Calista
With a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 1 and household income sitting in just the 11th percentile nationally, Calista is one of Western Australia's most disadvantaged suburbs by measured index. The median house price of $322,000 is well below the national median, drawing buyers priced out of broader Perth. A vacancy rate of 11.1% is strikingly high, pointing to soft rental demand despite a 39.8% renter share. The median age of 48 is 8 years above the national figure, and the senior population share grew 3.2 points over the decade, reinforcing an aging trajectory with minimal gentrification pressure.
Population
1,975
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$953/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$322K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $322,000 median house price puts Calista significantly below the Perth average, making it one of the more affordable entry points in the southern corridor. Separate houses make up 69.3% of dwellings, with semi-detached stock at 26.7% and apartments at just 4.0%, so buyers have genuine detached-house options at this price. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 59.1%, while 4-plus bedroom dwellings account for 16.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, but the mortgage-to-income ratio is 31.5%, above the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes sit in the bottom 11th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 28.4% and mortgage holders at 31.8% are roughly balanced, a profile typical of established working-class owner-occupier suburbs.
For Buyers
The $322,000 median house price puts Calista significantly below the Perth average, making it one of the more affordable entry points in the southern corridor. Separate houses make up 69.3% of dwellings, with semi-detached stock at 26.7% and apartments at just 4.0%, so buyers have genuine detached-house options at this price. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 59.1%, while 4-plus bedroom dwellings account for 16.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, but the mortgage-to-income ratio is 31.5%, above the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes sit in the bottom 11th percentile nationally. Outright owners at 28.4% and mortgage holders at 31.8% are roughly balanced, a profile typical of established working-class owner-occupier suburbs.
For Investors
Calista's 39.8% renter share is above average nationally, providing a broad tenant base, but the 11.1% vacancy rate is the dominant risk signal. That vacancy rate is high compared to healthy market benchmarks and suggests existing supply exceeds current demand. Weekly rent of $250 against a $322,000 median implies a gross yield approaching 4%, which is moderate but constrained by the vacancy overhang. Rent growth of 14.6% over the measured period shows the rental market has been catching up, yet net internal migration runs at minus 27 persons annually, with overseas migration adding 69. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, consistent with a market not attracting speculative new supply.
Schools in Calista iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Calista Primary School
K-6 · 413 students
Demographics
The median age of 48 sits 8 years above the national average, the sharpest demographic signal for Calista. The senior share rose 3.2 points and the young share fell 3.2 points over the decade, confirming a steady aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents account for 35.2% of the population, which is 13.6 percentage points above the national figure, a notably high overseas-born share for a low-income suburb. Ancestry data shows English heritage dominant (978 residents), followed by Scottish (203) and Irish (153). University qualifications reach just 16.0%, which is 14.1 points below the national figure, reflecting the working-class occupational base. Average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below the national average, consistent with older couples and single-person households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.3%
Houses
26.7%
Townhouse
4.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Calista skews toward renters at 39.8%, above the national renter share, while 28.4% own outright and 31.8% carry a mortgage. Three-bedroom houses dominate at 59.1% of all dwellings, with the stock overwhelmingly separate houses (69.3%) rather than apartments (4.0%). The mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.5% triggers the stress flag despite a modest $1,300 monthly repayment, because household weekly income of $953 is at the 11th percentile nationally. Rent-to-income at 26.2% stays below the stress threshold of 30%, indicating renting is more financially manageable than buying for typical Calista households. The high 11.1% vacancy rate points to a market with more homes available than active tenants seeking them.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$498
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.1%
Unoccupied
103
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.2%
Couples, no children
1,241
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads industry employment at 19.6% of local workers (74 people), followed by Construction at 12.4% (47), Manufacturing at 10.1% (38), Public Admin at 9.0% (34) and Professional/Tech at 7.4% (28). By occupation, Labourers (103) and Machinery/Drivers (88) rank first and second, ahead of Clerical/Admin (83) and Community/Personal workers (81), a blue-collar profile typical of a decile 1 SEIFA suburb. The unemployment rate of 13.8% is significantly higher than state and national averages, and the participation rate of just 42.7% is well below the national norm, partly because 827 residents are not in the labour force at all, which reflects the older age profile. Personal weekly income averages $498, well below the national median.
