📈 Suburbs With the Fastest-Growing Incomes in Western Australia
Incomes across Australia rose sharply between the 2019-20 and 2023-24 financial years, driven by wage growth, inflation and a tight labour market. But the gains were far from even — some postcodes saw median taxable incomes climb by more than 40%, while others barely moved. This ranking lists the 25 postcodes in Western Australia where median taxable income grew the fastest, using the ATO's Taxation Statistics 2023-24 (Individuals — Table 8).
Hopetoun leads with median taxable income rising 41.4% — from $45,791 in 2019-20 to $64,729 in 2023-24. Across the top 25, the midpoint suburb still grew 30.2%. Fast growth tends to cluster in sea-change and tree-change areas that attracted higher earners over the period, resource-town postcodes riding a commodities cycle, and outer-metro suburbs where new higher-income households moved in.
ATO figures are reported by postcode and cover every individual who lodged a tax return, so they describe the whole postcode rather than a single suburb. Only postcodes with a representative suburb of at least 200 residents are included, and the ATO suppresses any postcode with fewer than 200 lodgments. Taxable income differs from ABS Census household and personal income, which can rank areas differently.
Hopetoun WA 6348
Hopetoun is a small coastal town in the Shire of Ravensthorpe in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, approximately 590 kilometres south-east of Perth. With a population of around 1,115 and a median age of 46, it serves as the coastal port for the surrounding agricultural and mining district. Originally established in the 1890s during the gold rush era, the town sits on the shores of Mary Ann Haven, part of the stunning Southern Ocean coastline.
Yallingup WA 6282
Yallingup is a picturesque coastal rural locality on Western Australia's South West edge, situated approximately 260 kilometres south of Perth within the City of Busselton. With a population of 1,195, the community skews older — with a median age of 48 — and is predominantly made up of established residents and sea-changers drawn by the region's natural beauty. Median household income is well above the national average at around $2,147 per week, reflecting the high-value lifestyle properties and coastal acreage that characterise the area.
City Beach WA 6015
City Beach is an affluent beachside suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 10 kilometres west of the CBD within the Town of Cambridge. With a population of 6,805, the suburb is known for its high property values — the fifth highest median house price in Perth. The median age of 47 and weekly household income of $3,700 reflect a well-established, professional demographic.
Mundaring WA 6073
Mundaring is a charming Perth Hills township located 35 kilometres east of the Perth CBD, nestled among jarrah and marri forests within the Shire of Mundaring. Home to around 3,200 residents, it serves as the administrative centre of its shire and has a distinct village character shaped by its bushland setting and elevation of approximately 300 metres. The area has a long history dating to the 1890s gold rush era, when the Mundaring Weir was constructed to supply water to the Goldfields.
Drummond Cove WA 6532
Drummond Cove is a coastal suburb located 12 kilometres north of Geraldton in the City of Greater Geraldton, Western Australia. With a population of around 1,500, it is a growing residential area popular with families seeking an affordable beachside lifestyle. The area has Indigenous heritage as part of Yamatji Country and was historically known as Smugglers Cove due to its use in the illegal sandalwood trade. The suburb was gazetted in 1985 and has seen steady residential development since.
Darlington WA 6070
Darlington is a leafy semi-rural suburb nestled in the Perth Hills, approximately 25 kilometres northeast of Perth CBD within the Shire of Mundaring. With a population of 3,725 and a median age of 44, the suburb attracts established and affluent residents, with a median household income of $2,388 per week — well above the state average. The suburb's 12 square kilometres of undulating terrain at 122 metres elevation feature large residential lots, pockets of native bushland, and a strong arts and creative community.
Chidlow WA 6556
Chidlow is a small semi-rural community in the Shire of Mundaring, approximately 45 kilometres east of Perth in the Darling Range hills. With a population of around 1,800, it offers a peaceful bush lifestyle while remaining accessible to the Perth metropolitan area. The suburb has a rich history dating back to the 1880s when it served as a terminus on the Eastern Railway. Its residents are predominantly Australian-born families drawn to the area's natural beauty and spacious properties.
