Augusta
With a median age of 62, Augusta sits 22 years above the national figure, making it one of the most senior-skewed coastal towns in Western Australia. The 42.6% vacancy rate is the defining structural feature: more than two in five dwellings sit empty on census night, reflecting a holiday and seasonal property base rather than a distressed market. The median house price of $372,000 is well below the WA state median, yet household income falls in the 6.8th percentile nationally because most residents are retirees living off super and savings rather than wages. Population in the broader area grew 48.6% over the past decade, driven by internal migration averaging 256 net arrivals per year.
Population
1,463
Median Age
62.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$869/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$372K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $372,000, the median house price is accessible compared to the WA state median and sits well below the national median for coastal towns. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 86.4%, with 49.6% three-bedroom and 23.8% four-plus bedroom dwellings, giving buyers genuine family-sized options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,551, but mortgage-to-income at 41.2% is above the 30% stress threshold because local incomes are retirement-level rather than working-age wages. Outright owners account for 57.4% of households, far higher than the national average, confirming that most property here is debt-free and held long-term rather than financed by recent buyers.
For Buyers
At $372,000, the median house price is accessible compared to the WA state median and sits well below the national median for coastal towns. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 86.4%, with 49.6% three-bedroom and 23.8% four-plus bedroom dwellings, giving buyers genuine family-sized options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,551, but mortgage-to-income at 41.2% is above the 30% stress threshold because local incomes are retirement-level rather than working-age wages. Outright owners account for 57.4% of households, far higher than the national average, confirming that most property here is debt-free and held long-term rather than financed by recent buyers.
For Investors
The 42.6% vacancy rate is an immediate flag for yield-focused buyers: it reflects a holiday rental and seasonal occupancy pattern, so standard long-term tenancy assumptions do not apply. Weekly rent of $280 against a $372,000 median produces a gross yield near 3.9% at full occupancy, but effective yield contracts sharply under seasonal hollowness. The renter share of 22.5% is below the national average, confirming that permanent tenants are a minority. Annual net internal migration of 256 people into the broader area supports medium-term demand, and the 10-year population growth of 48.6% shows the region is attracting tree-changers and sea-changers. Investors should underwrite with at least a 50% occupancy assumption and a holiday letting strategy.
Schools in Augusta iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Augusta Primary School
K-6 · 110 students
Demographics
The median age of 62 is 22 years above the national figure, the clearest single indicator of Augusta's character as a retirement and lifestyle destination. The senior share grew 3.8 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 4.2 points, compressing the labour force participation rate to 35.6%. Overseas-born residents at 22.7% sit 1.1 points above the national figure. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (796), Scottish (187), Irish (137) and German (74) lead the count. University qualifications at 19.3% are 10.8 points below the national figure, consistent with a trade and services workforce serving a retiree population. Average household size is 1.9, below the national average, because couples-without-children households make up 55.8% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.4%
Houses
7.6%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock in Augusta is dominated by detached dwellings at 86.4% separate houses, with only 7.6% semi-detached and 0.6% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 49.6% and four-plus bedrooms 23.8%, giving a spacious median footprint compared to urban markets. Ownership outright at 57.4% is well above the national average, signalling a settled, low-debt ownership base. Only 20.2% carry a mortgage, among the lowest rates for any suburb. Rent stress sits at 32.2% of gross income, above the 30% threshold, which matters even for the 22.5% renter cohort given the low wage base. The $372,000 median is affordable in nominal terms but the mortgage stress ratio of 41.2% shows that the local income base does not comfortably support new purchase debt.
Mortgage / mo
$1,551
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$541
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
42.6%
Unoccupied
487
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.2% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
41.2% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
55.8%
Couples, no children
921
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 15.1% of workers, followed closely by Construction at 12.5%, Hospitality at 12.2% and Retail at 11.5%, with Education at 8.3%. This mix reflects a service economy supporting an older resident population plus seasonal visitors. The unemployment rate is low at 2.8%, but the participation rate of 35.6% is far below the national average because 702 residents are not in the labour force, reflecting the dominant retiree cohort. Household income sits in the 6.8th percentile nationally, a direct consequence of retirement incomes replacing working wages. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 6 and IEO decile of 5 place Augusta near the national median on relative disadvantage and education-occupation advantage, rather than at either extreme.
