Drummond Cove
A 73.8% share of homes have four or more bedrooms, a strong signal that Drummond Cove is built around detached family living rather than compact housing. The suburb has 1,605 residents, a median age of 33, and household income at the 81.5th percentile nationally. Its age profile is 7 years below the national median, while average household size is 2.8 people, 0.3 above the national figure. When comparing Drummond Cove with nearby Sunset Beach, buyers should focus on its 47.7% mortgage-holder share, 23.9% outright ownership and 100.0% separate-house rate. Car travel dominates at 84.5%, shaping daily access to Geraldton services.
Local council: Greater Geraldton
Population
1,605
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,134/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Buyer demand is likely to centre on detached family homes: 100.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 73.8% have four or more bedrooms. That fits households averaging 2.8 people, including 48.4% of families with children, rather than apartment seekers. Mortgage repayments of $1,733 a month equal 18.8% of household income, while rent is $330 a week. Household income sits at the 81.5th percentile, higher than the national midpoint, supporting a stronger borrowing base than lower-income markets. Buyers should compare recent sales around Geraldton and nearby Sunset Beach, then budget for car travel because 84.5% drive to work.
For Buyers
Buyer demand is likely to centre on detached family homes: 100.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 73.8% have four or more bedrooms. That fits households averaging 2.8 people, including 48.4% of families with children, rather than apartment seekers. Mortgage repayments of $1,733 a month equal 18.8% of household income, while rent is $330 a week. Household income sits at the 81.5th percentile, higher than the national midpoint, supporting a stronger borrowing base than lower-income markets. Buyers should compare recent sales around Geraldton and nearby Sunset Beach, then budget for car travel because 84.5% drive to work.
For Investors
Investor appeal is shaped by a 27.7% renter share, $330 weekly rent and a 9.2% vacancy rate. The vacancy rate is above zero, so leasing speed and tenant selection deserve attention rather than assuming automatic rental competition. With 100.0% separate houses and 73.8% four-plus-bedroom dwellings, the likely product is family-oriented rather than apartment-led, making maintenance and insurance important parts of the yield calculation. There were 0 development projects in the past 12 months, limiting an immediate supply pipeline. Compared with a higher-density suburb, detached stock may suit longer tenancies, but the 84.5% car-driver share makes access to jobs and services a key risk.
Demographics
Drummond Cove has a young resident base: the median age is 33, or 7 years below the national median. University attainment is 22.5%, 7.6 percentage points below the national level, while overseas-born residents account for 12.4%, 9.2 points below nationally. That combination supports an Anglo-leaning profile, with English ancestry recorded for 705 people, followed by Scottish at 166 and Irish at 145. Families are prominent: 48.4% of families have children, 36.5% are couples without children, and average household size is 2.8, or 0.3 above the national figure. Compared with more culturally mixed parts of Geraldton, Drummond Cove is likely to feel more locally rooted. No religion is the largest affiliation at 817 people, ahead of Christianity at 649.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is overwhelmingly detached and family-sized. Separate houses account for 100.0% of dwellings, while 73.8% contain four or more bedrooms and 21.6% contain three bedrooms. Tenure is tilted toward active ownership: 47.7% of households have a mortgage, 23.9% own outright and 27.7% rent. Mortgage costs represent 18.8% of household income, compared with 15.5% for rent, so mortgage households carry the larger commitment. The 9.2% vacancy rate may give renters more choice than in a tightly occupied market. When compared with nearby Sunset Beach, the practical distinction to test is the price, age and condition of detached homes rather than apartment availability. The 1.52 square kilometre footprint and density of 1,052.7 people per square kilometre also matter for privacy and services.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$330
Census 2021
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$960
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.2%
Unoccupied
55
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.4%
Couples with children
36.5%
Couples, no children
12.5%
Single parent
455
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is anchored by services and regional resources. Healthcare is the largest listed industry at 18.9% and 107 workers, ahead of Education at 15.4% and 87, while Mining contributes 12.7% and 72. Construction adds 9.9% and 56, and Public Administration contributes 8.5% and 48. Healthcare's share is higher than mining's, showing why the local economy is not dependent on one sector alone. Labour-force participation is 70.2%, unemployment is 3.5%, and 64.7% of employed people work full-time. Occupations are split between Professionals and Trades at 151 each, followed by Community and Personal Service at 132, Clerical and Administrative work at 95, and Managers at 83. This mix supports household income at the 81.5th percentile because professional, trade and public-sector work broaden earning options beyond resource jobs.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
