WA 6530 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Bluff Point

With a median age of 52, Bluff Point sits 12 years above the national figure, making it one of the more distinctly older residential pockets in the Geraldton area. The population of 1,381 lives across just 1.47 square kilometres, yielding a density of 941 residents per km2. Household income lands in the 35th percentile nationally, well below the national median, yet housing costs are comparably modest, with a median house price around $378,000 and rent-to-income at 19.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. Owner-occupiers dominate: 43.8% own their homes outright, double the share carrying mortgages at 21.9%, a profile consistent with long-term, debt-free residents rather than active buyers.

Bluff Point urban fabric map

Population

1,381

Median Age

52.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,359/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

0

Median House

$378K

Estimated from rent (2025)

1.47 km²· 941.2 people/km²· Family income $2,125/wk

The median house price in Bluff Point is estimated at $378,000, affordable compared to most WA metropolitan and coastal markets. Separate houses make up 70.3% of the stock, with semi-detached dwellings at 27.3% and apartments at a negligible 2.4%, giving buyers a predominantly detached market with limited apartment supply. Three-bedroom homes account for 45% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes a further 33.6%, so larger family-sized homes are the norm. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 29.5%, just below the conventional 30% stress threshold. The high outright ownership rate of 43.8% relative to mortgage holders at 21.9% indicates an established, low-turnover ownership base, which limits resale supply.

For Buyers

The median house price in Bluff Point is estimated at $378,000, affordable compared to most WA metropolitan and coastal markets. Separate houses make up 70.3% of the stock, with semi-detached dwellings at 27.3% and apartments at a negligible 2.4%, giving buyers a predominantly detached market with limited apartment supply. Three-bedroom homes account for 45% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes a further 33.6%, so larger family-sized homes are the norm. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 29.5%, just below the conventional 30% stress threshold. The high outright ownership rate of 43.8% relative to mortgage holders at 21.9% indicates an established, low-turnover ownership base, which limits resale supply.

For Investors

Bluff Point has a 34.3% renter share, providing a reasonable tenant pool at weekly rent of $260. However, the vacancy rate of 13.8% is notably high, signalling an oversupply relative to demand in this small suburb of 1,381 residents. Against the $378,000 median price, $260 weekly rent implies a gross yield near 3.6%, above many coastal WA markets but reflecting the affordability tier rather than strong demand. Development activity is minimal, with zero applications recorded in the past 12 months, pointing to a static supply environment. The suburb's population skews older, with a median age of 52 and a participation rate of 51.6%, which may constrain renter demand over time compared to younger, higher-turnover markets.

Schools in Bluff Point iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Meekatharra School Of The Air

ICSEA 975 Primary Government

K-6 · 61 students

Bluff Point Primary School

ICSEA 797 Primary Government

K-6 · 218 students

Demographics

The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure, placing Bluff Point firmly among the older-resident suburbs in WA. Overseas-born residents account for 20.2% of the population, slightly below the national average. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, with English (595 residents) the leading group, followed by Irish (167) and Scottish (127). Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, consistent with older couples and smaller family units. Couples without children make up 43.2% of families, the dominant household type. The volunteering rate of 23.3% is relatively high, and 12.6% of residents need daily assistance, reflecting the older age profile of this community.

Age Distribution

0-14
12.8%
15-24
8.8%
25-44
17.7%
45-64
27.6%
65+
33.6%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
4.6%
2 bed
16.8%
3 bed
45.0%
4+ bed
33.6%

Dwelling Structure

70.3%

Houses

27.3%

Townhouse

2.4%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 43.8% Mortgage 21.9% Rent 34.3%

Tenure is strongly skewed toward outright ownership: 43.8% own without a mortgage, while 21.9% are paying one off and 34.3% rent. The outright ownership share is well above what is typical nationally, a result of a long-settled, older population rather than recent buyer activity. Detached houses dominate at 70.3%, with semi-detached at 27.3%, giving a suburb where true apartment living is rare at just 2.4%. The bedroom distribution favours larger dwellings, with 45% having 3 bedrooms and 33.6% having 4 or more, above the average mix of many urban suburbs. Rent-to-income at 19.1% and mortgage-to-income at 29.5% both sit below stress thresholds, suggesting housing costs are relatively manageable at the suburb's income level.

