Southern River vs Canning Vale

Southern River is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 37 in Canning Vale. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Canning Vale is closer to the city centre: 21.9 km, against 27.9 km. On these figures, Southern River tends to suit families with children.

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

Canning Vale

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (65 vs 18)
  • has more childcare (23 vs 10)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (6 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Southern River

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($735,000 vs $985,000)

Weighs house prices, land 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

Canning Vale

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (25 min vs 33 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (21.9 km vs 27.9 km)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 66/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Canning Vale

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (13 vs 2)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 66/100)

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

Investors

Southern River

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (24.2% vs 4.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Southern River Canning Vale
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.

Southern River Canning Vale
Walkability 66 / 79
Southern River — Walkability: 66/100 Canning Vale — Walkability: 79/100
Safety 45 / 46
Southern River — Safety: 45/100 Canning Vale — Safety: 46/100
Low fire risk 50 / 82
Southern River — Low fire risk: 50/100 Canning Vale — Low fire risk: 82/100
Low flood risk 74 / 100
Southern River — Low flood risk: 74/100 Canning Vale — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Canning Vale has more residents (34,504 vs 12,852); Canning Vale skews older (37 vs 33).

Southern River Canning Vale
Population 12,852 34,504
+168% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +24.2% +4.4%
Median age 33 37
Median household income $122,928/yr
+4% vs other
 $118,404/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk $425/wk
+1% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Southern River Canning Vale
0-4 7.5% / 5.5%
Southern River — 0-4: 7.5% Canning Vale — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 17.7% / 13.8%
Southern River — 5-14: 17.7% Canning Vale — 5-14: 13.8%
15-19 7.6% / 7.2%
Southern River — 15-19: 7.6% Canning Vale — 15-19: 7.2%
20-24 6.7% / 7.1%
Southern River — 20-24: 6.7% Canning Vale — 20-24: 7.1%
25-34 12.7% / 12.7%
Southern River — 25-34: 12.7% Canning Vale — 25-34: 12.7%
35-44 18.1% / 15.8%
Southern River — 35-44: 18.1% Canning Vale — 35-44: 15.8%
45-54 13.9% / 14.3%
Southern River — 45-54: 13.9% Canning Vale — 45-54: 14.3%
55-64 8.6% / 11.6%
Southern River — 55-64: 8.6% Canning Vale — 55-64: 11.6%
65-74 5.0% / 7.6%
Southern River — 65-74: 5.0% Canning Vale — 65-74: 7.6%
75-84 1.8% / 3.1%
Southern River — 75-84: 1.8% Canning Vale — 75-84: 3.1%
85+ 0.3% / 1.2%
Southern River — 85+: 0.3% Canning Vale — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Southern River 70.5% couple families
Southern River — Couple Families: 70.5% Southern River — Lone Person: 14.0% Southern River — One Parent Families: 12.1% Southern River — Group Household: 2.0% Southern River — Other Families: 1.4%
Canning Vale 67.7% couple families
Canning Vale — Couple Families: 67.7% Canning Vale — Lone Person: 15.5% Canning Vale — One Parent Families: 12.9% Canning Vale — Group Household: 2.3% Canning Vale — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Southern River 16.9% renting
Southern River — Owned Outright: 20.0% Southern River — Mortgage: 63.1% Southern River — Renting: 16.9%
Canning Vale 18.3% renting
Canning Vale — Owned Outright: 31.0% Canning Vale — Mortgage: 50.7% Canning Vale — Renting: 18.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Southern River Canning Vale
Bachelor Degree 14.9% / 16.5%
Southern River — Bachelor Degree: 14.9% Canning Vale — Bachelor Degree: 16.5%
Certificate III & IV 11.9% / 10.7%
Southern River — Certificate III & IV: 11.9% Canning Vale — Certificate III & IV: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 7.7%
Southern River — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Canning Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 5.3% / 6.2%
Southern River — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3% Canning Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.8%
Southern River — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Canning Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

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

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.

Southern River Canning Vale
India 7.6% / 8.7%
Southern River — India: 7.6% Canning Vale — India: 8.7%
England 5.2% / 5.2%
Southern River — England: 5.2% Canning Vale — England: 5.2%
Malaysia 4.2% / 6.1%
Southern River — Malaysia: 4.2% Canning Vale — Malaysia: 6.1%
China 3.2% / 5.0%
Southern River — China: 3.2% Canning Vale — China: 5.0%
South Africa 3.1% / 2.3%
Southern River — South Africa: 3.1% Canning Vale — South Africa: 2.3%
Singapore — / 2.9%
Southern River — Singapore: not among its largest Canning Vale — Singapore: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Southern River 97.1% houses
Southern River — Houses: 97.1% Southern River — Townhouses: 2.4% Southern River — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Canning Vale 94.4% houses
Canning Vale — Houses: 94.4% Canning Vale — Townhouses: 4.8% Canning Vale — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Southern River Canning Vale
Median house price $1,047,500 $1,060,000
Median unit price — $587,500
Median land price $735,000 $985,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 149 sales
 28 days
from 316 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.

