🏘️ Western Australia Suburbs with the Most Housing Commission
Social housing in Western Australia encompasses dwellings managed by the state housing authority and registered community housing providers, offering affordable rental accommodation to low-income households, people experiencing disadvantage, and those with specialist needs. The 2021 Census recorded significant concentrations of social housing in specific suburbs — particularly those developed as public housing estates during the post-war decades.
The distribution of social housing across Western Australia reflects decades of government housing policy. Some suburbs were purpose-built as welfare housing estates and continue to have very high concentrations of government-managed dwellings, while others have seen gradual transfers to community housing providers as part of housing reform programs.
This ranking is based on ABS 2021 Census Table G37 — Tenure Type and Landlord Type by Dwelling Structure — counting dwellings rented from state housing authorities and community housing providers as a percentage of all occupied private dwellings. Only suburbs with at least 100 dwellings are included.
St George Ranges WA 6728
St George Ranges is a vast and remote locality in the Derby-West Kimberley region of Western Australia, covering over 32,000 square kilometres of Kimberley savanna, ranges, and pastoral land. Located approximately 1,700 kilometres north-east of Perth, the area falls under the Derby-West Kimberley Shire Council and had a recorded population of around 1,100 people at the last census. The locality takes its name from the St George Ranges, a rugged series of sandstone ridges typical of the ancient Kimberley landscape. Despite its enormous size, the human footprint remains minimal, with most residents living on remote pastoral stations and Indigenous communities.
Tanami WA 6770
A suburb in WA with a significant social housing presence.
Mount Hardman WA 6765
A suburb in WA with a significant social housing presence.
Dampier Peninsula WA 6725
Dampier Peninsula is a large peninsula in Western Australia's Kimberley region, located north of Broome and Roebuck Bay, extending approximately 200 km northward to Cape Leveque. Classified as an urban locality under postcode 6725, the peninsula had a 2021 census population of 1,051, though the figure encompasses several remote Aboriginal communities including Beagle Bay, Djarindjin, Ardyaloon (One Arm Point), and Lombadina spread across 4,757 km². The peninsula is predominantly inhabited by Indigenous Australians, many of whom hold native title rights over their traditional Country. The landscape transitions from red pindan cliffs and mangroves to dramatic white-sand beaches and coral reefs along the coastline.
Lagrange WA 6725
Lagrange is a vast remote locality in the Broome Region of Western Australia, spanning approximately 3,166 square kilometres along the Kimberley coast south of Broome. With a small population of around 635 people, it is one of Australia's most sparsely inhabited coastal areas. The locality encompasses the Lagrange Bay area and the La Grange Aboriginal Community, located on Karajarri Country. Its landscape features spectacular red pindan cliffs, mangrove-lined tidal flats, and one of Australia's most remote stretches of Indian Ocean coastline.
Camballin WA 6728
A suburb in WA with a significant social housing presence.
Warburton WA 6431
Warburton is a remote Aboriginal community in the Ngaanyatjarraku area of far eastern Western Australia, along the Great Central Road. It has a small but established population and functions as a key service point across a vast desert region. The community's character is strongly shaped by Anangu culture, remote service delivery and outback geography. Distances to major urban centres are very large, reinforcing its isolated setting.
Halls Creek WA 6770
Halls Creek is a remote outback town in the east Kimberley region of Western Australia, located on the Great Northern Highway at an elevation of 405 metres. Situated approximately 2,715 kilometres from Perth and 366 kilometres from Kununurra, it is the only sizable town for 600 kilometres along the highway and serves as the administrative centre for the Shire of Halls Creek. The 2021 Census recorded a population of 1,572 residents, with Aboriginal Australians making up approximately 70 percent of the community — one of the highest proportions of any Australian town — reflecting Halls Creek's deep roots as a hub for Jaru, Kija, and other Kimberley First Nations peoples.
Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765
Fitzroy Crossing is a remote town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, located approximately 400 kilometres east of Broome and 2,500 kilometres north of Perth. With a population of around 1,200, the town sits on the banks of the Fitzroy River and serves as a service centre for surrounding Aboriginal communities. The area has deep Indigenous cultural significance spanning tens of thousands of years.
Roebourne WA 6718
Roebourne is a historic town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, located approximately 1,500 kilometres north of Perth and around 38 kilometres south of Karratha, within the City of Karratha local government area. With a population of around 975 residents spread across a 162 square kilometre area, Roebourne is one of Western Australia's oldest surviving inland towns, with heritage buildings dating to the 1860s goldfields era. The community has a significant Aboriginal population, and the town plays an important social and cultural role in the wider Pilbara region.
