Perth vs West Perth

In both, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Perth is the city centre itself; West Perth is 2.5 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 schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (9 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 11)
  • But West Perth carries lower crime risk (81/100 vs 97/100)

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

First-home buyers

West Perth

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($916,175 vs $1,189,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Perth

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (0.5 km vs 2.5 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (2 min vs 7 min)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 91/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Perth has more GPs (16 vs 3)
  • West Perth has more residents already 65 and over (13% vs 7%)

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

Investors

Perth

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (19.6% vs 8.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.5% vs 5.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.4% vs 4.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Perth and West Perth 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 West Perth
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 West Perth
Walkability 99 / 91
Perth — Walkability: 99/100 West Perth — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 3 / 19
Perth — Safety: 3/100 West Perth — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Perth — Low fire risk: 100/100 West Perth — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 41 / 100
Perth — Low flood risk: 41/100 West Perth — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Perth has more residents (13,670 vs 6,102); West Perth skews older (35 vs 33).

Perth West Perth
Population 13,670
+55% vs other
 6,102
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +19.6% +8.8%
Median age 33 35
Median household income $101,920/yr
+2% vs other
 $99,736/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Perth West Perth
0-4 3.2% / 3.7%
Perth — 0-4: 3.2% West Perth — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 3.7% / 4.2%
Perth — 5-14: 3.7% West Perth — 5-14: 4.2%
15-19 2.3% / 1.7%
Perth — 15-19: 2.3% West Perth — 15-19: 1.7%
20-24 11.9% / 7.7%
Perth — 20-24: 11.9% West Perth — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 34.9% / 31.6%
Perth — 25-34: 34.9% West Perth — 25-34: 31.6%
35-44 18.8% / 19.2%
Perth — 35-44: 18.8% West Perth — 35-44: 19.2%
45-54 9.9% / 9.8%
Perth — 45-54: 9.9% West Perth — 45-54: 9.8%
55-64 8.0% / 9.2%
Perth — 55-64: 8.0% West Perth — 55-64: 9.2%
65-74 4.8% / 6.8%
Perth — 65-74: 4.8% West Perth — 65-74: 6.8%
75-84 1.9% / 4.3%
Perth — 75-84: 1.9% West Perth — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 0.6% / 1.8%
Perth — 85+: 0.6% West Perth — 85+: 1.8%

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%
West Perth 64.8% lone person
West Perth — Lone Person: 64.8% West Perth — Couple Families: 13.9% West Perth — Group Household: 12.9% West Perth — One Parent Families: 6.8% West Perth — Other Families: 1.6%
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%
West Perth 65.3% renting
West Perth — Owned Outright: 15.2% West Perth — Mortgage: 19.4% West Perth — Renting: 65.3%
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.

Perth West Perth
England 5.1% / 6.3%
Perth — England: 5.1% West Perth — England: 6.3%
China 5.7% / 2.7%
Perth — China: 5.7% West Perth — China: 2.7%
India 4.0% / 3.8%
Perth — India: 4.0% West Perth — India: 3.8%
New Zealand 2.3% / 2.6%
Perth — New Zealand: 2.3% West Perth — New Zealand: 2.6%
Malaysia 2.4% / 1.9%
Perth — Malaysia: 2.4% West Perth — Malaysia: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.3%).

Qualifications

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

Perth West Perth
Bachelor Degree 27.2% / 29.2%
Perth — Bachelor Degree: 27.2% West Perth — Bachelor Degree: 29.2%
Postgraduate Degree 11.2% / 14.1%
Perth — Postgraduate Degree: 11.2% West Perth — Postgraduate Degree: 14.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.1% / 7.8%
Perth — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1% West Perth — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Certificate III & IV 8.6% / 7.9%
Perth — Certificate III & IV: 8.6% West Perth — Certificate III & IV: 7.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 3.8%
Perth — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% West Perth — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.2%).

