Capel
At a median age of 42 and with 93.7% of its dwellings being separate houses, Capel reads as a settled, family-oriented regional WA town rather than a growth suburb. Population growth runs at 1.36% annually, above the pace of many regional centres, driven almost entirely by internal migration averaging 70 arrivals per year. The IEO decile of 2 places Capel in the bottom fifth nationally for education and occupation advantage, yet the IER decile of 7 signals reasonable economic resources, an unusual split that points to a trade-dominant workforce earning solid wages without high formal qualifications. Household income sits at the 42.1st percentile nationally.
Population
2,606
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,425/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$393K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $393,000 is well below the WA state average, making Capel among the more accessible detached-house markets in the South West. Separate houses make up 93.7% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 6.3% and no apartment stock recorded. Over half of all homes (50.7%) have four or more bedrooms, compared to only 7.8% with two bedrooms, pointing to large family-sized stock rather than starter homes. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,498, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 31.5% are a meaningful share, suggesting the suburb carries generational owner-occupier depth. The vacancy rate of 8.2% is elevated above typical healthy market levels of 2-3%, worth watching before purchasing.
For Buyers
The median house price of $393,000 is well below the WA state average, making Capel among the more accessible detached-house markets in the South West. Separate houses make up 93.7% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 6.3% and no apartment stock recorded. Over half of all homes (50.7%) have four or more bedrooms, compared to only 7.8% with two bedrooms, pointing to large family-sized stock rather than starter homes. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,498, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners at 31.5% are a meaningful share, suggesting the suburb carries generational owner-occupier depth. The vacancy rate of 8.2% is elevated above typical healthy market levels of 2-3%, worth watching before purchasing.
For Investors
Capel's rental market is small: only 19.4% of dwellings are rented, well below the national average, with weekly rent at $320. Rent grew 32% over the measured period, a strong run that narrows the gap between rent income and purchase cost on a $393,000 median. The vacancy rate of 8.2% is high relative to healthy benchmarks, indicating more rental supply than current demand can absorb. Internal migration of 70 net arrivals per year sustains gradual population growth at 1.36% annually, and medium forecasts project the broader SA2 reaching 6,475 by 2031 from 6,027 in 2025. The gentrification score of 32 and stage of early signs, combined with a 24% population rise since 2011, suggest the suburb is transitioning rather than stagnant, but the high vacancy limits short-term rental confidence.
Schools in Capel iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
South-West John Calvin Christian College
PP-10 · 65 students
Capel Primary School
K-6 · 320 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 sits 2 years above the national median, consistent with the aging trajectory signal from the brief: the senior share rose 7.4 points and the working-age share fell 3.5 points over the decade. The overseas-born share of 14.5% is 7.1 percentage points below the national figure, and ancestry is predominantly English (1,269 residents), followed by Scottish (264) and Irish (226), reflecting a strongly Anglo-Celtic character. University qualifications at 15.6% are 14.5 points below national, which aligns with the IEO decile 2 score and a workforce dominated by labourers, machinery operators and community service workers rather than professionals. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national average, and couples with children (803 families) outnumber couples without children (600).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.7%
Houses
6.3%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Capel's housing is almost entirely detached: 93.7% separate houses with no apartment stock and 6.3% semi-detached. The four-plus bedroom category dominates at 50.7%, with three-bedroom homes at 40.1%, meaning small dwellings are rare. Tenure splits 31.5% owned outright, 49.0% under mortgage and 19.4% renting, a mortgage-belt profile where most residents are servicing loans. At $393,000 median and $1,498 monthly mortgage repayments, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.3% remains below the 30% stress threshold, better than many urban markets. Rent-to-income sits at 22.5%, also comfortable. The 8.2% vacancy rate stands out as elevated compared to sub-3% healthy markets, suggesting landlords face real competition for tenants.