Marble Bar WA 6760
Marble Bar is a remote outback town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, situated approximately 1,476 kilometres north-east of Perth within the Shire of East Pilbara. With a population of 927, the community is notable for its heavily skewed gender ratio — a hallmark of mining and pastoral regions — with the majority of residents involved in resource industries or station work. The town spans a vast area of over 35,000 square kilometres and sits at an elevation of 178 metres in rugged ironstone country.
Wyndham WA 6740
Wyndham is a remote port town and the northernmost settlement in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, located approximately 3,315 kilometres north-north-east of Perth via the Great Northern Highway. Established in 1886 to service the Halls Creek goldfield, Wyndham serves as a port and service centre for the east Kimberley region with a population of 941 residents within the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley. The town has a significant Indigenous population, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people making up around 54 per cent of the community.
Laverton WA 6440
Laverton is a remote outback town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located approximately 960 kilometres north-east of Perth and around 360 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie, within the Shire of Laverton. With a population of 907 — including a notably skewed gender ratio (approximately 65 per cent male) characteristic of mining communities — the locality spans a vast 11,488 square kilometres of arid Western Australian outback. Laverton functions as a key service hub for surrounding gold and nickel mining operations and for remote Aboriginal communities in the region.
Brockman WA 6701
Brockman is a small locality in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia, situated approximately 200 kilometres inland from Carnarvon within the broader postcode area 6701. With a population of 993 at the 2021 census and covering under one square kilometre, it is a compact community in the remote outback of the state's mid-west. The locality falls within the federal electorate of Durack, one of Australia's largest electorates, and the state electorate of North West Central, reflecting its remote and sparsely settled character.
Derby WA 6728
Derby is a major Kimberley town in far northern Western Australia on King Sound, around 220 km north-east of Broome. The 2021 population is 3,222, with a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and strong regional service functions. It is known for extreme tidal ranges, historic boab landscapes and its role as an administrative and logistics centre for the West Kimberley. Derby has a distinctly remote-town character shaped by climate, culture and long-distance connectivity.
Meekatharra WA 6642
Meekatharra is an outback town in the Mid West region of Western Australia, located approximately 764 kilometres north-east of Perth along the Great Northern Highway within the Shire of Meekatharra. The name derives from a Yamatji word meaning 'place of little water,' aptly reflecting the arid Murchison landscape that surrounds it. With a population of 849 in the 2021 Census — of whom approximately 34 per cent are of Aboriginal descent — Meekatharra serves as a major service and supply hub for the surrounding pastoral stations, gold mining operations, and remote communities across a vast area of outback Western Australia.
Lockyer WA 6330
Lockyer is a north-western suburb of Albany in Western Australia's Great Southern region, located just 4 kilometres from the Albany town centre. With a population of around 1,300 residents and a youthful median age of 33, it's one of Albany's more affordable residential areas. The suburb is bounded by the South Coast Highway to the north and was officially named in 1954.
Broome WA 6725
Broome is a vibrant, multicultural coastal town in the Kimberley region of north-west Western Australia, situated approximately 2,200 kilometres north of Perth within the Shire of Broome. The suburb has a population of 3,797 and a young median age of 36, with a notably diverse cultural makeup — over 1,200 residents identify Aboriginal ancestry, representing around a third of the local population, alongside significant Filipino, Chinese, and European communities that reflect the town's pearling heritage. The median personal income of $967 per week is relatively strong given its remote location, underpinned by the tourism, hospitality, and resource industries.
Kununurra WA 6743
Kununurra is a remote tropical town in the far north-east of Western Australia, situated in the Kimberley region approximately 3,040 kilometres from Perth and 45 kilometres from the Northern Territory border. It is the largest town in Western Australia north of Broome, with a population of around 5,494 residents in the 2021 census. Established in 1961 to service the Ord River Irrigation Scheme, the town sits on the traditional lands of the Miriwoong Aboriginal people and is governed by the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley.
Mullewa WA 6630
Mullewa is a historic town in the Mid West region of Western Australia, located 450 kilometres north of Perth and 98 kilometres east-north-east of Geraldton. Established in 1894 when the government built a narrow-gauge railway connecting it to Geraldton, Mullewa sits at an elevation of 281 metres and falls within the City of Greater Geraldton local government area. The 2021 census recorded a population of approximately 356 in the broader locality, making it a small but enduring service town for the surrounding pastoral and agricultural region.
Bilingurr WA 6725
Bilingurr is a residential suburb located on the northern fringe of Broome in Western Australia's Kimberley region, approximately 2,200 kilometres north of Perth within the Shire of Broome. With a population of 1,540, the suburb has grown steadily since 2016 and is characterised by a relatively young demographic, with a median age of just 32 and a significant proportion of families with children. The area reflects Broome's multicultural character, with a notable Indigenous population and residents drawn from diverse backgrounds.
