Perth vs Highgate

In both, most households rent and most households are people living alone. In Perth, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. In Highgate, about half of homes are flats or apartments. Units cost more in Highgate: a median of $682,000, against $590,000 in Perth, though rent is higher in Perth. Perth is the city centre itself; Highgate is 1.8 km out.

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

Perth

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (9 vs 2)
  • But Highgate has more separate houses rather than flats (21% vs 9%)

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

First-home buyers

Perth

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($590,000 vs $682,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Highgate

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($365/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

Perth

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (16 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (91% vs 79%)
  • But Highgate carries lower crime risk (86/100 vs 97/100)

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

Investors

Perth

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (19.6% vs 5.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.5% vs 4.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Perth Highgate
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.

Perth Highgate
Walkability 99 / 93
Perth — Walkability: 99/100 Highgate — Walkability: 93/100
Safety 3 / 14
Perth — Safety: 3/100 Highgate — Safety: 14/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Perth — Low fire risk: 100/100 Highgate — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 41 / 100
Perth — Low flood risk: 41/100 Highgate — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Perth has more residents (13,670 vs 2,326).

Perth Highgate
Population 13,670
+83% vs other
 2,326
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +19.6% +5.6%
Median age 33 34
Median household income $101,920/yr
+6% vs other
 $96,304/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+9% vs other
 $365/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Perth Highgate
0-4 3.2% / 3.2%
Perth — 0-4: 3.2% Highgate — 0-4: 3.2%
5-14 3.7% / 6.1%
Perth — 5-14: 3.7% Highgate — 5-14: 6.1%
15-19 2.3% / 2.1%
Perth — 15-19: 2.3% Highgate — 15-19: 2.1%
20-24 11.9% / 7.7%
Perth — 20-24: 11.9% Highgate — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 34.9% / 32.2%
Perth — 25-34: 34.9% Highgate — 25-34: 32.2%
35-44 18.8% / 17.2%
Perth — 35-44: 18.8% Highgate — 35-44: 17.2%
45-54 9.9% / 11.2%
Perth — 45-54: 9.9% Highgate — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 8.0% / 9.8%
Perth — 55-64: 8.0% Highgate — 55-64: 9.8%
65-74 4.8% / 7.0%
Perth — 65-74: 4.8% Highgate — 65-74: 7.0%
75-84 1.9% / 3.3%
Perth — 75-84: 1.9% Highgate — 75-84: 3.3%
85+ 0.6% / 0.9%
Perth — 85+: 0.6% Highgate — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (34.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Perth 63.2% lone person
Perth — Lone Person: 63.2% Perth — Couple Families: 14.2% Perth — Group Household: 15.0% Perth — One Parent Families: 5.8% Perth — Other Families: 1.8%
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%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Perth 66.9% renting
Perth — Owned Outright: 12.4% Perth — Mortgage: 20.7% Perth — Renting: 66.9%
Highgate 57.5% renting
Highgate — Owned Outright: 18.8% Highgate — Mortgage: 23.6% Highgate — Renting: 57.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Perth Highgate
Bachelor Degree 27.2% / 26.0%
Perth — Bachelor Degree: 27.2% Highgate — Bachelor Degree: 26.0%
Postgraduate Degree 11.2% / 11.1%
Perth — Postgraduate Degree: 11.2% Highgate — Postgraduate Degree: 11.1%
Certificate III & IV 8.6% / 9.7%
Perth — Certificate III & IV: 8.6% Highgate — Certificate III & IV: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.1% / 8.9%
Perth — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1% Highgate — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 3.6%
Perth — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Highgate — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.2%).

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.

Perth Highgate
England 5.1% / 5.2%
Perth — England: 5.1% Highgate — England: 5.2%
China 5.7% / —
Perth — China: 5.7% Highgate — China: not among its largest
India 4.0% / 1.3%
Perth — India: 4.0% Highgate — India: 1.3%
New Zealand 2.3% / 2.1%
Perth — New Zealand: 2.3% Highgate — New Zealand: 2.1%
Malaysia 2.4% / 1.4%
Perth — Malaysia: 2.4% Highgate — Malaysia: 1.4%
Vietnam 1.9% / 1.7%
Perth — Vietnam: 1.9% Highgate — Vietnam: 1.7%
Italy — / 1.8%
Perth — Italy: not among its largest Highgate — Italy: 1.8%
South Africa — / 1.6%
Perth — South Africa: not among its largest Highgate — South Africa: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Perth 80.2% flats / apartments
Perth — Flats / Apartments: 80.2% Perth — Townhouses: 11.1% Perth — Houses: 8.6%
Highgate 53.4% flats / apartments
Highgate — Flats / Apartments: 53.4% Highgate — Townhouses: 25.5% Highgate — Houses: 21.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Perth Highgate
Median house price $1,189,500 $1,255,000
Median unit price $590,000 $682,500
Median land price $2,690,625 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 51 sales
 16 days
from 8 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.

