Busselton
Busselton's most distinctive feature is its older, small-household profile: the median age is 56, 16 years above the national figure, while average household size is 1.9, 0.6 below the national average. The 1,838 residents live in a detached-dominant market, with 70.9% separate houses and 39.8% renters, alongside a high 20.9% vacancy rate. Compared with nearby West Busselton and Geographe, central Busselton is positioned for convenient local access, although car use remains 77.6%. Healthcare leads employment at 20.1%, and population change across the wider area is 41.9% over 10 years.
Local council: Busselton
Population
1,838
Median Age
56.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$949/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Homebuyers are entering a market where detached homes dominate at 70.9%, followed by semi-detached dwellings at 17.0%, while apartments account for only 1.3%. The commonest format is a 3-bedroom home at 48.6%, but 32.1% of dwellings have 0 to 2 bedrooms, which may suit singles and couples. The mortgage benchmark is $1,635 monthly, while weekly rent is $320. Mortgage stress is 39.8% of household income, above rent stress at 33.7%, so repayment capacity needs careful testing. With no reliable suburb median house price, compare recent settled sales and holding costs with nearby West Busselton before making an offer.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are entering a market where detached homes dominate at 70.9%, followed by semi-detached dwellings at 17.0%, while apartments account for only 1.3%. The commonest format is a 3-bedroom home at 48.6%, but 32.1% of dwellings have 0 to 2 bedrooms, which may suit singles and couples. The mortgage benchmark is $1,635 monthly, while weekly rent is $320. Mortgage stress is 39.8% of household income, above rent stress at 33.7%, so repayment capacity needs careful testing. With no reliable suburb median house price, compare recent settled sales and holding costs with nearby West Busselton before making an offer.
For Investors
Investors face a mixed rental picture. Renting accounts for 39.8% of occupied dwellings and weekly rent is $320, creating a broad tenant base, while vacancy is a very high 20.9%, above the level associated with tight rental competition. That combination can weaken leasing urgency, so advertised rents should be tested against achieved leases. Rent stress reaches 33.7% of household income, and rent growth is 35.5%, leaving affordability under pressure. Just 1 development was recorded in 12 months, limiting evidence of a construction surge. Internal migration is the primary growth driver, so demand may be more resilient than a static local profile suggests.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
1
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 Busselton
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
GEOGRAPHE EDUCATION SUPPORT CENTRE
CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
GEORGIANA MOLLOY ANGLICAN SCHOOL
BUSSELTON PRIMARY SCHOOL
GEOGRAPHE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Busselton has an older resident base than the national pattern: median age is 56, or 16 years above the national figure, and average household size is 1.9, 0.6 below the national average. Couples without children represent 60.8% of families, while couples with children account for 22.1%, consistent with a smaller-household market. University attainment is 21.6%, 8.5 percentage points below the national level, while overseas-born residents are 25.1%, 3.5 points above national. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry counts are 892, 194 and 182; Christianity and no religion count 816 and 787. Compared with West Busselton and Geographe, this profile points to stronger demand for health, convenience and downsizer services than in a younger suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.9%
Houses
17.0%
Townhouse
1.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is dominated by established, lower-density formats: 70.9% of dwellings are separate houses and 17.0% are semi-detached, compared with just 1.3% apartments. Three-bedroom homes make up 48.6%, while 4-plus-bedroom stock is 19.4%, so the market is weighted toward modest family and downsizer layouts rather than larger homes. Tenure is split between 43.1% outright owners, 15.6% mortgage holders and 39.8% renters. The mortgage share is below outright ownership by 27.5 percentage points, helping explain the older profile, but mortgage costs still equal 39.8% of household income and rent equals 33.7%. Compared with nearby West Busselton and Geographe, buyers should assess each pocket separately because dwelling mix can change quickly.