Karawara WA 6152
Karawara is a compact, multicultural suburb of Perth located approximately 7 kilometres south of the CBD, within the City of South Perth. Home to 1,842 residents, it is one of Perth's most diverse communities — around 56% of residents were born overseas, with strong connections to Malaysia, China, India, Indonesia, and South Africa. The suburb offers a mix of public and private housing, with a notable proportion of state and community housing reflecting its accessible price point.
Beachlands WA 6530
Beachlands is a coastal residential suburb of Geraldton in the Mid West region of Western Australia, approximately 420 km north of Perth. With a population of around 1,400 and a median age of 45, it is a modest-sized community within the City of Greater Geraldton. The suburb has a predominantly Australian and English heritage, with a notable Indigenous population representing about 10% of residents. It sits along the Indian Ocean coastline, offering an affordable beachside lifestyle.
Willagee WA 6156
Willagee is a residential suburb in Perth's southern corridor, located within the City of Melville approximately 10 kilometres south of the Perth CBD. With a population of 5,447 and a median age of 37, the suburb has a relatively youthful demographic and has seen steady growth since the 2016 census. Median household income sits around $1,660 per week, reflecting a working-to-middle-class community with a mix of housing including established post-war homes and more recent infill developments.
Morgantown WA 6701
Morgantown is a small locality within the Shire of Carnarvon in Western Australia's Gascoyne region, situated approximately 900 kilometres north of Perth near the coastal town of Carnarvon. With a population of 774 and a compact area of 1.5 square kilometres, it is a tightly settled residential community in one of WA's most remote coastal regions. The area has a high proportion of social housing (around 17% of dwellings), reflecting its role as a residential area supporting Carnarvon's workforce and community.
South Hedland WA 6722
South Hedland is a Pilbara town 1,600 kilometres north of Perth, built to house workers in the iron ore industry. With around 15,000 residents, it serves as the residential centre for the Port Hedland region. The town has matured from mining camp origins into a genuine community.
Cable Beach WA 6726
Cable Beach is one of Australia's most iconic coastal suburbs, located in Broome in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Named after the telegraph cable laid between Broome and Java in 1889, the suburb fronts a 22-kilometre stretch of brilliant white sand and turquoise Indian Ocean waters, backed by striking red ochre cliffs. It is approximately 2,200 km north of Perth, making it one of the most remote yet celebrated beach destinations in the country.
Brentwood WA 6153
Brentwood is a quiet residential suburb located approximately 10 kilometres south of the Perth CBD, within the City of Melville. With a population of around 2,150, it is a compact suburb covering just 1 square kilometre. Developed as a state housing suburb after World War II, Brentwood has evolved into a well-established neighbourhood with a mix of original post-war homes and modern renovations. The suburb features the historic Grasmere homestead on Spinaway Crescent, dating back to the late nineteenth century.
Withers WA 6230
Withers is a residential suburb in the City of Bunbury, located approximately 175 kilometres south of Perth in Western Australia's South West region. With a population of around 3,000 spread across 4.4 square kilometres, it is one of Bunbury's more affordable suburbs. The demographic skews younger (20-39 median age) with a relatively even split between owners (51%) and renters (49%), and a high proportion of single-person households (65%). The suburb has undergone renewal efforts to improve community infrastructure and liveability.
Ashfield WA 6054
Ashfield is a small residential suburb in Perth's eastern suburbs, located 10 kilometres from the CBD within the Town of Bassendean. With a population of around 1,400, it sits along the Swan River and features Ashfield Flats, the largest river flat remaining in the Perth metropolitan area. Originally established as railway housing in the early 20th century, the suburb experienced a housing boom in the late 1950s and 1960s with State Housing Commission developments. The median age is 38, with a predominantly Australian-born population of English, Australian, and Scottish ancestry.
Djugun WA 6725
Djugun is a northern suburb of Broome in Western Australia remote Kimberley region, within the Shire of Broome. Named after the Djugun (Jukun) Aboriginal people whose traditional lands encompass the area, it has a population of approximately 2,800. The suburb has experienced steady growth and contains a mix of residential housing, from older established homes to newer developments serving Broome growing population.
Coodanup WA 6210
Coodanup is a residential suburb within the City of Mandurah, located approximately 72 kilometres south of Perth along the Peel coastline. With a population of 4,366 and a median age of 48, the suburb skews toward older residents and retirees drawn by its coastal lifestyle and affordable housing. Median household income sits below the state average, reflecting a modest, working-class community character with a mix of long-term residents, retirees, and families.
Tambellup WA 6320
A suburb in WA with a significant social housing presence.
Orana WA 6330
Orana is a residential suburb in the City of Albany, located approximately 3 kilometres northwest of the Albany CBD on the south coast of Western Australia. With a population of around 2,000, it is one of Albany's established suburban areas. The suburb sits on gently undulating terrain with views towards the surrounding bushland and is well connected to Albany's town centre. Orana is a predominantly family-oriented community with a mix of long-term residents and newer arrivals attracted by Albany's lifestyle appeal.