851
Unemployed
30
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.7%
Part-time
29.6%
Participation
70.2%
Employed
821
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.5%
Postgraduate
2.7%
Born Overseas
12.4%
Dwellings
545
Transport to Work
Livability is practical and car-oriented. About 84.5% of residents drive to work, compared with 3.5% using public transport and 1.8% walking or cycling, so access to a reliable vehicle matters more than in a transit-led suburb. Work from home is 4.8%, limiting the share of households that can avoid regular travel. Families should check current school options, enrolment zones and travel times against the exact address, because school access is organised across the wider Geraldton area and should not be assumed from a suburb boundary. The suburb covers 1.52 square kilometres at 1,052.7 people per square kilometre, giving it a compact urban footprint, while 18.2% volunteering suggests local civic participation. A need-assistance rate of 2.4% is modest. For safety, review current WA Police information and visit at different times, since a live local check is more useful than a general impression.
Drive
84.5%
Public Transport
3.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
4.8%
Growth Outlook
Drummond Cove's current growth story is better described as established residential demand than a visible construction surge. The suburb has 1,605 residents, and 71.6% stayed at the same address over the reference period, above the 28.4% turnover rate. That level of retention can support neighbourhood continuity because households are not being replaced wholesale each year. There were 0 development projects in the past 12 months, so new supply is not an obvious short-term driver. Compared with a fast-expanding estate, demand here is more likely to depend on resale listings, family household formation and employment connected to Geraldton's healthcare, education, mining and construction base. The median age of 33 and 48.4% share of families with children provide a base for ongoing housing demand, while the 9.2% vacancy rate suggests available stock still needs to be absorbed.
Population trend: Greater Geraldton council area
Drummond Cove sits in the Greater Geraldton council area. These are the council area's residents, not Drummond Cove's.
Residents 2025
42,882
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.9%
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 Drummond Cove compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Drummond Cove a good suburb to live in?
Drummond Cove can suit households wanting detached homes, space and a relatively young community. About 73.8% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 84.5% of residents drive to work. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, daily life is more car dependent, so buyers should weigh commute times, fuel costs and school access.
What is the median house price in Drummond Cove?
Use recent settled sales to establish the current median rather than relying on an old estimate. The main affordability guides are $1,733 in monthly mortgage repayments, $330 weekly rent and mortgage costs equal to 18.8% of household income. Those figures help set a budget, but they do not replace a property-specific valuation.
What schools are in Drummond Cove?
School choices should be checked using the exact street address, enrolment zone and current transport options across the wider Geraldton area. Drummond Cove is strongly car-oriented, with 84.5% driving to work and only 3.5% using public transport. Confirm current government and non-government options before signing a lease or purchase contract.
Is Drummond Cove safe?
Safety should be checked through current WA Police incident information, council updates and an in-person visit at different times. Drummond Cove has 1,605 residents and 84.5% drive to work, so traffic patterns and evening activity can affect how streets feel. An address-level check is more useful than relying on a general suburb impression.
Is Drummond Cove good for property investment?
It may suit investors targeting detached family rentals, with 27.7% of households renting, weekly rent of $330 and 100.0% separate houses. The 9.2% vacancy rate and 0 development projects in the past 12 months call for careful testing of leasing demand, maintenance costs, insurance and future competition before purchasing.
How is Drummond Cove's population changing?
Drummond Cove has 1,605 residents today. Residential continuity is relatively strong: 71.6% stayed at the same address, above the 28.4% turnover rate. There were 0 development projects in the past 12 months, so current change appears more likely to come from resales and household moves than a large construction pipeline. The median age of 33 and 48.4% couples-with-children share support ongoing family demand.
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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