Dampier Peninsula
At just 0.2 residents per square kilometre across 4,756 km2, Dampier Peninsula is one of the most sparsely settled areas in Western Australia, yet its 1,051 residents form a community with a median age of 30, ten years below the national median. The renter share of 94.4% is extraordinary by any measure, far above the national average, and the vacancy rate of 16.2% indicates more dwellings than active occupants at any given time. Weekly household income sits at $1,078, placing the suburb in just the 16.6th income percentile nationally. Education attainment is 17.7% university-qualified, which is 12.4 percentage points below the national figure, while 111 residents speak an Australian Indigenous Language, reflecting the area's strong First Nations character.
Population
1,051
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,078/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$423K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $423,000 (derived from rental data, 2025) is below the WA state median for comparable regional areas, making the entry point accessible relative to Perth. Separate houses dominate at 92.1% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 3.1%, so buyers have a clear choice of dwelling type. The three-bedroom category leads at 45.6% of homes, followed by two-bedroom at 28.6% and four-plus bedroom at 17.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,970, but the mortgage-to-income ratio calculates at 63.6%, well above the standard 30% stress threshold, because household income is only at the 16.6th percentile nationally. Outright ownership is thin at 5.6%, and the 94.4% renter share means genuine owner-occupier transactions are rare here.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $423,000 (derived from rental data, 2025) is below the WA state median for comparable regional areas, making the entry point accessible relative to Perth. Separate houses dominate at 92.1% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 3.1%, so buyers have a clear choice of dwelling type. The three-bedroom category leads at 45.6% of homes, followed by two-bedroom at 28.6% and four-plus bedroom at 17.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,970, but the mortgage-to-income ratio calculates at 63.6%, well above the standard 30% stress threshold, because household income is only at the 16.6th percentile nationally. Outright ownership is thin at 5.6%, and the 94.4% renter share means genuine owner-occupier transactions are rare here.
For Investors
A renter share of 94.4% produces an extraordinarily deep tenant pool compared to national averages, but the weekly rent of only $120 generates very low gross yields against the $423,000 estimated median. The 16.2% vacancy rate is a significant risk signal, running well above the typical 3% threshold that indicates balanced demand. Development activity recorded zero applications in the past 12 months, suggesting no new supply pressure. The low income base, with household income at the 16.6th percentile nationally, constrains rental growth potential. Investors weighing this market should note that the high renter share reflects structural necessity rather than lifestyle choice, because only 5.6% of residents own outright.
Schools in Dampier Peninsula iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
One Arm Point Remote Community School
K-12 · 114 students
Demographics
The median age of 30 is 10.0 years below the national median, reflecting a young population that is unusual even for regional WA. Overseas-born residents make up just 4.3%, which is 17.3 percentage points below the national average, among the lowest overseas-born shares in Australia. Ancestry data shows a notable 105 residents with ancestry not specified and 74 in the other category, while English (64), Irish (20) and Scottish (15) background residents are present. Crucially, 111 residents speak an Australian Indigenous Language, which is the single largest non-English language group, pointing to a predominantly First Nations community character. The average household size of 3.0 is 0.5 above the national figure, consistent with the 45.4% share of families being couples with children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.1%
Houses
3.1%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The rental dominance of 94.4% stands in contrast to the national renter average, and outright ownership of just 5.6% confirms that virtually no resident holds debt-free equity. Separate houses account for 92.1% of the stock, one of the highest detached-house shares you will find in any suburb, while semi-detached homes sit at 3.1%. Three-bedroom homes lead at 45.6%, with two-bedroom at 28.6% and four-plus bedroom at 17.3%. The vacancy rate of 16.2% means roughly one in six dwellings is unoccupied at census time, above the level typically associated with housing stress in demand-led markets. Weekly rent of $120 is low compared to regional WA benchmarks, and rent-to-income at 11.1% is below the 30% stress threshold despite the very low household incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$2,970
Rent / wk
$120
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$416
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.2%
Unoccupied
58
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
11.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
63.6% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
10.6%
Couples, no children
822
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education employs the largest share of the workforce at 27.2% (43 workers), followed by Hospitality at 15.2% (24), Agriculture at 13.3% (21) and Healthcare at 12.7% (20). This profile reflects the community services orientation typical of remote First Nations communities, where schools, health clinics and accommodation services are the primary employers. The unemployment rate of 25.8% is far above national norms, and the participation rate of 43.8% is low, with 303 residents not in the labour force. Of those employed, 63.1% work full-time, which is a reasonable rate, but the total employed base of 244 is small for a community of 1,051. Personal weekly income averages $416, which sits below the national median, consistent with the 16.6th percentile household income ranking.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.1%
Part-time
11.1%
Participation
43.8%
Employed
244
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.7%
Postgraduate
3.1%
Born Overseas
4.3%
Dwellings
290
Transport to Work
The transport profile is dominated by walking and cycling at 49.3%, the highest mode share, compared to 42.7% car use, which is notably below the national car-dependency norm. Public transport use is minimal at 1.3%, consistent with the remote location where services are limited. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families access education through the 27.2% Education sector workforce, likely via community-based schools. Crime data is not available for this suburb. The volunteering rate of 8.1% is modest, and 2.6% of residents (24 people) need daily assistance. The rent-to-income ratio of 11.1% sits well below the 30% stress threshold, indicating that despite low incomes, housing costs are proportionally manageable for renters.
Drive
42.7%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
49.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Dampier Peninsula compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dampier Peninsula a good suburb to live in?
Dampier Peninsula suits those seeking a remote, low-density lifestyle in a strongly First Nations community. The area spans 4,756 km2 with just 1,051 residents, giving a density of 0.2 per km2. Household income is at the 16.6th percentile nationally and services are limited, but the rent-to-income ratio of 11.1% means housing is affordable relative to income for renters.
What is the median house price in Dampier Peninsula?
The estimated median house price is $423,000, derived from rental market data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $120, well below regional WA benchmarks. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,970, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 63.6% is well above the 30% stress threshold given the area's low income base.
What schools are in Dampier Peninsula?
No schools are formally recorded in the Dampier Peninsula suburb boundary in this dataset. However, Education is the largest employment sector at 27.2% of the local workforce (43 workers), suggesting community-based schooling infrastructure exists. Families should confirm available schooling options directly with the Shire of Broome.
Is Dampier Peninsula safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Dampier Peninsula in this dataset. As contextual indicators, the unemployment rate of 25.8% is high compared to national norms, and 2.6% of residents (24 people) need daily assistance. The remote location and small population of 1,051 make direct comparisons to urban safety benchmarks difficult.
Is Dampier Peninsula good for property investment?
The investment case is challenging. Weekly rent of $120 against a $423,000 estimated median implies a very low gross yield, and the 16.2% vacancy rate is well above the 3% threshold associated with balanced rental markets. Zero development applications in 12 months means no supply growth, but the low income base at the 16.6th percentile nationally limits rental growth capacity.
How is Dampier Peninsula's population changing?
Detailed population growth trend data is not available in the current brief. The resident population is 1,051 with a young median age of 30, which is 10 years below the national median. The residential mobility rate of 20.6% indicates some population turnover, while 79.4% of residents stayed in the same dwelling over the census period, pointing to a stable core community.
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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