Exmouth WA 6707
Exmouth is a remote coastal town at the tip of the North West Cape in Western Australia, located approximately 1,270 kilometres north of Perth within the Shire of Exmouth. Despite its isolation, Exmouth has a population of 2,806 and a relatively young median age of 36, reflecting a workforce drawn to tourism, fishing, the defence industry, and related services. The median household income of around $2,029 per week suggests a solidly middle-income community, and housing is mainly low-density residential with a strong transient workforce component.
Spencer Park WA 6330
Spencer Park is a north-eastern suburb of Albany in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, located approximately 2 kilometres from Albany's CBD. With a population of around 3,445, it was gazetted in 1954 and named after Albany's first Government Resident, Sir Richard Spencer. The suburb has a mix of established family homes and is known for its convenience and community feel.
Leonora WA 6438
Leonora is a small gold mining town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located 833 kilometres north-east of Perth and 237 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie, within the Shire of Leonora. The town recorded a population of 657 at the 2021 Census, with a slight male majority reflecting its mining heritage. Established in 1897 following gold discoveries in the area, Leonora sits at an elevation of 376 metres in the semi-arid outback interior, characterised by red earth landscapes, low scrub, and expansive open skies.
Esperance WA 6450
Esperance is a coastal town suburb in the Shire of Esperance in southern Western Australia, located approximately 720 kilometres south-east of Perth on the stunning shores of the Great Australian Bight. With a population of around 2,080 and a median age of 52, Esperance has an older demographic profile, reflecting its appeal to sea-changers, retirees, and long-established farming and fishing families. The town centre serves as the administrative and commercial hub of the Esperance Shire, surrounded by one of Australia's most spectacular coastal landscapes of turquoise waters and white sandy beaches.
Baynton WA 6714
Baynton is a residential suburb within the City of Karratha in Western Australia's Pilbara region, located approximately 1,500 kilometres north of Perth. As one of Karratha's established residential neighbourhoods, it is home to 4,496 residents with a notably young median age of 31, reflecting the suburb's family-oriented demographic driven by the region's resources industry. With a median household income of around $3,390 per week — well above state and national averages — Baynton reflects the economic strength of the Pilbara's mining and resources sector.
Onslow WA 6710
Onslow is a remote coastal town in Western Australia's Pilbara region, located approximately 1,386 kilometres north of Perth and 259 kilometres south-west of Karratha, within the Shire of Ashburton local government area. With a population of 829 spread across an expansive 189 square kilometres of coastal terrain, the town was originally established in 1885 as a port to export wool from the pastoral hinterland before being relocated to its current site in 1925. Today, Onslow functions as a key service and accommodation hub for the offshore oil and gas industry operating in the Carnarvon Basin.
Jerramungup WA 6337
A suburb in WA with a significant social housing presence.
Mukinbudin WA 6479
A suburb in WA with a significant social housing presence.
Manning WA 6152
Manning is a well-established suburb in the City of South Perth, located 7 kilometres south of Perth CBD. With a population of 4,219, it has evolved significantly with recent zoning changes that have brought new residential developments to the area. The suburb is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and convenient location within Greater Perth.
Hilton WA 6163
Hilton is a modest residential suburb located 3 kilometres south of Fremantle and approximately 18 kilometres south-west of the Perth CBD, within the City of Fremantle. With a population of around 4,300, Hilton is a tight-knit community known for its post-war character homes on generous blocks. The suburb covers 1.7 square kilometres and has a median taxable income of approximately $50,700. Hilton has seen steady capital growth as buyers seek affordable alternatives close to Fremantle.
Redcliffe WA 6104
Redcliffe is a major urban suburb situated within the City of Belmont, approximately 10 kilometres east of the Perth CBD on the eastern fringe of the Greater Perth metropolitan area. With a population of 5,030 and a median age of 38, the suburb draws a mix of families and working-age residents. The median household income of around $1,565 per week reflects a practical, suburban lifestyle close to major transport and employment corridors.
Calista WA 6167
Calista is a residential suburb in the City of Kwinana, located approximately 38 kilometres south of Perth CBD in Western Australia's Greater Perth region. Covering just 2.3 square kilometres, the suburb features established housing typical of Perth's southern corridor, developed primarily from the 1970s onward. With a population of 1,975, a median household income of $953 per week, and a median age of 48, Calista has a settled, working-to-middle-class character with many long-term residents.
Mirrabooka WA 6061
Mirrabooka is a multicultural suburb located approximately 12 km north of Perth's CBD in Western Australia. Home to around 8,000 residents with a median age of 36, it is one of Perth's most culturally diverse communities. The suburb covers about 5 square kilometres within the City of Stirling and sits at an elevation of 75 metres on the Swan Coastal Plain.