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%
West Perth 78.4% flats / apartments
West Perth — Flats / Apartments: 78.4% West Perth — Townhouses: 12.6% West Perth — Houses: 9.0%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Perth West Perth
Median house price $1,189,500 $916,175
Median unit price $590,000 $616,000
Median land price $2,690,625 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 51 sales
 38 days
from 27 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.

Perth West Perth
2 bed $1.02M / $718K
Perth — 2 bed: $1.02M (28 sales) West Perth — 2 bed: $718K (21 sales)

28 vs 21 sales

3 bed $1.4M / $1.1M
Perth — 3 bed: $1.4M (23 sales) West Perth — 3 bed: $1.1M (13 sales)

23 vs 13 sales

4 bed $1.5M / $1.64M
Perth — 4 bed: $1.5M (11 sales) West Perth — 4 bed: $1.64M (6 sales)

11 vs 6 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 West Perth
1 bed $482K / $460K
Perth — 1 bed: $482K (274 sales) West Perth — 1 bed: $460K (85 sales)

274 vs 85 sales

2 bed $650K / $671K
Perth — 2 bed: $650K (345 sales) West Perth — 2 bed: $671K (152 sales)

345 vs 152 sales

3 bed $918K / $900K
Perth — 3 bed: $918K (36 sales) West Perth — 3 bed: $900K (31 sales)

36 vs 31 sales

Development activity

Perth West Perth
New dwellings approved 242
across Perth
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.

Perth West Perth
Houses 5.4%
$795/wk on $760K
 4.8%
$780/wk on $850K
Units 6.5%
$750/wk on $600K
 5.7%
$750/wk on $679K

Ranking within WA

Perth West Perth
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 68% of WA Higher than 67% of WA
Schools Higher than 89% of WA —
Walkability Higher than 100% of WA Higher than 99% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 89% of WA Higher than 97% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of WA Higher than 89% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 90% of WA Higher than 74% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 88% of WA Higher than 70% of WA

Liveability

West Perth scores higher overall (87 vs 73); Perth is more walkable (99 vs 91).

Perth West Perth
Grade A A+
Score 73/100 87/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Perth carries more flood risk (59 vs 0); Perth carries more crime risk (97 vs 81).

Perth West Perth
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
97/100
 High
81/100
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
 15
within 5 km

Schools

Perth West Perth
Inside the suburb 5 1
Rated above peers 3 0
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, 1.5 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 West Perth

  • SEDA College WA (West Perth) Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Perth West Perth
Supermarkets 10 0
Cafes & restaurants 251 29
Parks & reserves 18 11
Childcare 9 2
GPs 16 3
Pharmacies 18 4
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 17 1
Fuel stations 4 2
EV chargers 13 2
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

West Perth sits further from the CBD (2.5 km vs 0.5 km).

Perth West Perth
Walkability score 99/100 91/100
Distance to Perth 0.5 km 2.5 km
+400% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 2 min 7 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus · Ferry
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 2498.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 699.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 6000
 2.4%
postcode 6005
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 8
postcode 6000
 7
postcode 6005

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 West Perth
Car (driver) 37.6% / 44.0%
Perth — Car (driver): 37.6% West Perth — Car (driver): 44.0%
Walked Only 25.2% / 15.5%
Perth — Walked Only: 25.2% West Perth — Walked Only: 15.5%
Bus 14.1% / 19.3%
Perth — Bus: 14.1% West Perth — Bus: 19.3%
Worked from Home 9.6% / 10.2%
Perth — Worked from Home: 9.6% West Perth — Worked from Home: 10.2%
Train 6.0% / 5.0%
Perth — Train: 6.0% West Perth — Train: 5.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (44.0%).

Setting

Perth West Perth
Elevation 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 28 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.8 km 8.6 km

NBN connectivity

Perth West Perth
Connectivity score 73/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 21%
16,249 premises
 16%
6,917 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Perth West Perth
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

West Perth

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Nightlife Parks Professionals River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Perth

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

Other comparisons with West Perth

West Perth vs Nedlands West Perth vs Subiaco West Perth vs North Perth West Perth vs Shenton Park West Perth vs West Leederville West Perth vs Crawley
Full data on Perth Full data on West Perth
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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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