Moving to Northam WA 6401
What the official numbers say about living in Northam — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $250 a week, against a median household income of $1,246 a week.
About 68% of homes are owner-occupied and 31% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Northam grew 2% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (6,580 → 6,679 people).
Around 65% of households are families, averaging 2.3 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Philippines; most spoken languages besides English: Tagalog, Filipino, Australian Indigenous.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Northam scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (88% of workers), while 5% work from home.
Nearest train station: Northam, 750 m north-east.
The Perth CBD is roughly 83 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 6 schools · 2 cafes & restaurants · 5 supermarkets · 5 parks — see them all on the Northam profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Saint Joseph’s School (Secondary Campus) 200 m · Northam Primary School 500 m · Saint Joseph’s School (Primary Campus) 750 m · Northam Senior High School 900 m · Avonvale Primary School 1.3 km · West Northam Primary School 1.5 km
Groceries: Boulevard Shopping Centre 100 m · Woolworths 150 m · Aldi 350 m · Coles 400 m · Spud Shed 450 m
Parks and reserves: Bernard Park 450 m · Apex Park 500 m · Enright Park 850 m · Morrell Park 1.1 km · Perina Park 1.5 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Northam, most often seen first: Twenty-eight Parrot · Eurasian Coot · Pacific Black Duck · Southern Willie Wagtail · Laughing Turtle-dove · Grey Teal.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Northam, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northam here | 6,679 | — | 2/10 | 7% |
| Toodyay | 1,362 | — | 2/10 | 20% |
| Bakers Hill | 1,276 | — | 4/10 | 22% |
| York | 2,393 | — | 2/10 | 12% |
| Wundowie | 1,372 | — | 2/10 | 28% |
| Goomalling | 508 | — | 2/10 | 3% |
| Chidlow | 1,821 | — | 6/10 | 63% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Northam — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Durack — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 6401 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Northam profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $250 a week, and about 31% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 2% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 6,580 people to 6,679. It sits about 83 km from the Perth CBD in a straight line, and Northam station is roughly 0.8 km away. Local government is Northam council, and the federal seat is Durack.
Weighing up alternatives?
Nearby guides: Toodyay · Bakers Hill · York · Wundowie · Goomalling · Chidlow.
Keep an eye on Northam
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