Calista
At 48 years, Calista's median age is 8 years above the national figure, making its established demographic profile more pronounced than in many newer outer-suburban markets. The 1,975 residents occupy 2.31 sq km at a density of 855.7 people per sq km, while the 11.1% vacancy rate is high. Household income sits at the 11th percentile nationally. Overseas-born residents account for 35.2%, 13.6 percentage points above national, and 37.8% of homes are rented. Near Medina and Orelia, Calista suits buyers seeking established housing and a quieter demographic profile more than rapid growth or deep rental scarcity.
Local council: Kwinana
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
For buyers, the absence of a current median house price means individual listings and recent comparable sales matter more than a single suburb benchmark. Holding costs include a mortgage figure of $1,300 a month, while weekly rent is $250, so affordability needs to be tested against household income of $953 a week. The tenure mix is 27.0% owned outright, 30.2% mortgaged and 37.8% rented. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 59.1%, with separate houses at 69.3% and semi-detached homes at 26.7%. Compared with nearby Medina and Orelia, check dwelling condition and land component rather than assuming a uniform price point. Mortgage commitments equal 31.5% of income, higher than the 26.2% rent-to-income share.
For Buyers
For buyers, the absence of a current median house price means individual listings and recent comparable sales matter more than a single suburb benchmark. Holding costs include a mortgage figure of $1,300 a month, while weekly rent is $250, so affordability needs to be tested against household income of $953 a week. The tenure mix is 27.0% owned outright, 30.2% mortgaged and 37.8% rented. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 59.1%, with separate houses at 69.3% and semi-detached homes at 26.7%. Compared with nearby Medina and Orelia, check dwelling condition and land component rather than assuming a uniform price point. Mortgage commitments equal 31.5% of income, higher than the 26.2% rent-to-income share.
For Investors
Calista presents a higher-vacancy proposition than a tight rental market: vacancy is 11.1%, while 37.8% of homes are rented and advertised rent is $250 a week. That combination can widen tenant choice and increase letting risk, so yield calculations should allow for periods without rent, maintenance and management costs. Development activity was 0 in the last 12 months, limiting a near-term supply pipeline but also reducing a new-build catalyst. Rent growth of 14.6% provides a recent positive signal, yet the wider forecast trend is only 0.42% annually and migration is driven by overseas migration. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, which is weaker than a renewal-led investment story.
Schools in Calista
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
CALISTA PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Calista's demographic profile is older than the national pattern: median age is 48, or 8 years above national, and average household size is 2.1, 0.4 below national. The overseas-born share is 35.2%, 13.6 percentage points above national, although no leading language groups are recorded. English ancestry is reported by 978 residents, followed by Scottish at 203 and Irish at 153. No religion is the largest affiliation at 901, compared with 734 identifying with Christianity. Household structure is mixed, with 39.1% couples without children, 31.9% couples with children and 26.8% one-parent families. A 72.8% stay rate is higher than the 27.2% turnover rate, suggesting a relatively settled base despite overseas migration.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.3%
Houses
26.7%
Townhouse
4.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Calista's housing is mostly conventional family stock, but its tenure pattern is more renter-heavy than an outright-owner market. Separate houses make up 69.3%, semi-detached dwellings 26.7% and apartments 4.0%; three-bedroom homes account for 59.1%, while 16.0% have four or more bedrooms. Ownership is split between 27.0% owned outright, 30.2% with a mortgage and 37.8% rented. Mortgage costs of $1,300 per month equate to 31.5% of household income, higher than the 26.2% rent-to-income share, so leveraged buyers face more pressure than renters. A median house price and price-to-income ratio are not available, making direct price comparisons with Medina or Orelia less reliable.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$250
Census 2021
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
31.9%
Couples with children
39.1%
Couples, no children
26.8%
Single parent
455
Total families
Economy & Employment
Calista's employment base is led by Healthcare at 19.6% of jobs, or 74 positions, followed by Construction at 12.4% or 47, Manufacturing at 10.1% or 38, Public Administration at 9.0% or 34 and Professional/Technical work at 7.4% or 28. The main occupations are Trades at 118, Labourers at 103, Machinery/Drivers at 88, Clerical/Admin at 83 and Community/Personal work at 81, indicating a practical, service-linked profile. Labour-force participation is 45.6%, unemployment is 12.9% among 768 participants, and 57.8% of employed residents work full time. Socioeconomic rankings are below most areas, with IEO and IRSD in decile 1, IER in decile 2 and IRSAD in decile 1. The low ranking sits alongside Healthcare's lead, so job availability and household disadvantage are not the same measure.
Unemployment
12.9%
Labour Force
768
Unemployed
99
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.8%
Part-time
34.8%
Participation
45.6%
Employed
669
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.0%
Postgraduate
2.7%
Born Overseas
35.2%
Dwellings
825
Transport to Work
Calista is practical for residents who drive: 80.7% travel as car drivers, compared with 4.5% using public transport, 1.5% walking or cycling and 5.6% working from home. That pattern suggests daily errands and employment are more car-dependent than transit-oriented, so access to a vehicle matters for convenience. Calista Primary School is the local government primary option; families should check enrolment zones and current arrangements against the exact address, since school catchments can cross suburb boundaries. The suburb's IRSAD is in decile 1 and its IRSD is also decile 1, placing socioeconomic disadvantage below most areas. With a median age of 48, Calista may suit households valuing established routines more than nightlife or high-frequency transport. A crime rate is not available, so safety should be checked through current local reports and an inspection at different times.
Drive
80.7%
Public Transport
4.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
5.6%
Growth Outlook
Calista is on a slow-growth, aging trajectory rather than a high-turnover expansion path. The forecast annual trend is 0.42%, while population change across the wider area is 0.9% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the shift profile records a 3.2% decline in the young share and a 3.2% increase in the senior share, consistent with a median age of 48. The affordability measure moved from 49.3% in 2011 to 46.3% in 2021, while rent growth reached 14.6%. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, so renewal pressure is lower than in an upgrading precinct. Change is therefore more likely to reflect gradual household ageing than rapid redevelopment, especially with 0 development activity in 12 months.
Population trend: Kwinana council area
Calista sits in the Kwinana council area. These are the council area's residents, not Calista's.
Residents 2025
57,422
Growth, 5 yr average
+4.4%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+4.6%
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 Calista compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calista a good suburb to live in?
Calista can suit buyers wanting established housing, but it is older and more car-dependent than many growth suburbs. Median age is 48, 80.7% drive to work, and IRSAD is decile 1, so lifestyle fit, transport needs and budget should be checked carefully.
What is the median house price in Calista?
There is no current median house price recorded for Calista. Use recent comparable sales and listing conditions instead, and test repayments against the $1,300 monthly mortgage figure and household income of $953 a week.
What schools are in Calista?
Calista Primary School is the 1 local government primary school listed for the suburb. Confirm the catchment for the address and current enrolment arrangements, because one school does not guarantee a place and school boundaries can change.
Is Calista safe?
No suburb crime rate is available for a reliable numerical comparison. Check current police information and visit the area at different times; the IRSAD decile is 1, which signals socioeconomic disadvantage but is not a direct measure of personal safety.
Is Calista good for property investment?
Investment conditions are mixed. Weekly rent is $250, but vacancy is 11.1%, which is higher than a tight rental market, and the gentrification score is 0. Rental demand, holding costs and vacancy periods should be tested before purchase.
How is Calista's population changing?
Calista's population is 1,975 today. The wider area's forecast change is 0.9% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 0.42% and an Aging trajectory, so change is expected to be gradual and older in profile rather than rapid.
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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