Albany
With a median age of 55, Albany runs 15 years above the national figure, making it one of WA's most distinctly older-demographic suburbs. The suburb sits at 1,403 residents in a 1.96 km2 footprint, producing a density of 715 people per km2. Household income sits in the 35th percentile nationally, below the state and national median, yet 47.3% of households own their homes outright, a proportion that reflects long-term ownership rather than recent leveraged buying. University qualifications reach 42.2%, which is 12.1 points above the national figure, pointing to a well-educated but modestly salaried professional base anchored by the healthcare and education sectors.
Population
1,403
Median Age
55.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,363/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$420K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $420,000 positions Albany below the WA state median for comparable coastal cities, offering relative affordability for buyers relocating from Perth or the eastern states. Separate houses dominate at 87.8% of dwellings, which is high even by WA standards, with semi-detached homes at 11.7% and apartments at just 0.5%. The three-bedroom configuration leads at 44.6% of dwellings, with four-plus-bedroom homes at 27.5%, suggesting strong family and retiree stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, and mortgage-to-income sits at 28.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold compared to many eastern-seaboard markets. Rent-to-income at 23.8% also stays comfortable, indicating purchase and rental costs are broadly in balance with local incomes.
For Buyers
The median house price of $420,000 positions Albany below the WA state median for comparable coastal cities, offering relative affordability for buyers relocating from Perth or the eastern states. Separate houses dominate at 87.8% of dwellings, which is high even by WA standards, with semi-detached homes at 11.7% and apartments at just 0.5%. The three-bedroom configuration leads at 44.6% of dwellings, with four-plus-bedroom homes at 27.5%, suggesting strong family and retiree stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, and mortgage-to-income sits at 28.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold compared to many eastern-seaboard markets. Rent-to-income at 23.8% also stays comfortable, indicating purchase and rental costs are broadly in balance with local incomes.
For Investors
Albany presents a mixed picture for investors. The 29% renter share provides a steady tenant base, but the 22.2% vacancy rate is notably high and points to excess supply relative to current demand. Weekly rent of $325 against a $420,000 median implies a gross yield around 4%, which is stronger than many capital-city markets. Rent growth of 47.1% over the decade is above most comparable regional centres, driven partly by constrained new supply in a small geographic footprint of 1.96 km2. Net overseas migration adds 23 residents a year while internal migration adds a further 8, providing modest but balanced demand. With zero development applications recorded in the past 12 months, near-term oversupply from new construction is not a risk.
Schools in Albany iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Parklands School
PP-6 · 112 students
Australian Christian College - Southlands
PP-12 · 987 students
Albany Primary School
K-6 · 396 students
St Joseph's College
PP-12 · 675 students
Bethel Christian School
PP-12 · 318 students
Demographics
Albany's median age of 55 is 15 years above the national figure, and the aging trajectory is confirmed by a 4.8-point rise in the senior share over the decade. The working-age share fell 2.6 points over the same period, a demographic shift that compresses the local labour force. Overseas-born residents reach 31.3%, which is 9.7 points above the national figure, with English (690 residents), Scottish (174) and Irish (153) as the top ancestries, indicating a predominantly Anglo-European migrant background rather than a recent international cohort. University qualifications at 42.2% run 12.1 points above national, a notable credential gap for a suburb in the 35th household income percentile, likely reflecting public-sector and health professionals who earn moderately despite strong qualifications. Average household size of 2.0 is 0.5 below national, consistent with couples-without-children at 49% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.8%
Houses
11.7%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 87.8% of Albany's 1,403-person suburb, well above average for WA regional centres, with semi-detached homes covering 11.7% and apartments less than 1%. Outright owners lead at 47.3%, mortgage holders at 23.7% and renters at 29%, a tenure split that signals a mature, settled ownership base rather than a churn of new purchasers. The outright-ownership rate is particularly high compared to the national average, driven by an older resident cohort with paid-off properties. Three-bedroom dwellings at 44.6% and four-plus-bedroom at 27.5% make up nearly 72% of stock, confirming a family and retiree-oriented housing mix. The median house price of $420,000 with monthly repayments of $1,700 keeps entry costs manageable relative to income at the 35th household income percentile.
