Southern River vs Champion Lakes

Southern River is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 41 in Champion Lakes. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Southern River, most households are couple families. In Champion Lakes, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Southern River: a median of $1.05 million, against $715,000 in Champion Lakes, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Southern River tends to suit families with children and couples, while Champion Lakes suits people living alone and 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

Southern River

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (10 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Champion Lakes

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($389,900 vs $735,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($715,000 vs $1,047,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Champion Lakes

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($355/wk vs $420/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Southern River

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (66/100 vs 41/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (27.9 km vs 30 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Southern River

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (66/100 vs 41/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 86/100)
  • But Champion Lakes has more residents already 65 and over (17% vs 7%)

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

Investors

Champion Lakes

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.9% vs 4.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Southern River and Champion Lakes 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 Champion Lakes
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 Champion Lakes
Walkability 66 / 41
Southern River — Walkability: 66/100 Champion Lakes — Walkability: 41/100
Safety 45 / 14
Southern River — Safety: 45/100 Champion Lakes — Safety: 14/100
Low fire risk 50 / 41
Southern River — Low fire risk: 50/100 Champion Lakes — Low fire risk: 41/100
Low flood risk 74 / 36
Southern River — Low flood risk: 74/100 Champion Lakes — Low flood risk: 36/100

Demographics

Southern River has more residents (12,852 vs 1,355); Southern River has higher household incomes ($122,928 vs $94,224).

Southern River Champion Lakes
Population 12,852
+89% vs other
 1,355
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +24.2% +20.1%
Median age 33 41
Median household income $122,928/yr
+23% vs other
 $94,224/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+15% vs other
 $355/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Southern River Champion Lakes
0-4 7.5% / 5.3%
Southern River — 0-4: 7.5% Champion Lakes — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 17.7% / 13.1%
Southern River — 5-14: 17.7% Champion Lakes — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 7.6% / 5.5%
Southern River — 15-19: 7.6% Champion Lakes — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 6.7% / 5.8%
Southern River — 20-24: 6.7% Champion Lakes — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 12.7% / 10.9%
Southern River — 25-34: 12.7% Champion Lakes — 25-34: 10.9%
35-44 18.1% / 14.0%
Southern River — 35-44: 18.1% Champion Lakes — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 13.9% / 13.8%
Southern River — 45-54: 13.9% Champion Lakes — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 8.6% / 14.8%
Southern River — 55-64: 8.6% Champion Lakes — 55-64: 14.8%
65-74 5.0% / 11.6%
Southern River — 65-74: 5.0% Champion Lakes — 65-74: 11.6%
75-84 1.8% / 4.8%
Southern River — 75-84: 1.8% Champion Lakes — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 0.3% / 0.7%
Southern River — 85+: 0.3% Champion Lakes — 85+: 0.7%

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%
Champion Lakes 46.9% couple families
Champion Lakes — Couple Families: 46.9% Champion Lakes — Lone Person: 32.8% Champion Lakes — One Parent Families: 16.4% Champion Lakes — Group Household: 4.0% Champion Lakes — Other Families: 0.0%
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%
Champion Lakes 24.3% renting
Champion Lakes — Owned Outright: 29.2% Champion Lakes — Mortgage: 46.5% Champion Lakes — Renting: 24.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Southern River Champion Lakes
Certificate III & IV 11.9% / 16.5%
Southern River — Certificate III & IV: 11.9% Champion Lakes — Certificate III & IV: 16.5%
Bachelor Degree 14.9% / 10.4%
Southern River — Bachelor Degree: 14.9% Champion Lakes — Bachelor Degree: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 9.4%
Southern River — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Champion Lakes — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 5.3% / 4.0%
Southern River — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3% Champion Lakes — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.3%
Southern River — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Champion Lakes — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

