Collie
A 12.6% vacancy rate is the standout feature of Collie's housing market, alongside a population of 7,599 and a median age of 43. The suburb is heavily detached, with 92.3% separate houses, and its 0.23% annual growth trend is modest compared with faster-growing South West centres. Compared with Bunbury, Collie has a more inland, car-dependent and lower-income profile, reflected in a household income percentile of 23.5. Its established role in mining and regional services helps explain the stable base, while aging and limited recent development constrain momentum.
Population
7,599
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,177/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Collie suits buyers prioritising detached space and manageable recurring costs, although a current median house price is not available. Separate houses make up 92.3% of dwellings, with 48.6% having 3 bedrooms and 35.1% having 4 or more. The estimated mortgage cost is $1,263 monthly, while rent is $250 weekly; mortgage-to-income at 24.8% is higher than rent-to-income at 21.2%, so renting may preserve cash flow. Outright ownership at 41.2% is above the 35.9% mortgage-held share, pointing to an established owner base. Compared with Bunbury, buyers should weigh lower-density living against longer trips and car dependence.
For Buyers
Collie suits buyers prioritising detached space and manageable recurring costs, although a current median house price is not available. Separate houses make up 92.3% of dwellings, with 48.6% having 3 bedrooms and 35.1% having 4 or more. The estimated mortgage cost is $1,263 monthly, while rent is $250 weekly; mortgage-to-income at 24.8% is higher than rent-to-income at 21.2%, so renting may preserve cash flow. Outright ownership at 41.2% is above the 35.9% mortgage-held share, pointing to an established owner base. Compared with Bunbury, buyers should weigh lower-density living against longer trips and car dependence.
For Investors
Investor conditions are mixed. Weekly rent is $250 and 21.7% of households rent, but the 12.6% vacancy rate is high enough to require careful property selection and realistic letting assumptions. Rent takes 21.2% of income, lower than the 24.8% mortgage ratio, which supports tenant affordability but can limit rental yield growth unless purchase prices remain low. No developments were recorded in the past 12 months, reducing near-term supply pressure, while forecast migration is Balanced and the annual trend is 0.23%. Compared with tighter rental markets, Collie's vacancy rate points to slower leasing momentum, so proximity to services, employment and transport matters.
Schools in Collie
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
ST BRIGID'S SCHOOL
AMAROO PRIMARY SCHOOL
FAIRVIEW PRIMARY SCHOOL
WILSON PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL
COLLIE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Demographics
Collie has an older profile than Australia overall: the median age is 43, or 3.0 years above the national comparison, while university attainment is 8.8%, 21.3 percentage points below the national level. Overseas-born residents account for 12.0%, 9.6 points below the national figure, and average household size is 2.3, 0.2 below the national comparison. English ancestry is reported by 3,399 people, followed by Scottish 708, Irish 600 and Italian 426; no religion is the largest stated affiliation at 3,916, ahead of Christianity at 2,802. This mix reflects an established, locally rooted population, with 81.2% staying at the same address over five years. Compared with Bunbury, Collie is less migrant and more Anglo-leaning.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.3%
Houses
3.7%
Townhouse
3.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Collie's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached: 92.3% are separate houses, compared with 3.5% apartments and 3.7% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes account for 48.6% and four-plus-bedroom homes 35.1%, so the market is configured more for families and owner occupiers than compact rental demand. Tenure is split between 41.2% owned outright, 35.9% with a mortgage and 21.7% rented. The $250 weekly rent is associated with 21.2% rent-to-income, below the 24.8% mortgage-to-income ratio. With vacancy at 12.6% and no current median price available, buyers should compare individual sales rather than rely on a suburb-wide benchmark. Compared with Bunbury, Collie's stock is more house-dominated and less apartment-oriented.