Mortgage / mo
$1,700
Rent / wk
$325
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$883
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
22.2%
Unoccupied
167
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
49.0%
Couples, no children
836
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates Albany's employment base at 30.1% of workers (147 employed), nearly double the next sector, Education at 14.1% (69 workers). Professional and Technical services follow at 8.6%, with Hospitality and Construction each around 6-7%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 206 workers, followed by Managers at 114, reflecting a knowledge-economy tilt despite incomes sitting below the national median. Unemployment sits at 3.9% and the full-time employment rate reaches 56.1%, although the participation rate of 51.6% is moderate because 496 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the high proportion of retirees in a suburb with a 55-year median age. SEIFA scores place the suburb in decile 4 on both IRSD and IRSAD, in the lower half nationally, which aligns with incomes in the 35th percentile.
Unemployment
2.1%
Labour Force
10,587
Unemployed
225
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.1%
Part-time
40.0%
Participation
51.6%
Employed
624
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.2%
Postgraduate
10.4%
Born Overseas
31.3%
Dwellings
588
Transport to Work
Albany relies heavily on private cars, with 81.2% of residents driving to work, above the national average, and public transport usage at just 1%, reflecting the limited bus network typical of regional WA cities. Walking and cycling account for 12.9% of commutes, relatively high for a regional centre, suggesting the compact 1.96 km2 footprint makes active transport viable for some residents. The suburb scores decile 4 on IRSAD and decile 3 on IER, placing it in the lower-middle tier nationally on economic resources. Volunteering runs at 25.2%, above the national average, which is notable for a suburb where 4.6% of residents need daily assistance, pointing to a community actively engaged in supporting its aging population. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions elsewhere in the Albany local government area.
Drive
81.2%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
12.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.47%/yr
(+59 people/yr)
EstablishedAlbany's population grew 23.7% over the past decade, significantly above the national average for established suburbs, and the current trajectory adds approximately 59 residents per year at 1.47% annual growth. Historical counts show 3,924 in 2023, rising to 4,021 by 2025, with medium forecasts projecting 4,387 by 2031. Migration is balanced, with 23 overseas arrivals and 8 internal arrivals annually, rather than depending on a single driver. The gentrification score sits at 53, classified as Active gentrification, yet the separate gentrification stage model flags it as not yet confirmed, with population growth of 30% since 2011 as the primary signal. Affordability has worsened slightly from 31.7% in 2011 to 33.9% in 2021, though it remains below the 30% stress threshold, meaning the suburb has absorbed growth without significant affordability deterioration.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+23
Net Internal / yr
+8
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +30% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Albany compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Albany a good suburb to live in?
Albany offers a compact, well-educated community with 42.2% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 12.1 points above the national figure. Household income sits in the 35th percentile nationally, so living costs are modest relative to larger cities. A 25.2% volunteering rate and 47.3% outright homeownership signal a stable, established resident base.
What is the median house price in Albany?
The median house price is $420,000 (estimated from 2025 rental data). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,700, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.8%, just below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $325, reflecting a gross rental yield of around 4%.
What schools are in Albany?
No schools are recorded within the Albany suburb boundary in this dataset. Albany, WA is a regional city and families typically access schools across the broader Albany local government area. The suburb's university qualification rate of 42.2% is 12.1 points above the national figure, reflecting strong educational attainment in the population.
Is Albany safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for this suburb in the current dataset. As indirect indicators, Albany scores decile 4 on the IRSAD disadvantage index, placing it in the lower-middle tier nationally. The volunteering rate of 25.2% and relatively stable population, with 76.2% of residents remaining over 5 years, suggest a settled community environment.
Is Albany good for property investment?
Albany offers a gross rental yield near 4%, stronger than most capital-city markets, and rent grew 47.1% over the decade. However, the 22.2% vacancy rate is high and warrants caution. Annual population growth of 1.47% and zero new development applications in the past 12 months suggest steady demand without near-term supply pressure.
How is Albany's population changing?
The population grew 23.7% over the past decade and currently adds about 59 residents per year at 1.47% annual growth. Historical counts show 3,924 in 2023 rising to 4,021 in 2025. Medium forecasts project 4,387 residents by 2031. Migration is balanced, with 23 overseas arrivals and 8 internal arrivals annually.
What languages are spoken in Albany?
About 31.3% of Albany residents were born overseas, which is 9.7 points above the national figure. The dominant ancestries are English (690 residents), Scottish (174) and Irish (153), indicating a predominantly Anglo-European background rather than a large non-English-speaking population. No significant non-English language groups are separately recorded in the dataset.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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