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 Champion Lakes
England 5.2% / 9.7%
Southern River — England: 5.2% Champion Lakes — England: 9.7%
India 7.6% / 5.8%
Southern River — India: 7.6% Champion Lakes — India: 5.8%
New Zealand 2.2% / 3.2%
Southern River — New Zealand: 2.2% Champion Lakes — New Zealand: 3.2%
South Africa 3.1% / 1.8%
Southern River — South Africa: 3.1% Champion Lakes — South Africa: 1.8%
Philippines 2.2% / 2.1%
Southern River — Philippines: 2.2% Champion Lakes — Philippines: 2.1%
Malaysia 4.2% / —
Southern River — Malaysia: 4.2% Champion Lakes — Malaysia: not among its largest
China 3.2% / —
Southern River — China: 3.2% Champion Lakes — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Southern River 97.1% houses
Southern River — Houses: 97.1% Southern River — Flats / Apartments: 0.5% Southern River — Townhouses: 2.4%
Champion Lakes 92.5% houses
Champion Lakes — Houses: 92.5% Champion Lakes — Flats / Apartments: 6.5% Champion Lakes — Townhouses: 1.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Southern River Champion Lakes
Median house price $1,047,500 $715,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $735,000 $389,900
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 149 sales
 16 days
from 14 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 Champion Lakes
3 bed $780K / $760K
Southern River — 3 bed: $780K (43 sales) Champion Lakes — 3 bed: $760K (13 sales)

43 vs 13 sales

4 bed $1.08M / $634K
Southern River — 4 bed: $1.08M (171 sales) Champion Lakes — 4 bed: $634K (36 sales)

171 vs 36 sales

Development activity

Southern River Champion Lakes
New dwellings approved 660
across Gosnells
 1,811
across Armadale
Approvals change year on year +17% +70%

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 Champion Lakes
Houses 4.2%
$815/wk on $1M
 4.9%
$780/wk on $835K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within WA

Southern River Champion Lakes
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 88% of WA Higher than 58% of WA
Schools Higher than 98% of WA —
Walkability Higher than 89% of WA Higher than 80% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 73% of WA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of WA Higher than 93% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 40% of WA Higher than 75% of WA

Liveability

Southern River scores higher overall (68 vs 34); Southern River is more walkable (66 vs 41).

Southern River Champion Lakes
Grade B C
Score 68/100 34/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Champion Lakes carries more flood risk (64 vs 26); Champion Lakes carries more crime risk (86 vs 55).

Southern River Champion Lakes
Bushfire Moderate
50/100
 Moderate
59/100
Crime Moderate
55/100
 High
86/100
Flood Low
26/100
 Moderate
64/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Southern River Champion Lakes
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 3 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

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 Champion Lakes

  • Kelmscott John Calvin School Independent · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Southern River Champion Lakes
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 7 0
Parks & reserves 18 3
Childcare 10 3
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 5 0
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 1
same for both

Mobility

Champion Lakes sits further from the CBD (30 km vs 27.9 km).

Southern River Champion Lakes
Walkability score 66/100 41/100
Distance to Perth 27.9 km 30 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 32 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 23/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 152.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 27 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 6110
 0.8%
postcode 6111
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 67
postcode 6110
 62
postcode 6111

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 Champion Lakes
Car (driver) 78.5% / 79.0%
Southern River — Car (driver): 78.5% Champion Lakes — Car (driver): 79.0%
Worked from Home 8.0% / 8.3%
Southern River — Worked from Home: 8.0% Champion Lakes — Worked from Home: 8.3%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 4.9%
Southern River — Car (passenger): 5.3% Champion Lakes — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Train 5.3% / 4.1%
Southern River — Train: 5.3% Champion Lakes — Train: 4.1%
Bus 2.1% / 2.1%
Southern River — Bus: 2.1% Champion Lakes — Bus: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.0%).

Setting

Southern River Champion Lakes
Elevation 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 18.6 km
3.1 km to a named beach
 20.9 km
866 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Southern River Champion Lakes
Connectivity score 87/100 83/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 75%
5,318 premises
 68%
536 premises

Climate

Southern River Champion Lakes
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 Champion Lakes
Average residential rate $2,067/yr $2,388/yr
Council Gosnells Armadale

Federal electorate

Southern River Champion Lakes
Division Burt
same for both
Member Matt Keogh
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Southern River Champion Lakes
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

Champion Lakes

Acreage Outer Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Southern River

Southern River vs Canning Vale Southern River vs Thornlie Southern River vs Gosnells Southern River vs Harrisdale Southern River vs Huntingdale Southern River vs Forrestdale

Other comparisons with Champion Lakes

Champion Lakes vs Gosnells Champion Lakes vs Seville Grove Champion Lakes vs Kelmscott Champion Lakes vs Camillo Champion Lakes vs Forrestdale
Full data on Southern River Full data on Champion Lakes
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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