Augusta WA 6290
Augusta is a small coastal township nestled at the southern tip of Western Australia, approximately 320 kilometres south of Perth within the Augusta-Margaret River Shire. With a population of 1,463, the town has grown modestly since 2016 and is characterised by an older demographic — the median age of 62 reflects its strong appeal among retirees and sea-changers drawn to its relaxed coastal lifestyle. The township sits at the confluence of the Blackwood River and Hardy Inlet, offering a picturesque natural setting of waterways, forests, and rugged coastline.
Singleton WA 6175
Singleton is a southern coastal suburb in Perth's metropolitan area within the City of Rockingham, with a 2021 Census population of 4,021. It sits between Rockingham and Mandurah corridors and has seen ongoing growth in modern housing estates. The suburb has a beach-oriented setting with low-to-medium density residential development. Its character is relaxed and family-focused, with a strong coastal-suburban identity.
Port Denison WA 6525
Port Denison is a charming coastal town in the Shire of Irwin, Western Australia, situated 359 kilometres north of Perth and just 3 kilometres from the township of Dongara. The suburb spans approximately 15 square kilometres and has a population of around 1,452 residents. The predominant age group is 60-69 years, reflecting its popularity as a retirement and sea-change destination, with households primarily consisting of childless couples working in trades occupations.
Oakford WA 6121
Oakford is a semi-rural locality in Perth's outer south-eastern corridor, approximately 38 kilometres from the Perth CBD within the Serpentine-Jarrahdale Shire. With a population of 2,803 spread across 46.9 square kilometres, Oakford is characterised by large residential lots, hobby farms, and acreage properties that attract families seeking space and a rural lifestyle within commuting distance of the city. The median household income of $2,451 per week is well above the state average, reflecting the affluent nature of the semi-rural lifestyle block market.
Osborne Park WA 6017
Osborne Park is a mixed urban suburb in Perth's inner north, located approximately 6 kilometres from the Perth CBD within the City of Stirling. With a population of 4,463 spread across nearly 5 square kilometres, the suburb blends residential living with significant commercial and light industrial activity along its main arterial roads. The median age is 34 and median household income sits at $1,478 per week, with a notably cosmopolitan population — more than half of residents were born overseas.
Bridgetown WA 6255
Bridgetown is a historic town in the South West region of Western Australia, situated approximately 267 kilometres south of Perth on the Blackwood River, within the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes. Established in 1868, the town covers 35 square kilometres at an elevation of 187 metres and has a population of 3,168. With a median age of 52 and median household income of around $1,082 per week, the community is older and predominantly established, with strong English, Australian, and Scottish ancestry reflecting generations of settlement in the region.
Mount Helena WA 6082
Mount Helena is a semi-rural suburb nestled in the Perth Hills within the Shire of Mundaring, located approximately 38 kilometres east of the Perth CBD at an elevation of around 334 metres. Covering 29 square kilometres of bushland and residential land, the suburb is home to 3,373 residents with a median age of 41 years and a high median household income of $1,941 per week. The area attracts established families and professionals who value space, privacy, and the natural beauty of the Darling Range, and has a predominantly English, Australian, Scottish, and Irish heritage.
Pinjarra WA 6208
Pinjarra is a historic town in the Shire of Murray, located approximately 86 kilometres south of the Perth CBD in Western Australia's Peel region. With a population of around 4,910, it serves as the administrative centre of the shire. First settled in 1834 by Sir Thomas Peel, the town retains significant heritage character with 19th-century buildings still in use today. Pinjarra sits on the banks of the Murray River at a low elevation of 7 metres, surrounded by fertile farmland.
Dianella WA 6059
Dianella is an established Perth suburb of 24,000 residents, located 9 kilometres north of the CBD in the City of Stirling. Post-war development created a classic suburban streetscape that's now maturing nicely, with the shopping strips and reserves providing local amenity. The suburb sits between the bustling Morley and the coast, offering quiet residential living.
Mundijong WA 6123
Mundijong is a semi-rural town in Western Australia's Serpentine-Jarrahdale Shire, located approximately 45 kilometres south-east of Perth CBD in the Peel region. The town covers around 18.4 square kilometres and has a population of 1,246, with a median age of 40 and a median household income of around $1,823 per week, reflecting a middle-income working community. Ancestry is predominantly English and Australian, with notable Dutch heritage — a legacy of post-war migration to regional WA — and a significant contingent of English-born residents. Mundijong sits within the Greater Perth statistical area and is increasingly attracting interest as Perth's outer fringe continues to grow.