Pegs Creek WA 6714
Pegs Creek is a residential suburb of Karratha, located in the City of Karratha within Western Australia's Pilbara region, approximately 1,530 kilometres north of Perth. With a population of 2,050 and a median age of just 33, Pegs Creek has a notably young demographic profile driven by the region's booming resources sector. The suburb's median household income of around $125,000 per year is significantly above the national average, reflecting the high wages associated with the iron ore and liquefied natural gas (LNG) industries that dominate the local economy.
Kondinin WA 6367
A suburb in WA with a significant social housing presence.
Bentley WA 6102
Bentley is a rural locality in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, located approximately 23 kilometres north-west of Lismore. It sits within the Richmond Valley Council local government area and covers a quiet stretch of hinterland between the Lismore and Kyogle districts. The 2021 census recorded a population of 225 people across Bentley's green, forested hills and farming properties.
Carey Park WA 6230
Carey Park is an established residential suburb of Bunbury, Western Australia's second-largest city, located approximately 175 kilometres south of Perth within the City of Bunbury. With a population of around 5,155 and a median age of 40, the suburb has a predominantly Australian-born community with English, Scottish, and Irish heritage well represented. It forms part of the broader South West region, sitting at a low elevation close to the Geographe Bay coastline.
Mount Magnet WA 6638
Mount Magnet is a remote outback town in Western Australia's Mid West region, situated approximately 573 kilometres north-east of Perth and 341 kilometres east of Geraldton, within the Shire of Mount Magnet. With a population of around 583, the town covers an expansive 261 square kilometres at an elevation of 426 metres above sea level. Mount Magnet holds the distinction of being the longest continuously operating gold mining settlement in Western Australia, with a history stretching back to the gold rush era of the late 19th century.
Pingelly WA 6308
Pingelly is a Wheatbelt town in Western Australia, located approximately 158 kilometres south-east of Perth along the Brookton Highway and Great Southern Highway within the Shire of Pingelly local government area. The town sits at an elevation of 297 metres on the Great Southern railway corridor and recorded a population of 722 at the 2021 Census, serving as the administrative centre of the surrounding agricultural district. The economy is anchored by wheat and cereal grain farming, and Pingelly operates as a Cooperative Bulk Handling (CBH) grain receival site for the region.
Wongan Hills WA 6603
Wongan Hills is an agricultural town situated approximately 182 kilometres north-north-east of Perth, at an elevation of 286 metres in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. It is governed by the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu and has a population of 896 as recorded in the 2021 Census across its extensive area of over 236 square kilometres. The town was gazetted in 1911 and takes its name from the nearby Wongan Hills range, derived from the Indigenous Noongar name for the area. The surrounding district is predominantly agricultural, with wheat farming and related industries underpinning the local economy.
Koondoola WA 6064
Koondoola is a culturally diverse suburb in Perth's northern corridor, approximately 17 kilometres north of the Perth CBD within the City of Wanneroo. With a population of 3,919 and a median age of 35, the suburb is one of Perth's most multicultural communities — more than half of residents were born overseas, with large populations from Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, and Afghanistan arriving in recent decades. Median household income of $1,185 per week and affordable rents of $285 per week place Koondoola among Perth's more accessible suburbs for new arrivals and lower-income households.
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.
Southern Cross WA 6426
Southern Cross is a historic Wheatbelt town in Western Australia's Shire of Yilgarn, situated 371 kilometres east of Perth along the Great Eastern Highway. Founded in 1888 following a gold discovery by prospectors Richard Greaves and Ted Paine, it grew to become the administrative centre of the Shire of Yilgarn, covering an expansive 555 square kilometres of semi-arid goldfields and agricultural land. With a population of around 523 residents, the town retains the character of a classic inland service centre, with wide streets uniquely named after stars and constellations.
Coolbellup WA 6163
Coolbellup is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 15 kilometres south of the CBD within the City of Cockburn. With a population of 5,698 at the 2021 census and a median age of 37, it has undergone significant urban renewal in recent decades. The suburb takes its name from the Aboriginal Noongar word for nearby North Lake. Originally developed as public housing in the 1960s, Coolbellup has transformed into a diverse, multicultural community with a mix of social and private housing.
Denham WA 6537
Denham is a coastal town and the administrative centre of the Shire of Shark Bay in Western Australia, situated on the western coast of the Peron Peninsula approximately 831 kilometres north of Perth. With a population of 849 in the 2021 Census, Denham holds the distinction of being the westernmost publicly accessible town in Australia, set at the edge of the UNESCO-listed Shark Bay World Heritage Area. The town was named after Captain Henry Mangles Denham of the Royal Navy, who charted Shark Bay in 1858, and retains a maritime and pastoral character shaped by its extraordinary remote coastal location.