Southern River Canning Vale
3 bed $780K / $830K
Southern River — 3 bed: $780K (43 sales) Canning Vale — 3 bed: $830K (103 sales)

43 vs 103 sales

4 bed $1.08M / $1.12M
Southern River — 4 bed: $1.08M (171 sales) Canning Vale — 4 bed: $1.12M (348 sales)

171 vs 348 sales

5 bed $1.39M / $1.29M
Southern River — 5 bed: $1.39M (16 sales) Canning Vale — 5 bed: $1.29M (45 sales)

16 vs 45 sales

Development activity

Southern River Canning Vale
New dwellings approved 660
across Gosnells
 423
across Canning
Approvals change year on year +17% -3%

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.

Southern River Canning Vale
Houses 4.2%
$815/wk on $1M
 3.7%
$850/wk on $1.2M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within WA

Southern River Canning Vale
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 88% of WA Higher than 85% of WA
Schools Higher than 98% of WA Higher than 99% of WA
Walkability Higher than 89% of WA Higher than 95% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 73% of WA Higher than 92% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of WA Higher than 90% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 40% of WA Higher than 19% of WA

Liveability

Canning Vale scores higher overall (84 vs 68); Canning Vale is more walkable (79 vs 66).

Southern River Canning Vale
Grade B A
Score 68/100 84/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Southern River carries more flood risk (26 vs 0); Southern River carries more bushfire risk (50 vs 18).

Southern River Canning Vale
Bushfire Moderate
50/100
 Low
18/100
Crime Moderate
55/100
 Moderate
54/100
Flood Low
26/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 High
83/100
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 13
within 5 km

Schools

Southern River Canning Vale
Inside the suburb 4 8
Rated above peers 3 6
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km None 2
Murdoch University (Murdoch), 7.6 km

Schools in Southern River

  • Bletchley Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Providence Christian College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Southern Grove Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Yarralinka Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Canning Vale

  • Caladenia Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Campbell Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Canning Vale College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Canning Vale Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Excelsior Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Ranford Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Southern River Canning Vale
Supermarkets 4 10
Cafes & restaurants 7 31
Parks & reserves 18 65
Childcare 10 23
GPs 2 13
Pharmacies 1 6
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 5
Fuel stations 5 9
EV chargers 1 2
Waterways 1 3

Mobility

Southern River sits further from the CBD (27.9 km vs 21.9 km).

Southern River Canning Vale
Walkability score 66/100 79/100
Distance to Perth 27.9 km
+22% vs other
 21.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 25 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 152.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 1183.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 6110
 1.7%
postcode 6155
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 67
postcode 6110
 82
postcode 6155

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.

Southern River Canning Vale
Car (driver) 78.5% / 77.0%
Southern River — Car (driver): 78.5% Canning Vale — Car (driver): 77.0%
Worked from Home 8.0% / 8.1%
Southern River — Worked from Home: 8.0% Canning Vale — Worked from Home: 8.1%
Train 5.3% / 6.4%
Southern River — Train: 5.3% Canning Vale — Train: 6.4%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 5.3%
Southern River — Car (passenger): 5.3% Canning Vale — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Bus 2.1% / 2.3%
Southern River — Bus: 2.1% Canning Vale — Bus: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.5%).

Setting

Southern River Canning Vale
Elevation 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 28 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 18.6 km
3.1 km to a named beach
 14.8 km

NBN connectivity

Southern River Canning Vale
Connectivity score 87/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 75%
5,318 premises
 54%
13,535 premises

Climate

Southern River Canning Vale
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

Southern River Canning Vale
Average residential rate $2,067/yr $1,833/yr
Council Gosnells Canning

Federal electorate

Southern River Canning Vale
Division Burt Tangney
Member Matt Keogh Sam Lim
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Southern River Canning Vale
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Southern River

Family Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Quiet

Canning Vale

Easy Commute Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Southern River

Southern River vs Thornlie Southern River vs Gosnells Southern River vs Harrisdale Southern River vs Huntingdale Southern River vs Champion Lakes Southern River vs Forrestdale

Other comparisons with Canning Vale

Canning Vale vs Thornlie Canning Vale vs Willetton Canning Vale vs Piara Waters Canning Vale vs Harrisdale Canning Vale vs Leeming Canning Vale vs Huntingdale
Full data on Southern River Full data on Canning Vale
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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