Mortgage / mo
$1,263
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$250
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$574
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.6%
Unoccupied
424
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.4%
Couples with children
45.3%
Couples, no children
18.1%
Single parent
1,962
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is Collie's largest listed industry at 18.3% of jobs, followed by healthcare at 14.3%, education at 11.6%, manufacturing at 8.9% and utilities at 8.1%. That spread gives the town more than one employment base, but the leading sectors still leave it exposed to resource and public-service cycles. Trades are the largest occupation group at 637 people, ahead of machinery and drivers at 460 and labourers at 458, matching the industrial profile. Unemployment is 8.7% from a 49.8% participation rate, while household income sits at $1,177 weekly and the 23.5th percentile is below the national midpoint. SEIFA places Collie in decile 1 for IRSAD and IEO, with IER in decile 3 and IRSD in decile 2, indicating economic disadvantage despite mining activity. Compared with higher-income regional centres, lower education and participation help explain the gap.
Unemployment
8.7%
Labour Force
3,096
Unemployed
269
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.4%
Part-time
35.0%
Participation
49.8%
Employed
2,827
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
8.8%
Postgraduate
0.9%
Born Overseas
12.0%
Dwellings
2,949
Transport to Work
Collie is practical for households with cars: 83.2% drive to work, compared with 2.7% using public transport and 3.3% walking or cycling. Five local schools cover primary and senior secondary years, with 4 government schools and 1 non-government school, giving families a basic local choice while enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. The population density is 144.0 people per square kilometre across 52.77 square kilometres, so access is less compact than in larger regional centres. IRSAD is in decile 1, and 18.4% volunteer, suggesting strong civic participation despite socioeconomic disadvantage. For safety decisions, check current WA Police information and visit key streets at different times. Compared with Bunbury, daily life is more car reliant and less connected by public transport.
Drive
83.2%
Public Transport
2.7%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
2.6%
Population Forecast
+0.23%/yr
(+22 people/yr)
EstablishedCollie's growth outlook is steady rather than expansionary. The forecast annual trend is 0.23%, while population change across the wider area was -3.5% over 10 years, showing why the current pace remains modest. Migration is classified as Balanced, so neither internal nor overseas movement is expected to dominate demand. The shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 9.0 percentage points, the young share fell 1.5 points and the working share declined 5.8 points. Rents nevertheless grew 25.0%, which may reflect stronger demand in selected pockets rather than broad population growth. Gentrification is rated Not gentrifying with a score of 9, lower than a growth-led market. Compared with Bunbury's broader regional pull, Collie needs jobs, services and housing renewal to lift momentum.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+32
Net Internal / yr
+71
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal migration +71/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Collie compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Collie a good suburb to live in?
Collie can suit households wanting detached housing, regional services and a slower pace. It has 7,599 residents, a median age of 43 and 92.3% separate houses, but public transport use is only 2.7%, so a car is important for many routines. Compare exact streets for services, noise and safety before deciding.
What is the median house price in Collie?
A current median house price is not available for Collie, so buyers should compare recent sales for the specific street and dwelling type. Housing is 92.3% separate houses, with 48.6% three-bedroom and 35.1% four-plus-bedroom homes. Weekly rent is $250, which provides a useful secondary affordability reference.
What schools are in Collie?
Collie has 5 local schools: Amaroo, Fairview and Wilson Park primary schools, Collie Senior High School, and St Brigid's School. Four are government schools and 1 is non-government. Check the exact enrolment zone and year-level availability before signing a lease or purchase contract.
Is Collie safe?
Safety should be checked using current WA Police information and by visiting the area at different times, because a suburb-specific crime rate is unavailable. Collie has 7,599 residents and a median age of 43, but those figures do not determine safety for an individual street or household.
Is Collie good for property investment?
Investment potential is mixed. Weekly rent is $250 and 21.7% of households rent, but vacancy is 12.6%, so leasing may take longer than in tighter markets. No developments were recorded in the past 12 months, and the annual growth trend is 0.23%. Investors should stress-test vacancy, maintenance and resale demand rather than rely on rent alone.
How is Collie's population changing?
Collie's population is 7,599 today, with an aging trajectory rather than a strong expansion cycle. Population change across the wider area was -3.5% over 10 years, while the forecast annual trend is 0.23%. The senior share increased 9.0 percentage points and the working share fell 5.8 points, so future demand is likely to favour services for older households.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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