Augusta
At 62, Augusta's median age is 22 years above the national figure, making its aging resident base the defining local fact. The town has 1,463 residents across 29.94 square kilometres, or 48.9 people per square kilometre, while 42.6% of dwellings are vacant. That combination points to a small, seasonal market rather than a tightly occupied housing system. Compared with the larger service centre of Margaret River, Augusta feels quieter and more retirement-oriented, with 54.3% of homes owned outright and household income at the 6.8th percentile nationally. Internal migration and a 2.52% annual growth trend add momentum, but affordability and vacancy remain important filters.
Local council: Augusta Margaret River
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
8
Augusta suits buyers who value detached housing, a smaller community and lower weekly rent, but the affordability picture needs careful checking. Separate houses make up 86.4% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the largest group at 49.6%; apartments account for only 0.6%. Weekly rent is $280, while the recorded mortgage repayment is $1,551 a month. Compared with outright owners, households still carrying a mortgage face more exposure because mortgage costs equal 41.2% of household income, while rent costs equal 32.2%. Outright ownership is already high at 54.3%, but only 19.1% are mortgaged, so buyers should test repayments against modest local incomes and seasonal vacancy.
For Buyers
Augusta suits buyers who value detached housing, a smaller community and lower weekly rent, but the affordability picture needs careful checking. Separate houses make up 86.4% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes the largest group at 49.6%; apartments account for only 0.6%. Weekly rent is $280, while the recorded mortgage repayment is $1,551 a month. Compared with outright owners, households still carrying a mortgage face more exposure because mortgage costs equal 41.2% of household income, while rent costs equal 32.2%. Outright ownership is already high at 54.3%, but only 19.1% are mortgaged, so buyers should test repayments against modest local incomes and seasonal vacancy.
For Investors
Investment conditions are mixed. Rent is $280 a week and 21.2% of households rent, providing an established tenant base, but the 42.6% vacancy rate is unusually high compared with a tightly supplied rental market and can reflect seasonal or intermittent occupancy. Development activity was 0 in the past 12 months, limiting evidence of new competing stock. The trend is 2.52% annually and is driven by internal migration, which may support demand over time. Yet affordability worsened from 39.2% in 2011 to 42.6% in 2021, while rent growth reached 42.9%. Investors should model vacancy, maintenance and income sensitivity rather than rely on headline growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
8
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Augusta
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
AUGUSTA PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Augusta has an older and smaller-household profile than Australia overall. Median age is 62, or 22 years above the national figure, while the average household size is 1.9, which is 0.6 below the national level. University attainment is 19.3%, 10.8 percentage points below the national comparison, and 22.7% of residents were born overseas, only 1.1 points above it. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry counts are 796, 187 and 137 respectively, while 708 residents report no religion and 598 identify with Christianity. A 76.3% stay rate and 34.3% volunteering rate suggest continuity and local participation, although the age profile helps explain why 702 people are outside the labour force.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.4%
Houses
7.6%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Augusta's housing stock is strongly detached and owner-oriented. Separate houses account for 86.4% of dwellings, compared with 0.6% apartments and 7.6% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom properties dominate at 49.6%, followed by four or more bedrooms at 23.8%, so the built form is more family-house based than apartment based even though average households contain only 1.9 people. Outright ownership is 54.3%, versus 19.1% with a mortgage and 21.2% renting. The $280 weekly rent is relatively modest in isolation, but rent costs reach 32.2% of household income, while mortgage costs reach 41.2%, showing why affordability is worsening compared with 2011. High vacancy at 42.6% adds a seasonal dimension.