Unemployment
14.2%
Labour Force
3,963
Unemployed
561
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.4%
Part-time
23.8%
Participation
42.7%
Employed
620
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.0%
Postgraduate
2.7%
Born Overseas
35.2%
Dwellings
825
Transport to Work
Car dependence is strong in Calista, with 85.5% of residents driving to work compared to the national average, while only 4.8% use public transport and 1.6% walk or cycle. The suburb scores decile 1 on IRSAD, the lowest advantage tier nationally, and also decile 1 on IRSD and IEO, indicating concentrated disadvantage across income, education and occupation measures. Need-for-assistance rate is 16.6% (310 residents), notably high and consistent with the older median age of 48. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in available data, so families rely on schools in surrounding Kwinana area suburbs. Volunteering at 11.6% is moderate. The 11th-percentile household income and high vacancy rate reflect the structural challenges of this outer-southern Perth suburb.
Drive
85.5%
Public Transport
4.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.42%/yr
(+33 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is slow at 0.42% annually, adding roughly 33 persons per year, with a 10-year change of 0.9%. The SA2-level historical data shows growth from 7,729 in 2023 to 7,882 in 2025, and medium forecasts project reaching approximately 8,091 by 2031. Overseas migration is the sole positive driver at a net 69 persons annually, while internal migration shows a net outflow of 27 per year, suggesting locals with options tend to move to better-resourced areas. The gentrification score is 0, classified as not gentrifying, consistent with a decile 1 IRSAD suburb where rising incomes and investment activity are not measurable. Real income growth over the decade was minus 0.8%, meaning purchasing power fell in real terms.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+69
Net Internal / yr
-27
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Calista compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calista a good suburb to live in?
Calista is affordable, with a $322,000 median house price well below the Perth average, and the majority of dwellings (69.3%) are separate houses. However, the suburb scores decile 1 on IRSAD nationally (lowest advantage tier), the unemployment rate is 13.8%, and household income is in the 11th percentile nationally. It suits buyers prioritising space and affordability over amenity and income levels.
What is the median house price in Calista?
The median house price in Calista is $322,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $250 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,300. This places Calista well below the Perth and national median house price, making it one of the more affordable outer-southern suburbs.
What schools are in Calista?
No schools are recorded within the Calista suburb boundary in the available dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding Kwinana area suburbs. The local education profile shows university qualifications at 16.0%, which is 14.1 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the working-class occupational base of the area.
Is Calista safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Calista are not available in this dataset. As a proxy indicator, the suburb scores decile 1 on the SEIFA IRSD index of relative disadvantage nationally, which historically correlates with higher crime exposure. The unemployment rate of 13.8% is above state and national benchmarks, a factor often linked to local crime rates.
Is Calista good for property investment?
The 11.1% vacancy rate is the main risk for investors, indicating more rental supply than active demand. The 39.8% renter share provides a broad tenant pool and the $250 weekly rent against a $322,000 median gives a gross yield near 4%. Rent grew 14.6% over the measured period. However, net internal outmigration of 27 annually and a gentrification score of 0 limit capital growth prospects.
How is Calista's population changing?
Calista's population grows slowly at 0.42% annually, roughly 33 persons per year. Over 10 years the change was just 0.9%. Overseas migration adds a net 69 persons annually, more than offset by an internal outflow of 27 per year. Medium forecasts project around 8,091 residents by 2031, up from 7,882 in 2025. The suburb is aging, with the senior share rising 3.2 points over the decade.
What languages are spoken in Calista?
About 35.2% of Calista residents were born overseas, which is 13.6 percentage points above the national figure. English is the dominant language. The top ancestry groups are English (978 residents), Scottish (203) and Irish (153), suggesting most of the overseas-born community originates from English-speaking countries rather than non-English-speaking backgrounds.
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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