🏙️ Top 25 Most Densely Populated Suburbs in Western Australia
Population density — the number of residents packed into each square kilometre — is one of the clearest signals of how a suburb lives. High-density suburbs are built around apartments, walkable streets, public transport and close-in amenities; low-density suburbs spread out into detached houses, bigger blocks and a reliance on the car. This ranking lists the 25 most densely populated suburbs in Western Australia, calculated from the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census population divided by each suburb's gazetted land area.
Highgate leads with about 6,010 residents per square kilometre — 2,326 people living across just 0.39 km². That is well ahead of the midpoint of this list (Northbridge, ~3,149/km²). The densest suburbs cluster tightly around inner-city apartment precincts and high-rise renewal areas, where former industrial land has been rebuilt into vertical living.
Only suburbs (ABS SAL geographies) with a Census 2021 population of at least 500 residents and a land area above 0.1 km² are included, which keeps the list to genuine residential neighbourhoods and removes tiny localities whose density figures would be statistical noise. Note that area covers the whole gazetted locality — including any parks, water or non-residential land — so the lived density of the built-up core can be even higher than the figure shown.
Highgate WA 6003
Highgate is a small but vibrant inner metro suburb of Perth, located approximately 2 kilometres north-north-east of the Perth CBD within the City of Vincent. It holds the distinction of being the smallest suburb in the Perth metropolitan region, covering just 0.4 square kilometres, yet it is home to 2,326 residents as of the 2021 Census — giving it a density that reflects its urban, walkable character. With a median age of 34 and a median household income of around $96,000 per year, Highgate attracts young professionals and a highly cosmopolitan population, with nearly half of residents having at least one parent born overseas.
East Perth WA 6004
East Perth is an inner-city suburb directly adjacent to Perth's CBD, transformed from industrial wasteland into a vibrant urban precinct. The Claisebrook area features waterfront living along the inlet, while high-rise apartments and heritage warehouses create an eclectic cityscape.
Joondanna WA 6060
Joondanna is a well-established inner suburb of Perth, located just 6 kilometres north of the CBD within the City of Stirling. With a population of around 5,283 (2021 Census), this compact 1.4 square kilometre suburb is named after an early settler's farm. Joondanna has a pleasant mix of character homes from the interwar period alongside modern infill development, creating a diverse streetscape with broad, tree-lined avenues.
Glendalough WA 6016
Glendalough is an inner suburb of Perth, located approximately 6 kilometres north-west of the CBD in the City of Stirling. With a population of around 2,600, this compact 0.7 km² suburb sits along the Mitchell Freeway corridor and is well-connected by public transport. Named after Glendalough in Ireland, the suburb has undergone significant urban renewal with modern apartment developments complementing established homes.
Victoria Park WA 6100
Victoria Park is an inner Perth suburb just south-east of the CBD, known for its mix of established housing, apartments and a busy dining strip along Albany Highway. The 2021 Census population is 9,334, reflecting a dense and diverse urban community. Its proximity to the Swan River and major transport corridors gives it strong strategic connectivity. The suburb has an energetic inner-urban character with a blend of residential streets and active commercial pockets.
Doubleview WA 6018
Doubleview is a well-established residential suburb located approximately 9 kilometres northwest of Perth's CBD, within the City of Stirling. With a population of around 9,200, the suburb has a median age of 37 and attracts a mix of young professionals and established families. The area is characterised by its leafy streets, mid-century homes alongside modern renovations, and a strong community atmosphere.
Scarborough WA 6019
Scarborough is Perth's most iconic beach suburb, a coastal community of 17,600 residents 14 kilometres north of the CBD. The recently renewed foreshore features stunning public space, while the suburb blends high-rise development with traditional beach houses. Buses provide transport, with Stirling station providing rail access to the broader network.
Tuart Hill WA 6060
Tuart Hill is a compact inner-northern suburb of Perth, located approximately 8 kilometres north of the CBD within the City of Stirling. Home to a population of 7,541, the suburb covers just over 2 square kilometres and features a dense mix of older character homes and newer apartment developments. With a median household income of around $80,000 annually, Tuart Hill sits close to the Perth average, attracting a diverse range of residents including young professionals, established families, and a significant international community.
Nollamara WA 6061
Nollamara is a diverse suburb of 12,800 residents in Perth's northern corridor, 9 kilometres from the CBD. The suburb offers affordable housing and strong multicultural community. While lacking rail, buses connect to the Stirling train station.
Mount Hawthorn WA 6016
Mount Hawthorn is a popular inner suburb of Perth, located just 5 km north of the CBD within the City of Vincent. The suburb had a population of 8,183 at the 2021 census, growing 8.4% since 2016. Established in 1903, it is named after Hawthorn in Melbourne by early developer James Hicks. The area features a mix of character homes and modern infill on leafy, quiet streets.
Rivervale WA 6103
Rivervale is an inner-eastern suburb 5 kilometres from Perth's CBD, positioned along the Swan River opposite the airport. The suburb offers a mix of character homes and newer apartment developments, with excellent access to the city and surrounds.
Subiaco WA 6008
Subiaco is Perth's quintessential inner-city village, a sophisticated suburb of nearly 10,000 residents located just 4 kilometres west of the CBD. With one of Perth's highest median incomes, it has evolved from a working-class neighbourhood into an affluent, cosmopolitan precinct. The Fremantle train line provides excellent city access, while the compact urban form makes walking and cycling the preferred modes of transport.