Mortgage / mo
$1,551
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$280
Census 2021
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
23.5%
Couples with children
66.8%
Couples, no children
10.1%
Single parent
395
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Augusta's industry mix at 15.1% or 47 workers, followed by construction at 12.5% and 39, hospitality at 12.2% and 38, retail at 11.5% and 36, and education at 8.3% and 26. Trades, managers and labourers lead occupations at 89, 87 and 78 people. Unemployment is 2.5%, but participation is only 39.1% because 702 residents are outside the labour force, consistent with a median age of 62. Household income is at the 6.8th percentile, below national levels. SEIFA deciles are 5 for education and occupation, 7 for economic resources, 6 for disadvantage and 5 for advantage and disadvantage. Compared with a younger service economy, low joblessness here can coexist with lower incomes because more residents are retired or not seeking work.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
517
Unemployed
13
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
39.9%
Part-time
50.8%
Participation
39.1%
Employed
504
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.3%
Postgraduate
4.8%
Born Overseas
22.7%
Dwellings
645
Transport to Work
Augusta is best suited to residents comfortable with car-based daily travel and a slower, low-density setting. Car drivers account for 72.3% of journeys, compared with 1.4% using public transport and 5.7% walking or cycling; working from home is 14.1%. Augusta Primary School is the local government primary option, giving families 1 nearby school setting to investigate, while enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. Low density helps explain why services may require more planning. The suburb's IRSAD decile is 5, midway rather than among the most advantaged locations, and 8.9% of residents need assistance with core activities. Compared with larger regional centres, Augusta has fewer transport options across 29.94 square kilometres and 1,463 residents. Current local police advice remains important when assessing safety.
Drive
72.3%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
5.7%
Work from Home
14.1%
Growth Outlook
Augusta's outlook combines strong movement with an aging trajectory. The annual trend is 2.52%, and internal migration is the primary driver, so demand is being added through people moving within Australia rather than a clearly younger local cycle. Population change across the wider area is 48.6% over 10 years, while the shift model labels the trajectory Aging. The senior share rose 3.8 percentage points and the working share fell 4.2 points, which may increase demand for healthcare and services. Gentrification is rated Active with a score of 40, while affordability worsened from 39.2% to 42.6%. Compared with a stable rural market, Augusta has more visible growth pressure, but the 42.6% vacancy rate means headline expansion may not translate evenly into occupied homes.
Population trend: Augusta Margaret River council area
Augusta sits in the Augusta Margaret River council area. These are the council area's residents, not Augusta's.
Residents 2025
20,170
Growth, 5 yr average
+3.7%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+3.5%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 can suit people seeking a quiet coastal town, detached housing and a high ownership rate: 54.3% of homes are owned outright. The trade-off is an older profile, with a median age of 62, car dependence at 72.3% and a 42.6% vacancy rate that can make the town feel seasonal compared with larger regional centres.
What is the median house price in Augusta?
No current median house price is available for Augusta. Buyers can benchmark individual properties using the $280 weekly rent, $1,551 monthly mortgage repayment, 86.4% separate-house share and 42.6% vacancy rate, then compare listings by land, condition and location because seasonal demand can make a single figure less representative.
What schools are in Augusta?
Augusta Primary School is the 1 identified local school, and it is a government primary school. Families should check the exact enrolment zone and current intake requirements before signing, then compare access with schools in nearby regional centres. The suburb has 1,463 residents, and secondary or specialist education may require travel beyond Augusta.
Is Augusta safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available for Augusta, so use current police updates and local advice rather than assuming a small population guarantees lower risk. The town has 1,463 residents and a density of 48.9 people per square kilometre, but safety can vary by street, season and property occupancy compared with larger centres.
Is Augusta good for property investment?
Augusta may suit a high-risk, long-hold strategy rather than a vacancy-insensitive purchase. Rent is $280 a week, but vacancy is 42.6% and only 21.2% of households rent. Growth is trending at 2.52% annually, driven by internal migration, while development activity was 0 over the past 12 months. Compared with a tighter rental market, cash-flow modelling should allow for empty periods and seasonal demand.
How is Augusta's population changing?
Augusta's population is 1,463 today, with the wider area's 10-year population change at 48.6%. The annual growth trend is 2.52% and internal migration is the primary driver. At the same time, the trajectory is labelled Aging: the senior share rose 3.8 percentage points and the working share fell 4.2 points. Compared with a younger growth corridor, Augusta is expanding while becoming older.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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