Unemployment
13.6%
Labour Force
6,685
Unemployed
910
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
44.0%
Part-time
53.2%
Participation
35.6%
Employed
457
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.3%
Postgraduate
4.8%
Born Overseas
22.7%
Dwellings
645
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 84.2% of residents driving to work, with public transport at 1.7%, typical for a regional coastal town without rail or frequent bus connections. Walking and cycling reaches 6.7%, relatively high for a WA town and consistent with a compact town centre near the waterfront. The IRSAD decile of 5 places Augusta at the national median for socioeconomic advantage and disadvantage overall. Need for daily assistance affects 8.9% of residents (120 people), above the rate expected for the population size, because the median age of 62 means age-related care needs are already elevated. Volunteering is strong at 34.3%, well above the national average, which is a common pattern in retirement-oriented coastal communities where residents have time and civic engagement.
Drive
84.2%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
6.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.52%/yr
(+204 people/yr)
EstablishedThe broader Augusta area grew 48.6% over 10 years and current projections show annual growth of 2.52%, adding roughly 204 people per year. Medium-scenario forecasts put the regional population at 8,946 by 2031, up from 8,090 in 2025. The primary driver is internal migration at an average net inflow of 256 people annually, likely retirees and semi-retirees from Perth and interstate. Overseas migration adds a further 52 per year. The gentrification score of 40 classifies the suburb as Active, with signals including accelerating population gains from 21% to 46% occupancy shift and the sustained internal migration inflow. Rent grew 42.9% over the measurement period, outpacing real income growth of 6.9%, so affordability has worsened as demand from incomers has lifted rents faster than local wages.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+52
Net Internal / yr
+256
Gentrification Signal
Active
Net internal migration +256/yr, Accelerating: 21% → 46%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Augusta compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Augusta a good suburb to live in?
Augusta suits retirees and sea-changers well. The median age is 62, the volunteering rate is 34.3% and the town's location in the lower South West of WA provides a quiet coastal lifestyle. The IRSAD decile of 5 places it near the national median on socioeconomic advantage. Car dependency is high at 84.2%, so residents without vehicles face limited options.
What is the median house price in Augusta?
The median house price in Augusta is $372,000, well below the WA state median and accessible by coastal town standards. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,551. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 41.2% because local incomes are retirement-level, so buyers relying on local wages face stress even at this price point.
What schools are in Augusta?
No schools are recorded inside the Augusta suburb boundary in this dataset. Families with school-age children typically travel to Margaret River, approximately 45 km north. University qualifications locally are 19.3%, which is 10.8 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a non-student, retiree-dominant population.
Is Augusta safe?
Crime statistics at the suburb level are not available in this dataset for Augusta. As a contextual indicator, the IRSD decile of 6 places the suburb slightly above the national median on relative disadvantage, and the volunteering rate of 34.3% suggests strong community cohesion, both factors associated with lower crime environments.
Is Augusta good for property investment?
Augusta has mixed investment signals. The 42.6% vacancy rate reflects seasonal and holiday occupancy, requiring a holiday letting strategy rather than standard long-term tenancy. The 10-year population growth of 48.6% and annual net migration of 256 people support long-run demand. Gross yield near 3.9% at full occupancy is moderate, but effective yield drops significantly under seasonal vacancy.
How is Augusta's population changing?
The broader Augusta area grew 48.6% over the past decade and is projected to grow 2.52% annually, reaching an estimated 8,946 people by 2031 under medium-scenario forecasts. Internal migration drives this at a net 256 arrivals per year, with overseas migration adding 52 more. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 3.8 points and the working-age share down 4.2 points over the decade.
What is the vacancy rate in Augusta?
Augusta has a vacancy rate of 42.6%, meaning more than 2 in 5 dwellings were unoccupied on census night. This is characteristic of a holiday and seasonal coastal market rather than a sign of weak demand. Investors should model occupancy carefully, as weekly rent of $280 only applies when a tenancy is in place.
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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