Koongamia WA 6056
Koongamia is a small residential suburb in Perth's eastern metropolitan area, located within the City of Swan local government area approximately 20 kilometres east of the Perth CBD. With a population of around 985 residents in a compact area of 0.59 square kilometres, the suburb was developed as a State Housing commission estate and maintains a close-knit, working-class residential character. It sits alongside Bellevue and borders the Helena Valley foothills near the edge of the Darling Range.
Midvale WA 6056
Midvale is an eastern suburb of Perth in Western Australia, split between the City of Swan and the Shire of Mundaring, approximately 25 kilometres from the Perth CBD. With a population of around 2,300 that grew significantly (52.8%) between 2016 and 2021, it is one of Perth's emerging growth suburbs. Originally developed in the early 1950s, the suburb was named as a composite of nearby Midland and the former Helena Vale Racecourse.
Cunderdin WA 6407
Cunderdin is a Wheatbelt town in Western Australia, located approximately 155 kilometres east of Perth along the Great Eastern Highway within the Shire of Cunderdin. With a population of 824 residents across a locality of over 330 square kilometres, the town serves as the administrative and service hub for the surrounding wheat and sheep farming district. The landscape is quintessential WA Wheatbelt — wide open agricultural plains, historic farmsteads, and the remnant bushland that characterises this highly productive farming region.
South Carnarvon WA 6701
South Carnarvon is a small residential locality on the southern edge of Carnarvon, a regional town approximately 900 kilometres north of Perth in Western Australia's Gascoyne region. With a population of around 909 residents spread across less than 2 square kilometres, it forms part of the broader Carnarvon community within the Shire of Carnarvon. The locality is characterised by low-density housing with a modest social housing component, set against the flat, red-earth landscape of the mid-west coast.
Hannans WA 6430
Hannans is a residential suburb within the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Western Australia's Goldfields region, situated at an elevation of 405 metres and approximately 4 kilometres northeast of the Kalgoorlie CBD. Named after Paddy Hannan, the Irish prospector who discovered gold in the area in 1893, the suburb carries deep historical significance in Australia's gold rush story. With a 2021 Census population of 2,410 and a median household income of $2,756 per week — significantly above the national average — Hannans reflects the prosperity of Kalgoorlie's ongoing gold mining industry.
Narembeen WA 6369
A suburb in WA with a significant social housing presence.
Geraldton WA 6530
Geraldton is a major regional city on Western Australia's Mid West coast, approximately 420 kilometres north of Perth within the City of Greater Geraldton. With a population of 3,246 in the central urban locality, the broader Geraldton–Greenough urban area is home to more than 40,000 residents, making it one of WA's largest regional centres. The suburb has a median age of 47 and a median household income of $1,142 per week, reflecting a working-class and retiree demographic mix typical of coastal regional cities. Housing ranges from heritage federation homes in the older streets to more modern residential developments closer to the waterfront.
Busselton WA 6280
Busselton is a popular coastal city in Western Australia's South West region, located approximately 220 kilometres south of Perth on the shores of Geographe Bay. The broader Busselton area has a population exceeding 27,000, while the central suburb has around 1,840 residents with a notably older demographic (median age 56). Founded in 1832, it is one of the earliest settled towns in Western Australia and serves as the gateway to the Margaret River wine region.
Kulin WA 6365
A suburb in WA with a significant social housing presence.
Kojonup WA 6395
Kojonup is a regional agricultural town and the administrative centre of the Shire of Kojonup, located approximately 250 kilometres south-south-east of Perth and 172 kilometres north of Albany in Western Australia's Great Southern region. With a population of 1,157 at the 2021 Census, the town serves as a key service hub for surrounding farming communities across its 351-square-kilometre locality at an elevation of 347 metres. The median age of 46 and household income of $1,273 per week reflect a settled farming community with a strong agricultural tradition spanning generations.
Manjimup WA 6258
Manjimup is a regional town in Western Australia's South West district, situated approximately 300 kilometres south of Perth within the Shire of Manjimup. Set at an elevation of 281 metres on the Darling Plateau, the town serves as the administrative and commercial centre for a productive agricultural and forestry region. With a population of around 4,279 and a median age of 42, the community reflects the town's long-established role as a hub for timber, apple growing, viticulture, and — more recently — truffle farming.
St James WA 6102
St James is a compact, multicultural suburb within the City of Canning in Perth's inner southern corridor, located approximately 5 kilometres south-east of the CBD. With a population of around 4,894 and a median age of just 32, the suburb has one of the younger demographic profiles in the area, driven in part by its proximity to Curtin University and a well-established international student and young professional community. Nearly half of all residents were born overseas, with strong Indian, Malaysian, Chinese, and Nepalese communities contributing to the suburb's vibrant cultural diversity.
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.
