Eaton
Mining accounts for 8.5% of Eaton's workforce, a figure that sets it apart from every other suburb in this batch and reflects its location in Western Australia's Bunbury-Harvey corridor where FIFO and resource-sector incomes shape the local economy. Yet university qualifications at 14.3% sit 15.8 points below the national average, the widest education gap in this group, and the SEIFA IEO decile of 2 confirms limited educational opportunity. The paradox of resource-sector employment alongside low formal education creates an unusual suburb where trade skills and machinery operation (Labourers 519, Machinery/Drivers 495) outweigh professional qualifications.
Population
8,669
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,485/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$409K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $409,000 estimated median, Eaton offers affordable detached housing (89.8% separate houses) with 54.5% of homes having 4+ bedrooms. Mortgage repayments of $1,517/month consume 23.6% of household income, below the stress threshold. The 32.6% outright ownership rate and 44.3% mortgage rate show a mature ownership mix. Turnover at 22.6% provides moderate stock availability. The 7.6% vacancy rate is elevated compared to Perth metro, suggesting softer demand in this regional market. Buyers benefit from large-lot housing at prices well below Perth, though the low educational opportunity decile (2) may influence school choice and local amenity expectations.
For Buyers
At $409,000 estimated median, Eaton offers affordable detached housing (89.8% separate houses) with 54.5% of homes having 4+ bedrooms. Mortgage repayments of $1,517/month consume 23.6% of household income, below the stress threshold. The 32.6% outright ownership rate and 44.3% mortgage rate show a mature ownership mix. Turnover at 22.6% provides moderate stock availability. The 7.6% vacancy rate is elevated compared to Perth metro, suggesting softer demand in this regional market. Buyers benefit from large-lot housing at prices well below Perth, though the low educational opportunity decile (2) may influence school choice and local amenity expectations.
For Investors
Eaton's 23.1% rental rate and $340/week median rent provide a modest yield base, but the 7.6% vacancy rate is a concern for sustained occupancy. Zero development applications in 12 months means no new supply competition, which protects existing stock value. The suburb has no forecast migration data available, and the Census population of 8,669 with a median age of 41 suggests a stable rather than growing community. The SEIFA IER decile of 7 shows above-average economic resources, likely reflecting mining and trade incomes. Rent stress at 22.9% and mortgage stress at 23.6% are both moderate compared to Perth metro levels.
Schools in Eaton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Eaton Primary School
K-6 · 407 students
Glen Huon Primary School
K-6 · 511 students
Eaton Community College
7-12 · 449 students
Demographics
English ancestry dominates (3,988), followed by Scottish (770), Irish (734), and a large 'Ancestry not stated' group (579). The 17.5% overseas-born share is 4.1 points below the national average, making Eaton one of the more Anglo-leaning suburbs in this batch. University qualifications at 14.3% are 15.8 points below the national rate, the widest gap in this group, and the SEIFA IEO decile of 2 confirms limited educational attainment. The median age of 41 is 1 year above the national figure. Non-English languages are minimal: Afrikaans (17), Mandarin (15), Punjabi (13), and Malayalam (13) in very small numbers.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.8%
Houses
8.7%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached houses make up 89.8%, with semi-detached at 8.7% and apartments at just 0.5%. Four-plus-bedroom homes dominate (54.5%), followed by 3 bedrooms (33.4%), reflecting generous regional lot sizes. The ownership structure is balanced: mortgage holders (44.3%), outright owners (32.6%), and renters (23.1%). At $409,000 estimated median, Eaton is priced well below Perth and comparable to many regional WA towns. Rent-to-income at 22.9% and mortgage-to-income at 23.6% are both manageable. The 7.6% vacancy rate is the key weakness, sitting above the regional average and suggesting periods of tenant scarcity compared to tighter markets.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$717
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.6%
Unoccupied
266
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.8%
Couples, no children
6,609
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 17.4% (405 workers), followed by Construction (12.2%), Education (10.3%), Manufacturing (10.0%), and Mining (8.5%). The 8.5% mining share is unique in this batch, reflecting FIFO and local resource employment. Labourers (519) and Machinery/Drivers (495) are the top two occupations, with Community/Personal (490) third and Professionals (448) fourth, a blue-collar lean consistent with the low university rate. Unemployment at 5.4% is near the national average. The SEIFA picture shows a split: IEO decile 2 (low education) versus IER decile 7 (above-average economic resources), meaning trade and mining incomes generate wealth without formal qualifications.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.9%
Part-time
32.7%
Participation
55.1%
Employed
3,660
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.3%
Postgraduate
1.4%
Born Overseas
17.5%
Dwellings
3,215
Transport to Work
Three schools serve Eaton, all with ICSEA scores slightly below the national average of 1000. Eaton Primary School (Government, ICSEA 958, 407 students), Glen Huon Primary School (Government, ICSEA 957, 511 students), and Eaton Community College (Government Secondary, ICSEA 949, 449 students) provide local education. Public transport use is very low at 2.4%, with 88.4% driving. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 4 places overall conditions below the national median. The 7.0% needing-assistance rate is above the national average, and the 15.9% volunteering rate is moderate. Walking and cycling at 1.9% reflect car-dependent regional-town design.
Drive
88.4%
Public Transport
2.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Eaton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Eaton a good suburb to live in?
Eaton offers affordable, spacious housing ($409,000 median, 54.5% with 4+ bedrooms) in the Bunbury-Harvey region. Mortgage stress at 23.6% is moderate. The tradeoffs include SEIFA IRSAD decile 4 (below national median), limited public transport (2.4% usage), and school ICSEA scores slightly below the national average of 1000. It suits families comfortable with regional living and car-dependent commuting.
What is the median house price in Eaton?
The estimated median house price is $409,000 (2025 estimate). Monthly mortgage repayments of approximately $1,517 consume 23.6% of the median household income of $1,485/week. This is significantly below Perth metro prices and offers large 4+ bedroom homes that would cost 2-3 times more in the capital.
What schools are in Eaton?
Three government schools serve the suburb: Eaton Primary (ICSEA 958, 407 students), Glen Huon Primary (ICSEA 957, 511 students), and Eaton Community College (Secondary, ICSEA 949, 449 students). All three score slightly below the national ICSEA average of 1000. Families seeking higher-ICSEA options access schools in the broader Bunbury area.
Is Eaton safe?
Crime statistics are not available in our current dataset for Eaton. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 5 indicates mid-range disadvantage nationally. The moderate unemployment rate of 5.4% and 77.4% residential stability are demographic factors that suggest average safety conditions compared to the WA regional average.
Is Eaton good for property investment?
With 23.1% renters, $340/week rent, and a 7.6% vacancy rate, Eaton presents a modest investment case. The elevated vacancy is the primary risk. Zero development applications in 12 months means no new supply competition. The $409,000 entry price is accessible, and mining/trade incomes (IER decile 7) support tenant quality. Returns depend on the resource sector cycle compared to more diversified urban markets.
How is Eaton's population changing?
Eaton has a Census population of 8,669 with a stable, mature profile (median age 41, 32.6% outright owners). Zero development applications in 12 months suggest the suburb is fully built out. The 22.6% turnover rate indicates moderate population rotation. The SEIFA IER decile of 7 confirms above-average economic resources, sustained by mining and trade incomes rather than population growth.
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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