It is built on a section of flat sandy coastal plain that was originally covered with open Banksia woodland and stands of paperbark trees marking the edges of shallow seasonal swamps.

[3] At the 2001 Australian census, Willetton had a mostly average-income population of 17,571 people living in 6,300 dwellings, nearly all of which are detached houses on single lots.

Willetton contains the Southlands Boulevarde shopping centre, with two levels and businesses including two supermarkets, Hoyts cinemas and a food court.

A light industrial area exists in the north of the suburb near Leach Highway and High Road, containing a Bunnings,[4] pool shops and various trades.

Willetton is situated between two major east-west routes – Leach Highway (west to the Bull Creek railway station, Kwinana Freeway to Perth's central business district and Fremantle; east to Cannington and Perth Airport) and South Street (west to Murdoch railway station, Murdoch University and Fremantle; east to Canning Vale and Armadale).

[23] The suburb is located within the federal Division of Tangney, the state seat of Riverton and the Beeliar ward of the City of Canning.