Northbridge WA 6003
Northbridge is an inner-city Perth suburb directly north of the CBD, known as one of Western Australia's key cultural and nightlife precincts. The 2021 Census population is 1,420, with a dense urban mix of apartments, hospitality venues and creative spaces. Historically shaped by migration and commerce, the area has evolved into a major entertainment and dining hub. Its character is vibrant, mixed-use and highly connected to central Perth.
North Perth WA 6006
North Perth is an established inner-north suburb of Perth, about 4 km from the CBD in the City of Vincent. The 2021 Census population is 9,623, with a diverse mix of professionals, families and long-term residents. The suburb features heritage-era housing, contemporary infill and a strong neighbourhood-village identity. Its character combines period streetscapes with vibrant local retail and café activity.
Westminster WA 6061
Westminster is a suburb approximately 10 kilometres north of Perth's CBD in Western Australia, within the City of Stirling. Covering 2.4 square kilometres with a population of around 7,042 at the 2021 census, it was formerly the southern part of Balga before being renamed in 1995 at the request of residents. The suburb is a multicultural residential area with a diverse community and a mix of older homes and renovated properties.
Innaloo WA 6018
Innaloo is a well-established suburb in Perth's northern corridor, located just 9 kilometres from the CBD within the City of Stirling. The suburb has a population of approximately 9,590 with a median age of 36, reflecting a diverse mix of young professionals, families, and retirees. Innaloo is notably multicultural, with 35% of residents born overseas, including significant communities from England, South Africa, China, and India. The suburb covers 3.2 square kilometres of flat coastal-plain terrain.
Perth WA 6000
Perth's CBD is Western Australia's commercial heart, a compact precinct of nearly 14,000 residents between the Swan River and Kings Park. The city offers exceptional public transport, riverside location, and proximity to one of the world's great urban parks. The skyline reflects mining wealth and recent development.
Hocking WA 6065
Hocking is a modern residential suburb located in the City of Wanneroo, approximately 23 kilometres north of Perth CBD in Western Australia. With a population of around 6,987 residents as of 2021, the suburb has experienced strong growth of over 18% since 2016, reflecting its popularity as an affordable northern corridor option. The suburb covers just 2.4 square kilometres and has a median age of 34, indicating a predominantly young demographic. Hocking falls under the local government area of Wanneroo, nestled between the established centres of Joondalup and Wanneroo.
White Gum Valley WA 6162
White Gum Valley is a compact inner-suburban locality within the City of Fremantle, situated approximately 3 kilometres south of Fremantle's town centre and 16 kilometres south-west of Perth's CBD. With a population of around 3,358 residents spread across just 1.17 square kilometres, it is one of the denser residential pockets in the Fremantle area. The suburb is part of the innovative WGV (White Gum Valley) urban infill development, which has gained national recognition for its sustainable housing design and community-focused planning.
West Leederville WA 6007
West Leederville is a compact, affluent inner suburb of Perth, sitting approximately 3 kilometres north-west of the CBD within the Town of Cambridge council area. Home to 4,340 residents with a median age of 38, it attracts young professionals, couples, and established families drawn to its city proximity and cosmopolitan character. Median household income of around $2,383 per week is well above the Perth average, reflecting the area's desirability and strong property market.
Wembley WA 6014
Wembley is a prestigious western suburb 6 kilometres from Perth's CBD, known for its tree-lined streets, heritage homes, and access to Lake Monger. The suburb offers quintessential inner-Perth living with easy access to Subiaco, Leederville, and the city centre.
East Victoria Park WA 6101
East Victoria Park is an inner suburb 6 kilometres southeast of Perth's CBD in the Town of Victoria Park. The suburb features character homes, mature trees, and proximity to the vibrant Albany Highway strip. The community has a progressive, cosmopolitan character.
Crawley WA 6009
Crawley is a small, vibrant suburb in Perth's western corridor, located approximately 5.8 kilometres south-west of the Perth CBD within the City of Perth local government area. The suburb is home to the University of Western Australia (UWA), one of Australia's leading research universities, which profoundly shapes its character — with a median age of just 24 and more than 2,000 students counted among its 3,975 residents in the 2021 census. Covering just 1.4 square kilometres along the Swan River foreshore, Crawley is one of Perth's most internationally diverse and educationally focused communities.
West Perth WA 6005
West Perth is a densely developed inner-city suburb immediately adjacent to the Perth CBD, within the City of Perth local government area. Covering just 2.19 square kilometres, it houses 6,102 residents and is primarily known as a major commercial and professional precinct, home to many of Western Australia's corporate offices, law firms, and government agencies. With a median age of just 35 and median household income of $1,918 per week, the suburb attracts a predominantly young, professional population residing in modern apartment buildings interspersed among office towers.
Queens Park WA 6107
Queens Park is a multicultural suburban community located 11 kilometres south-east of the Perth CBD, within the City of Canning. With a population of approximately 7,268 residents, it has grown steadily in recent years, attracting diverse families and young professionals. Originally known as Woodlupine, the suburb was renamed in honour of Queen Alexandra in 1911. Queens Park features a mix of post-war homes, state housing commission properties, and newer developments, giving it an affordable entry point into Perth's property market.
đź“Š Methodology
Population density is calculated as Census 2021 total population ÷ gazetted land area (km²) for each suburb (ABS SAL geography) in Western Australia. Only suburbs with at least 500 residents and a land area above 0.1 km² are included, to avoid distortion from very small or sparsely populated localities. Ties are broken by total population (larger first). Land area covers the whole locality, including parks, water and non-residential land, so the density of the built-up residential core may be higher than shown.