% Ferndale — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 12.2% / 11.3%
Parkwood — 45-54: 12.2% Ferndale — 45-54: 11.3%
55-64 14.0% / 11.4%
Parkwood — 55-64: 14.0% Ferndale — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 13.3% / 12.6%
Parkwood — 65-74: 13.3% Ferndale — 65-74: 12.6%
75-84 6.0% / 6.9%
Parkwood — 75-84: 6.0% Ferndale — 75-84: 6.9%
85+ 1.5% / 3.6%
Parkwood — 85+: 1.5% Ferndale — 85+: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Parkwood 45.1% couple families
Parkwood — Couple Families: 45.1% Parkwood — Lone Person: 33.2% Parkwood — One Parent Families: 16.6% Parkwood — Group Household: 3.7% Parkwood — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Parkwood 19.7% renting
Parkwood — Owned Outright: 42.6% Parkwood — Mortgage: 37.7% Parkwood — Renting: 19.7%
Ferndale 22.2% renting
Ferndale — Owned Outright: 36.5% Ferndale — Mortgage: 41.3% Ferndale — Renting: 22.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Parkwood Ferndale
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 14.7%
Parkwood — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Ferndale — Bachelor Degree: 14.7%
Certificate III & IV 14.1% / 15.7%
Parkwood — Certificate III & IV: 14.1% Ferndale — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 8.1%
Parkwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Ferndale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 4.6% / 3.7%
Parkwood — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6% Ferndale — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.2%
Parkwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Ferndale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

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.

Parkwood Ferndale
England 7.0% / 8.1%
Parkwood — England: 7.0% Ferndale — England: 8.1%
Malaysia 9.3% / 3.0%
Parkwood — Malaysia: 9.3% Ferndale — Malaysia: 3.0%
China 4.0% / 2.4%
Parkwood — China: 4.0% Ferndale — China: 2.4%
India 4.2% / 2.1%
Parkwood — India: 4.2% Ferndale — India: 2.1%
New Zealand 2.4% / 2.6%
Parkwood — New Zealand: 2.4% Ferndale — New Zealand: 2.6%
Singapore 2.9% / 1.1%
Parkwood — Singapore: 2.9% Ferndale — Singapore: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Parkwood 84.3% houses
Parkwood — Houses: 84.3% Parkwood — Townhouses: 11.0% Parkwood — Flats / Apartments: 4.8%
Ferndale 82.2% houses
Ferndale — Houses: 82.2% Ferndale — Townhouses: 17.4% Ferndale — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Parkwood Ferndale
Median house price $1,030,000 $867,500
Median unit price — $752,000
Median land price — $537,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 40 sales
 16 days
from 20 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.

Parkwood Ferndale
3 bed $942K / $855K
Parkwood — 3 bed: $942K (28 sales) Ferndale — 3 bed: $855K (28 sales)

28 vs 28 sales

4 bed $1.2M / $950K
Parkwood — 4 bed: $1.2M (18 sales) Ferndale — 4 bed: $950K (19 sales)

18 vs 19 sales

Development activity

Parkwood Ferndale
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.

Parkwood Ferndale
Houses 4.0%
$760/wk on $999K
 4.9%
$750/wk on $799K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within WA

Parkwood Ferndale
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 45% of WA Higher than 41% of WA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 88% of WA Higher than 95% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 75% of WA Higher than 96% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of WA Higher than 90% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 24% of WA Higher than 77% of WA

Liveability

Parkwood scores higher overall (70 vs 45); Ferndale is more walkable (79 vs 64).

Parkwood Ferndale
Grade A C
Score 70/100 45/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Ferndale carries more flood risk (83 vs 0); Ferndale carries more bushfire risk (50 vs 0).

Parkwood Ferndale
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
50/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 Moderate
47/100
Flood None
0/100
 High
83/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 13
within 5 km
 22
within 5 km

Schools

Parkwood Ferndale
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 2 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Curtin University of Technology, 4.7 km
 2
Curtin University of Technology, 3.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8% 2.5%

Schools in Parkwood

  • Lynwood Senior High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Parkwood Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Ferndale

  • Fountain College - Ferndale Campus Independent · Combined above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Parkwood Ferndale
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 7 0
Parks & reserves 8 9
Childcare 2 1
GPs 4 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 0 7

Mobility

Parkwood sits further from the CBD (20.3 km vs 14.7 km).

Parkwood Ferndale
Walkability score 64/100 79/100
Distance to Perth 20.3 km
+28% vs other
 14.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min 23 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 187.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 124.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 6147
 2.3%
postcode 6148
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 55
postcode 6147
 62
postcode 6148

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.

Parkwood Ferndale
Car (driver) 80.2% / 77.7%
Parkwood — Car (driver): 80.2% Ferndale — Car (driver): 77.7%
Worked from Home 6.6% / 8.2%
Parkwood — Worked from Home: 6.6% Ferndale — Worked from Home: 8.2%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 4.7%
Parkwood — Car (passenger): 4.7% Ferndale — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Train 4.6% / 4.4%
Parkwood — Train: 4.6% Ferndale — Train: 4.4%
Bus 2.8% / 3.3%
Parkwood — Bus: 2.8% Ferndale — Bus: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.2%).

Setting

Parkwood Ferndale
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.7 km
3.8 km to a named beach
 16.4 km
4.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Parkwood Ferndale
Connectivity score 71/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
2,782 premises
 58%
2,093 premises

Climate

Parkwood Ferndale
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Parkwood

Middle-Ring Parks Quiet

Ferndale

Middle-Ring Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Parkwood

Parkwood vs Canning Vale Parkwood vs Thornlie Parkwood vs Willetton Parkwood vs Riverton Parkwood vs Langford Parkwood vs Lynwood

Other comparisons with Ferndale

Ferndale vs Beckenham Ferndale vs Cannington Ferndale vs Wilson Ferndale vs Riverton Ferndale vs Langford Ferndale vs Lynwood
Full data on Parkwood Full data on Ferndale
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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