York WA 6302
York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia, situated on the Avon River approximately 96 kilometres east of Perth in the Wheatbelt, on the traditional country of the Ballardong Nyoongar people. The town was established in 1835 and is the seat of the Shire of York, with a population of approximately 2,393 at the 2021 census. York sits at an elevation of 179 metres on the fertile Avon Valley floor, surrounded by vast Wheatbelt grain and sheep farms, and experiences a warm Mediterranean-like climate with dry summers and mild, wet winters. The town is renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved collection of 19th-century colonial architecture, rivalling the historic streetscapes of South Australia's heritage towns.
Denmark WA 6333
Denmark is a coastal town in Western Australia's Great Southern region, set between forests, farmland and the sheltered waters of Wilson Inlet. It has a well-established resident population and a strong mix of permanent households, retirees and lifestyle movers. The town is known for its natural beauty, cool-climate setting and creative local character. Denmark functions as an important regional service and tourism hub for surrounding localities.
Serpentine WA 6125
Serpentine is a semi-rural locality nestled in the Darling Range foothills of Western Australia, situated approximately 50 kilometres south-east of Perth CBD within the Serpentine-Jarrahdale Shire. The 2021 Census recorded a population of 2,863 — a notable increase from 2,317 in 2016 — reflecting strong growth as Perth families seek acreage lifestyle properties on the city's outer fringe. The suburb spans 105 square kilometres, and with a median age of 45 and a household income of $1,955 per week, it attracts established families and professionals who value space, nature, and relative affordability.
Balcatta WA 6021
Balcatta is an established suburb 10 kilometres north of Perth's CBD in the City of Stirling. The suburb offers a mix of residential areas and light industrial zones, with good access to the Mitchell Freeway and Karrinyup shopping.
Brunswick WA 6224
Brunswick — commonly known as Brunswick Junction — is a small agricultural town in Western Australia's South West region, situated approximately 161 kilometres south of Perth and 26 kilometres north-east of Bunbury along the South Western Highway within the Shire of Harvey. Covering a large area of 98 square kilometres with a population of 1,195, the town serves as a local hub for the surrounding farming and dairying district in the Collie River valley. The median age of 44 and a median weekly household income of $1,333 reflect a stable working and farming community.
Greenwood WA 6024
Greenwood is an established northern suburb of Perth, located 18 kilometres from the CBD within the City of Joondalup. Home to nearly 10,000 residents, the suburb developed from the early 1970s as part of Perth's northern expansion. Bordered by the Mitchell Freeway to the west and surrounded by quality parklands, Greenwood offers a suburban lifestyle with excellent connectivity to the city centre.
Waroona WA 6215
Waroona is a regional township in the Waroona Shire of Western Australia, located approximately 100 kilometres south of Perth along the South Western Highway. With a population of 2,868 spread across a very large area of 240.9 square kilometres, Waroona functions as a key service hub for the broader Peel region. The community has a median age of 48 and reflects a multicultural heritage, with notable English, Italian, and Aboriginal communities contributing to the township's character.
Wagin WA 6315
Wagin is a rural service town in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region, situated approximately 225 kilometres south-east of Perth on the Great Southern Highway within the Shire of Wagin. Covering a substantial 251 square kilometres, the town has a population of 1,448 and functions as a key agricultural hub for the surrounding sheep and wheat farming district. The median age of 51 and household income of approximately $1,073 per week are consistent with regional agricultural communities in WA, reflecting a settled, older population deeply connected to the land.
📊 Methodology
Rankings use the growth in median taxable income between the 2019-20 and 2023-24 financial years, from the ATO Taxation Statistics 2023-24 (Individuals — Table 8, median and average taxable income by postcode). ATO income is reported by postcode, so figures are de-duplicated to one entry per postcode, using the highest-population suburb in Western Australia as the representative (linked above). Only postcodes with a representative suburb of at least 200 residents are included, and the ATO suppresses any postcode with fewer than 200 lodgments. Ties are broken by population (larger first). Taxable income differs from ABS Census household and personal income.