Merredin WA 6415
Merredin is a key Wheatbelt town in central Western Australia, about 250 km east of Perth on the Great Eastern Highway corridor. The 2021 population in the dataset is 2,604, and the town functions as a major regional service centre for surrounding farming districts. Its history is tied to rail, grain logistics and the inland route between Perth and the Goldfields. Merredin has a practical country-town character with broad civic, education and health facilities for a regional population.
Narrogin WA 6312
Narrogin is the main service centre of Western Australia's Wheatbelt region, situated approximately 190 kilometres south-east of Perth within the Narrogin Shire. With a population of 3,927 and a median age of 43, it serves as an administrative, commercial, and agricultural hub for a wide rural catchment, surrounded by grain-growing and sheep-farming country on the WA plateau at an elevation of 365 metres. The suburb covers 13 square kilometres and has the relaxed, wide-street character typical of regional WA country towns.
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.
Katanning WA 6317
Katanning is a regional town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, situated 277 kilometres south-east of Perth on the Great Southern Highway. With a population of approximately 3,641 at the 2021 census, it serves as an important service hub for surrounding farming communities. The town was established in 1898 and takes its name from an Aboriginal word meaning "head meeting place" or "camping place", reflecting the area's long Indigenous history. Katanning is known for its cultural diversity, particularly its significant Muslim community associated with the local halal abattoir, making it one of the more multicultural regional towns in WA.
Lockridge WA 6054
Lockridge is an affordable, multicultural suburb located approximately 14 kilometres north-east of the Perth CBD within the City of Swan. Home to around 3,322 residents, the suburb has a notably diverse population with significant communities of English, Australian, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Chinese ancestry, as well as one of the higher proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents in the Greater Perth area. The median household income of $1,206 per week sits below the Perth metropolitan average, reflecting the suburb's status as an accessible entry point into the property market.
Centennial Park WA 6330
Centennial Park is an inner suburb of Albany, Western Australia, located approximately 2 kilometres north of the Albany CBD within the City of Albany local government area. With a population of 689 at the 2021 Census, the suburb occupies a compact area of around 2 square kilometres. It contains a mix of light industrial land and residential pockets, and is bounded by Albany Highway to the west, making it a well-connected location near the heart of the Great Southern's largest city.
Dalwallinu WA 6609
Dalwallinu is a Wheatbelt service town in Western Australia, situated approximately 280 kilometres north of Perth in the Shire of Dalwallinu. With a population of 826 residents spread across a vast locality of nearly 700 square kilometres, the town functions as the main commercial and administrative centre for the surrounding wheat, sheep, and canola farming region. The landscape is characteristic of the WA Wheatbelt — broad open plains with cleared agricultural land and patches of remnant native vegetation.
Moora WA 6510
Moora is a regional agricultural town in Western Australia's wheat belt, located approximately 170 kilometres north of Perth via the Great Northern Highway within the Shire of Moora. With a population of 1,755 at the 2021 Census and an area of around 361 square kilometres, it serves as the main service centre for the surrounding farming district. The community is predominantly Australian and Anglo-Celtic in heritage, with a significant Indigenous population of around 16 per cent of residents. Median household income of $1,371 per week reflects the area's mixed economy of farming, local services, and government employment, with affordable housing costs — median mortgage of $1,016 per month and median rent of $230 per week.
Usher WA 6230
Usher is a residential suburb in the southern part of Bunbury, Western Australia's third-largest city, located approximately 175 kilometres south of Perth. Covering just under 4 square kilometres, the suburb sits within the City of Bunbury and is part of the broader Bunbury South urban area. With a population of 2,137 and a median age of 39, Usher is a well-established community of families and working-age residents, with a mix of owner-occupiers and renters attracted by the suburb's relative affordability.
East Carnarvon WA 6701
East Carnarvon is a residential locality forming part of the Carnarvon townsite in the Shire of Carnarvon, situated approximately 900 kilometres north of Perth on Western Australia's Indian Ocean coast at the mouth of the Gascoyne River. With a population of 798 within its locality boundaries, East Carnarvon is part of the broader Carnarvon community of around 4,900 people. The suburb sits on the eastern fringe of town and has a mix of housing types including a notable proportion of state housing, reflecting the town's diverse socio-economic profile.
Kellerberrin WA 6410
Kellerberrin is a historic agricultural town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, situated 205 kilometres east of Perth on the Great Eastern Highway within the Shire of Kellerberrin. Established as a townsite in 1901, the town covers an expansive 305 square kilometres at an elevation of 254 metres and recorded a 2021 Census population of 877 residents. It is a key service centre for surrounding farming communities, with an economy centred on broad-acre grain and livestock agriculture.
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.