Perth Highgate
1 bed $482K / $550K
Perth — 1 bed: $482K (274 sales) Highgate — 1 bed: $550K (19 sales)

274 vs 19 sales

2 bed $650K / $720K
Perth — 2 bed: $650K (345 sales) Highgate — 2 bed: $720K (29 sales)

345 vs 29 sales

3 bed $918K / $685K
Perth — 3 bed: $918K (36 sales) Highgate — 3 bed: $685K (9 sales)

36 vs 9 sales

Development activity

Perth Highgate
New dwellings approved 242
across Perth
 219
across Vincent
Approvals change year on year — -73%

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.

Perth Highgate
Houses 5.4%
$795/wk on $760K
 5.0%
$800/wk on $824K
Units 6.5%
$750/wk on $600K
 4.8%
$650/wk on $699K

Ranking within WA

Perth Highgate
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 68% of WA Higher than 60% of WA
Schools Higher than 89% of WA —
Walkability Higher than 100% of WA
same for both
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 89% of WA Higher than 93% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of WA Higher than 80% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 90% of WA Higher than 84% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 88% of WA Higher than 23% of WA

Liveability

Highgate scores higher overall (84 vs 73).

Perth Highgate
Grade A
same for both
Score 73/100 84/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Perth carries more flood risk (59 vs 0); Perth carries more crime risk (97 vs 86).

Perth Highgate
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
97/100
 High
86/100
Flood Moderate
59/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Perth Highgate
Inside the suburb 5 1
Rated above peers 3 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
ECU City Campus, 0.0 km
 3
ECU City Campus, 1.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.5% 2.6%

Schools in Perth

  • Highgate Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mercedes College Independent · Secondary above peers
  • St George's Anglican Grammar School Independent · Secondary above peers
  • St George's Anglican Grammar School - Murray Street Campus Independent · Secondary
  • St George's Anglican Grammar School - William Street Campus Independent · Secondary

Schools in Highgate

  • Sacred Heart Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Perth Highgate
Supermarkets 10 0
Cafes & restaurants 251 9
Parks & reserves 18 3
Childcare 9 2
GPs 16 1
Pharmacies 18 0
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 17 0
Fuel stations 4 0
EV chargers 13 0
Waterways 3 0

Mobility

Perth Highgate
Walkability score 99/100 93/100
Distance to Perth 0.5 km 1.8 km
+260% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 2 min 5 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus · Ferry
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 2498.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 87.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 6000
 1.8%
postcode 6003
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 8
postcode 6000
 10
postcode 6003

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.

Perth Highgate
Car (driver) 37.6% / 53.0%
Perth — Car (driver): 37.6% Highgate — Car (driver): 53.0%
Walked Only 25.2% / 8.6%
Perth — Walked Only: 25.2% Highgate — Walked Only: 8.6%
Bus 14.1% / 15.8%
Perth — Bus: 14.1% Highgate — Bus: 15.8%
Worked from Home 9.6% / 10.5%
Perth — Worked from Home: 9.6% Highgate — Worked from Home: 10.5%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 5.3%
Perth — Car (passenger): 4.8% Highgate — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Train 6.0% / 3.5%
Perth — Train: 6.0% Highgate — Train: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.0%).

Setting

Perth Highgate
Elevation 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.8 km 10.9 km

NBN connectivity

Perth Highgate
Connectivity score 73/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 21%
16,249 premises
 28%
1,683 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Perth

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

Highgate

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Perth

Perth vs East Perth Perth vs Mount Lawley Perth vs North Perth Perth vs West Perth Perth vs Crawley Perth vs Northbridge

Other comparisons with Highgate

Highgate vs Mount Lawley
Full data on Perth Full data on Highgate
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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