Dongara
With a median age of 51, Dongara sits 11 years above the national figure, making it one of WA's more distinctly older coastal communities. The population of 1,393 occupies 8.45 square kilometres at a density of 165 people per km2, far below urban averages. Household income lands in the 17.1st percentile nationally, reflecting a retired and part-time workforce rather than low productivity. Mining employs 14.6% of workers, the top industry, while nearly 47% of dwellings are owned outright, a sign that long-term residents have paid off their homes well ahead of the national average.
Population
1,393
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,092/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$369K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $369,000, substantially below state and national medians, which makes Dongara accessible to buyers priced out of Perth or coastal alternatives further south. The housing stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 88.9% of dwellings, with apartments at just 4.8%, so buyers have limited apartment options. Three-bedroom homes account for 42.8% of stock and four-plus bedrooms for 41.7%, suggesting the town was built for family living even as the demographic has aged. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600, but the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 33.8%, above the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes are low at $1,092 per week, placing the suburb in the 17.1st percentile nationally.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $369,000, substantially below state and national medians, which makes Dongara accessible to buyers priced out of Perth or coastal alternatives further south. The housing stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 88.9% of dwellings, with apartments at just 4.8%, so buyers have limited apartment options. Three-bedroom homes account for 42.8% of stock and four-plus bedrooms for 41.7%, suggesting the town was built for family living even as the demographic has aged. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600, but the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 33.8%, above the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes are low at $1,092 per week, placing the suburb in the 17.1st percentile nationally.
For Investors
At $268 per week, median rent is low compared to broader WA coastal markets, and the vacancy rate of 16.9% is very high, signalling meaningful oversupply relative to rental demand. Against the $369,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield around 3.8%, which is moderate but complicated by the elevated vacancy. The renter share of 24.6% is below the national average, meaning owner-occupiers dominate and the rental pool is thin. Development activity recorded zero applications in the past 12 months, so new supply is not a near-term concern. The high vacancy and low income base suggest investor returns depend on capitalising on a low entry price rather than strong rental income.
Schools in Dongara iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Dongara District High School
K-12 · 342 students
Demographics
Dongara's median age of 51 is 11 years above the national figure, the clearest signal that this is a retirement-oriented coastal town. Only 12.5% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 17.6 points below the national rate, consistent with a workforce drawn to trades and resource industries rather than professional services. The overseas-born share of 15.7% is 5.9 points below the national figure, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (621 people), Scottish (118) and Irish (113). Average household size of 2.3 is slightly below national, aligned with the couples-without-children profile: 38% of families are couples with no children and the one-parent family count is negligible.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.9%
Houses
4.6%
Townhouse
4.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupier tenure dominates: 46.6% own outright and 28.8% hold a mortgage, together accounting for over 75% of households. This high outright-ownership rate compared to the national average reflects a long-settled population rather than recent buyers. Renters make up 24.6% of households, below national. Separate houses account for 88.9% of the stock, a higher proportion than most Australian suburbs, and large homes are common, with four-plus bedroom dwellings at 41.7%. The vacancy rate of 16.9% stands out as unusually high, suggesting a portion of the housing stock is used for seasonal or holiday purposes, consistent with coastal towns of this size. Rent-to-income at 24.5% is just below the 30% stress threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wk
$268
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$600
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.9%
Unoccupied
112
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.8% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.0%
Couples, no children
1,025
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is the largest employer at 14.6% of the local workforce (47 workers), followed by Healthcare at 13.7% and Education at 12.4%, creating a three-way employment base spread across resources, services and public sector. Construction accounts for 11.2% and Retail 10.2%. Labourers are the top occupation group (87 workers), ahead of Professionals (62) and Community/Personal service workers (62). The unemployment rate of 5.4% is above average, and the participation rate of 46.3% is low because a large share of residents (504 people) are not in the labour force, reflecting the older age profile. Full-time employment among those working runs at 58.3%, a moderate figure, with part-time work accounting for 214 positions.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.3%
Part-time
36.3%
Participation
46.3%
Employed
513
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.5%
Postgraduate
1.6%
Born Overseas
15.7%
Dwellings
542
Transport to Work
Transport is almost entirely car-dependent: 79.5% of residents drive to work, compared to national averages where active and public transport play a larger role. Public transport use sits at just 2.5%, while 9.1% walk or cycle, a relatively high active transport share for a regional town that likely reflects short local distances. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families typically access education in nearby centres. Crime statistics are not available for Dongara in this dataset. The volunteering rate of 24% is high compared to most Australian communities, a pattern common in tight regional towns where community participation fills gaps in formal services.
Drive
79.5%
Public Transport
2.5%
Walk / Cycle
9.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Dongara compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dongara a good suburb to live in?
Dongara suits retirees and owner-occupiers who value a quiet coastal setting with affordable housing. The median age of 51 is 11 years above national and 46.6% of residents own their homes outright. Household incomes are low at $1,092 per week (17.1st percentile nationally), so it is better suited to those with established wealth than income-dependent buyers.
What is the median house price in Dongara?
The median house price is estimated at $369,000, well below the Perth and national medians. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 33.8%, above the 30% stress benchmark, because local household incomes are relatively low at $1,092 per week.
What schools are in Dongara?
No schools are recorded inside the Dongara suburb boundary in this dataset. Families with school-age children typically access schools in nearby centres. Only 12.5% of Dongara residents hold university qualifications, which is 17.6 points below the national rate, reflecting a workforce drawn to trades and resources.
Is Dongara safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Dongara in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the volunteering rate is 24% and community participation is high for a regional town of 1,393 people, which tends to correlate with social cohesion. The suburb has low population density at 165 people per km2.
Is Dongara good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. A $369,000 median and $268 weekly rent imply a gross yield around 3.8%, but the 16.9% vacancy rate is high, suggesting seasonal or excess supply. Zero development applications in the past 12 months limits new competition. Returns depend on a low entry price rather than strong rental demand.
How is Dongara's population changing?
Dongara's 1,393 residents show a stable profile with 79.9% staying put over the measured period, well above average turnover rates. The aging base, median age 51, is 11 years above national, which means natural population growth is slow. Zero new development applications in the past 12 months points to a community in steady-state rather than growth mode.
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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