Mandurah WA 6210
Mandurah is Western Australia's second-largest city, located 72 kilometres south of Perth along the beautiful Peel-Harvey Estuary. With a rapidly growing population of over 90,000, the city has transformed from a small fishing town into a major coastal centre. Mandurah is renowned for its stunning waterways, pristine beaches, and Mediterranean climate, making it one of Australia's premier lifestyle destinations.
North Beach WA 6020
North Beach is a coastal suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 16 kilometres north-west of the Perth CBD in the City of Stirling local government area. With a population of around 3,689, it is one of Perth's established northern beach suburbs, bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west and developed residential streets to the east. The suburb takes its name from its historic status as the northernmost of Perth's beaches at the time of early European settlement.
Northam WA 6401
Northam is a historic town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, situated at the confluence of the Avon and Mortlock Rivers approximately 97 kilometres northeast of Perth. With a population of around 6,700 residents, it is the largest town and regional centre of the Avon Valley. Founded in 1833, Northam has a rich colonial heritage and serves as a gateway to the eastern Wheatbelt. The town covers 26.8 square kilometres at an elevation of 170 metres.
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.
Walpole WA 6398
A suburb in WA with a significant social housing presence.
Belmont WA 6104
Belmont is an inner-eastern suburb of Perth, located just 6 kilometres from the CBD along the Great Eastern Highway corridor. With a population of around 6,800, it is one of Perth's more established suburbs with a rich multicultural character. The suburb features a mix of post-war homes, modern apartments, and light commercial areas. Its proximity to Perth Airport and the Swan River makes it a convenient and well-positioned residential area.
Carlisle WA 6101
Carlisle is a vibrant inner-southern suburb of Perth, located just 6 km from the CBD within the Town of Victoria Park. With a population of approximately 6,700 residents, this well-established suburb features a mix of charming older character homes alongside modern developments. The area enjoys a diverse, multicultural community with a median age slightly below the Perth average.
Hamilton Hill WA 6163
Hamilton Hill is an established suburb 18 kilometres southwest of Perth's CBD in the City of Cockburn. The suburb offers affordable housing with access to South Beach and Fremantle's amenities. Industrial heritage is slowly giving way to residential character.
Spalding WA 6530
Spalding is a residential suburb of Geraldton, the regional capital of Western Australia's Mid West coast, located within the City of Greater Geraldton approximately 424 kilometres north of Perth. Covering 4.45 square kilometres at an elevation of 19 metres, Spalding is home to 1,992 residents with a median age of 40 and one of the most affordable housing markets in the region — median weekly rent is around $220 and median household income of $1,061 per week is below the national average. The suburb has a notably diverse community, with approximately one in five residents identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Nickol WA 6714
Nickol is a residential suburb within the City of Karratha in Western Australia's Pilbara region, situated approximately 1,500 kilometres north of Perth. With a population of 4,938 and a median age of 31, it is a young, active community shaped largely by the region's significant resources and energy industries. Median household income exceeds $3,700 per week — among the highest in the nation — driven by the skilled and trades workforce employed in the nearby oil, gas, and mining sectors.
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.
Brookton WA 6306
Brookton is a historic agricultural town in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region, located approximately 138 kilometres south-east of Perth via the Brookton Highway. The town serves as the seat of government for the Shire of Brookton and covers a vast local government area of around 581 square kilometres. With a 2021 Census population of 732, Brookton is a small but tight-knit rural community with deep roots in wheat farming and sheep grazing that stretch back to the 1840s, when European settlers first moved into the district.
Fremantle WA 6160
Fremantle is a historic port city located 19 kilometres southwest of Perth CBD at the mouth of the Swan River. Known affectionately as 'Freo', this vibrant city has a population of around 9,250 and serves as Perth's main harbour. The area holds deep significance for the Whadjuk Noongar people (Walyalup) and features convict-era architecture including the World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison, built by convicts transported from 1850.
Balga WA 6061
Balga is a diverse suburb of nearly 14,000 residents in Perth's northern corridor, 11 kilometres from the CBD in the City of Stirling. The suburb developed in the 1970s and offers affordable housing. While lacking rail, buses connect to the Stirling train station and city.
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.
Kalgoorlie WA 6430
Kalgoorlie is the central urban suburb of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder City local government area, located 595 kilometres east of Perth in Western Australia's Goldfields region at an elevation of 372 metres. With a population of 3,711 and a median personal income of $1,175 per week — significantly above the national average — the suburb reflects the economic strength of the region's gold and nickel mining industries. The community is notably diverse, with substantial Filipino, Aboriginal, and New Zealand-born populations contributing to a multicultural character uncommon in regional Australia.
📊 Methodology
Rankings are based on the proportion of dwellings classified as social housing (state housing authority + community housing provider) in the ABS Census 2021, Table G37 — Tenure Type by Dwelling Structure. Only suburbs in WA with at least 100 occupied private dwellings were included to ensure statistical reliability.