Mortgage / mo

$1,733

Rent / wk

$260

HH Size

2.1

Personal Income / wk

$853

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

13.8%

Unoccupied

88

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

19.1%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

29.5%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
595
Irish
167
Scottish
127
Other
99
Ancestry NS
85
Italian
57

Household Composition

43.2%

Couples, no children

873

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare dominates local employment at 21.1% of workers (87 people), well above the share typical of smaller suburbs, followed by Education at 12.8% (53) and Public Administration at 9.9% (41). Construction accounts for 8.7% and Retail 7.7%, rounding out the top five. By occupation, Professionals lead with 136 workers, then Community and Personal Service at 101 and Labourers at 74. The full-time employment rate is 63.3%, and the unemployment rate is 4.8%. The participation rate of 51.6% is lower than national norms, partly because a significant share of residents are not in the labour force (403 people), consistent with the older median age of 52. Personal weekly income averages $853, placing the suburb in the 35th percentile nationally.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Full-time

63.3%

Part-time

31.9%

Participation

51.6%

Employed

592

Occupations

Professionals 136
Community/Personal 101
Labourers 74
Clerical/Admin 73
Managers 62
Sales 57
Machinery/Drivers 43

Top Industries

Healthcare 21.1%
Education 12.8%
Public Admin 9.9%
Construction 8.7%
Retail 7.7%

University

19.8%

Postgraduate

4.3%

Born Overseas

20.2%

Dwellings

553

Transport to Work

Bluff Point is almost entirely car-dependent: 88.6% of residents drive to work, compared to just 0.8% using public transport and 2.7% walking or cycling. This is higher car reliance than the national average, reflecting the suburb's regional WA location in the Geraldton area where public transport networks are limited. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families travel to nearby areas for schooling. Crime data is not available for this suburb. On affordability, rent-to-income at 19.1% is well below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 29.5% is also below that level, making day-to-day housing costs manageable relative to local incomes in the 35th percentile nationally.

Drive

88.6%

Public Transport

0.8%

Walk / Cycle

2.7%

Work from Home

N/A

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Bluff Point compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 25%
Household Income
Bottom 35%
Rent Level
Bottom 49%
Apartments
Bottom 39%
Renters
Top 22%
Uni Educated
Bottom 36%
Public Transport
Bottom 11%
Born Overseas
Top 29%
Density
Top 16%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bluff Point a good suburb to live in?

Bluff Point suits residents who prefer a quiet, established area with affordable housing. The median house price is around $378,000, well below most WA capital and coastal markets, and housing costs are manageable, with rent-to-income at 19.1%. The suburb has a settled feel: 74.8% of residents did not move in the year prior to census, and 43.8% own their homes outright. The main considerations are the high 13.8% vacancy rate and limited public transport, with 88.6% of residents driving to work.

What is the median house price in Bluff Point?

The median house price in Bluff Point is estimated at $378,000, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,733 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.5%. Weekly rent averages $260. Separate houses make up 70.3% of the stock, with 3-bedroom homes the most common type at 45% of dwellings.

What schools are in Bluff Point?

No schools are recorded within the Bluff Point suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the suburb travel to schools in neighbouring Geraldton-area suburbs. The local population has a university qualification rate of 19.8%, which is 10.3 percentage points below the national figure.

Is Bluff Point safe?

Detailed crime statistics are not available for Bluff Point in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, housing stress levels are low, with rent-to-income at 19.1% and mortgage-to-income at 29.5%, both below the 30% threshold. The suburb has a high proportion of long-term owner-occupiers: 43.8% own their homes outright and 74.8% of residents did not change address in the year prior to census.

Is Bluff Point good for property investment?

At a $378,000 median price and $260 weekly rent, gross yield is near 3.6%, above many coastal WA markets. However, the 13.8% vacancy rate is high and signals weaker demand relative to supply in this small suburb of 1,381 residents. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months. The older median age of 52 and 35th percentile household income suggest limited near-term capital growth pressure.

How is Bluff Point's population changing?

Bluff Point has a population of 1,381 across 1.47 square kilometres. The suburb shows low turnover, with 74.8% of residents remaining at the same address from the prior year. The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure, pointing to an aging demographic trajectory rather than growth driven by younger households or family formation. No forward population forecasts are available in this 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.

Explore Bluff Point on the Map

View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.

Open Interactive Map

More Suburbs in WA