Mortgage / mo
$1,635
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$320
Census 2021
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$624
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.9%
Unoccupied
227
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.7% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
39.8% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.1%
Couples with children
60.8%
Couples, no children
14.8%
Single parent
480
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Busselton's largest employing industry at 20.1% and 89 workers, followed by construction at 11.1% and 49, hospitality at 10.8% and 48, education at 10.4% and 46, and retail at 6.8% and 30. The mix supports essential services, building activity, visitors and daily consumption rather than one office sector. Trades lead occupations with 122 people, ahead of professionals at 116, labourers at 101, community/personal roles at 95 and managers at 91. Unemployment is 5.9% and participation 46.6%, below a younger labour market partly because median age is 56. Weekly household income is $949, at the 10.3rd national percentile; IEO decile 3 is below IRSAD decile 4, signalling weaker economic opportunity than overall relative advantage.
Unemployment
5.9%
Labour Force
774
Unemployed
46
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.9%
Part-time
41.3%
Participation
46.6%
Employed
728
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.6%
Postgraduate
4.4%
Born Overseas
25.1%
Dwellings
857
Transport to Work
Daily life is shaped by a compact footprint of 4.46 square kilometres and strong car dependence: 77.6% drive to work, compared with 8.6% who walk or cycle and 6.9% who work from home. Seven nearby schools span government primary, senior high and education support settings, plus non-government options, giving families a broader sector mix than a single-school locality. Check the exact enrolment zone against the address. The IRSAD decile is 4, below the national midpoint, while 20.2% volunteer, supporting local participation. No comparable crime rate is available, so inspect recent WA Police information and visit streets at different times. A median age of 56, 16 years above national, makes healthcare and accessible services especially important.
Drive
77.6%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
8.6%
Work from Home
6.9%
Growth Outlook
Growth is active but ageing in character. The annual trend is 2.45%, with internal migration the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 41.9% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share increased 8.5 percentage points, the working share fell 5.0 points and the young share fell 2.2 points. Gentrification is rated Active with a score of 60, pointing to redevelopment pressure alongside demographic ageing. Rent growth is 35.5%, while affordability remained Stable, moving from 47.3% in 2011 to 47.7% in 2021. This suggests demand has strengthened faster than the suburb has moved toward a younger profile.
Population trend: Busselton council area
Busselton sits in the Busselton council area. These are the council area's residents, not Busselton's.
Residents 2025
46,184
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.4%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.2%
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 Busselton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Busselton a good suburb to live in?
Busselton may suit buyers seeking a quieter, older coastal-town profile, with a median age of 56 and 20.2% volunteering. Car access matters because 77.6% drive, while the IRSAD decile is 4, below the national midpoint. Compare streets for services, noise and vacancy before choosing.
What is the median house price in Busselton?
Use recent settled sales rather than a single median because a reliable suburb figure is unavailable. Separate houses make up 70.9% of dwellings, 3-bedroom homes account for 48.6%, and the monthly mortgage benchmark is $1,635. Compare like-for-like sales by condition, land and proximity to services.
What schools are in Busselton?
Busselton has 7 nearby schools across government and non-government sectors, including primary, senior high and education support settings. Check the exact enrolment zone because boundaries can differ by address. The mix is broader than a single-school locality, with government and independent options represented.
Is Busselton safe?
Safety should be checked at street level because no comparable crime rate is available. Review recent WA Police information, speak with residents, and visit at different times. Busselton has 1,838 residents and 77.6% car commuting, so there is not enough evidence to rate every pocket as safer than nearby suburbs.
Is Busselton good for property investment?
Busselton has investment positives including $320 weekly rent, 39.8% renting and internal migration as the primary growth driver. The main risk is a 20.9% vacancy rate, above the level typical of a tight rental market, while rent stress is 33.7%. Compare achieved rents and vacancy by property type.
How is Busselton's population changing?
Busselton's population today is 1,838. Across the wider area, population change is 41.9% over 10 years and the annual trend is 2.45%, driven primarily by internal migration. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 8.5 percentage points while the working share fell 5.0, indicating growth alongside an older profile.
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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