Mortgage / mo
$1,498
Rent / wk
$320
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$703
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.2%
Unoccupied
87
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.0%
Couples, no children
2,002
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 19.5% (134 workers), followed by Education at 11.2% (77), Construction at 10.9% (75), Public Administration at 9.0% (62) and Mining at 8.7% (60). The mining component is notable for a town of 2,606 people, reflecting Capel's proximity to the South West's mineral sands industry. By occupation, Labourers (187) are the single largest group, with Community and Personal workers (154) and Machinery and Drivers (151) close behind, while Professionals (140) rank fourth. The unemployment rate of 3.7% is low, and the full-time employment rate of 61.5% is solid. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 4 places Capel in the lower half nationally for relative disadvantage, while the IER decile of 7 indicates the economic resources decile is higher than disadvantage measures would suggest, because wages in construction and mining lift household asset levels.
Unemployment
2.7%
Labour Force
3,453
Unemployed
92
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.5%
Part-time
34.8%
Participation
54.8%
Employed
1,099
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.6%
Postgraduate
1.9%
Born Overseas
14.5%
Dwellings
980
Transport to Work
Capel is overwhelmingly car-dependent: 89.7% of residents drive to work, compared to a national average well above 60%, and public transport use sits at just 2.1%. Walking and cycling account for 3.0% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on institutions in nearby centres. The IRSAD decile of 4 places Capel below the national median for socio-economic advantage, and the IEO decile of 2 indicates limited access to high-education and high-skill employment locally. The volunteering rate of 18.4% is reasonable for a regional town, and mortgage and rent stress measures both sit below standard thresholds. The need-for-assistance rate of 6.4% (157 residents) is moderate, consistent with an aging profile where some residents require daily support.
Drive
89.7%
Public Transport
2.1%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.36%/yr
(+82 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 1.36% per year, adding approximately 82 residents annually. Internal migration is the primary driver at a net 70 arrivals per year, with overseas migration contributing a net 15. The broader SA2 population reached 6,027 in 2025, up from 5,813 in 2023, and medium-scenario forecasts project 6,475 by 2031. The 10-year population change of 16.3% and a 24% rise since 2011 place Capel well above typical slow-growth regional centres. The gentrification score of 32 and stage of early signs reflect real but modest uplift pressure: affordability held stable at 44.5% in both 2011 and 2021, suggesting demand has grown without pricing out locals. Real income grew 7.2% over the decade. The aging trajectory remains the main demographic headwind.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+15
Net Internal / yr
+70
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +24% since 2011, Net internal migration +70/yr, Accelerating: 8% → 15%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Capel compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Capel a good suburb to live in?
Capel suits buyers seeking affordable detached housing in a settled regional WA community. The median house price of $393,000 is well below state metro levels, and mortgage-to-income at 24.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold. The trade-offs are an IEO decile of 2, limited public transport at 2.1% usage, and no recorded schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Capel?
The median house price is $393,000 (estimated from 2025 rental data). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,498, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 24.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $320, with rent growing 32% over the measured period.
What schools are in Capel?
No schools are recorded within the Capel suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby regional centres. The local university qualification rate of 15.6% is 14.5 points below the national average, which is consistent with a workforce concentrated in trades, mining and community services rather than professional roles.
Is Capel safe?
Detailed suburb-level crime statistics are not available for Capel in this dataset. The IRSD decile of 4 places Capel below the national median for relative disadvantage, and the IEO decile of 2 indicates lower education and occupation advantage than most Australian suburbs. The volunteering rate of 18.4% and stable community profile suggest moderate social cohesion.
Is Capel good for property investment?
Rent grew 32% over the measured period to $320 per week, but the 8.2% vacancy rate is elevated compared to healthy market benchmarks of 2-3%, indicating oversupply in the rental segment. Against a $393,000 median, that implies a gross yield near 4.3%. Internal migration of 70 net arrivals per year supports gradual demand, with forecasts projecting SA2 population growth to 6,475 by 2031.
How is Capel's population changing?
Capel is growing at 1.36% per year, adding roughly 82 residents annually. The broader SA2 rose from 5,813 in 2023 to 6,027 in 2025, a 16.3% increase over the decade. Internal migration at 70 net arrivals per year is the primary driver. The profile is aging, with the senior share rising 7.4 points and the working-age share falling 3.5 points over the past decade.
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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