Esperance
With a median age of 52 and a vacancy rate of 21.8%, Esperance tells a clear story: a slowly aging coastal town where a significant share of housing sits unoccupied at any point in time. The suburb's 2,080 residents sit at the 17th income percentile nationally, while the IRSAD decile of 3 and IEO decile of 2 place it well below average on education and socioeconomic advantage compared to national benchmarks. Rent grew 35% over the decade, outpacing real income growth of 10.4%, which tightens affordability for the 49.2% of households who rent. Healthcare dominates employment at 20%, consistent with the older resident profile.
Population
2,080
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,087/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$335K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $335,000 is well below the national median for established coastal markets, reflecting Esperance's remote location in WA's south coast. Separate houses make up 63.3% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 27.9% and apartments at just 8.5%. Three-bedroom homes account for 38.9% of stock and four-plus bedrooms for 20.2%, giving buyers reasonable family-size options at this price point. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.9%, which sits above the 30% stress threshold relative to local incomes. Only 17.5% of dwellings carry a mortgage, compared to 33.3% owned outright, suggesting the existing owner base is largely debt-free.
For Buyers
The median house price of $335,000 is well below the national median for established coastal markets, reflecting Esperance's remote location in WA's south coast. Separate houses make up 63.3% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 27.9% and apartments at just 8.5%. Three-bedroom homes account for 38.9% of stock and four-plus bedrooms for 20.2%, giving buyers reasonable family-size options at this price point. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.9%, which sits above the 30% stress threshold relative to local incomes. Only 17.5% of dwellings carry a mortgage, compared to 33.3% owned outright, suggesting the existing owner base is largely debt-free.
For Investors
The 49.2% renter share is higher than state averages and offers landlords a large potential tenant pool, but the 21.8% vacancy rate is a significant countervailing signal, indicating that supply outstrips current demand. Weekly rent sits at $235, and rent grew 35% over the decade, faster than local income growth of 10.4%, which may support further rent gains if vacancy tightens. Against the $335,000 median, $235 weekly rent implies a gross yield around 3.6%, modest but above inner-city benchmarks. Population growth runs at 0.42% annually, driven primarily by overseas migration of 38 per year, while internal migration averages a net outflow of 46 per year, limiting organic demand growth.
Schools in Esperance iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School
PP-6 · 99 students
Esperance Primary School
K-6 · 453 students
Esperance Anglican Community School
7-12 · 308 students
Castletown Primary School
K-6 · 488 students
Esperance Senior High School
7-12 · 761 students
Demographics
The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure, making Esperance one of the more age-skewed coastal suburbs in WA. The senior share rose 5.5 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 1.4 points, confirming an aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents account for 19.5%, which is 2.1 points below national. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, with English (858), Scottish (242) and Irish (189) the three largest groups. University qualifications at 18.9% are 11.2 points below the national rate, consistent with the SEIFA IEO decile of 2, which ranks education and occupation outcomes in the bottom fifth nationally. Average household size is 1.9, below the national figure of 2.5, reflecting the high proportion of older residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
63.3%
Houses
27.9%
Townhouse
8.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure leans heavily toward renting at 49.2%, compared to 33.3% owned outright and 17.5% with a mortgage. The high renter share relative to the 21.8% vacancy rate suggests a transient or semi-permanent rental demand base alongside a significant proportion of properties held as holiday or seasonal accommodation. Separate houses dominate at 63.3%, with semi-detached dwellings at 27.9%, and three-bedroom configurations are most common at 38.9%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.9% exceeds the 30% stress threshold, while rent-to-income at 21.6% remains below the 30% stress level. The IRSD decile of 4 places the suburb below the national median on relative disadvantage, consistent with lower household incomes at the 17th percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wk
$235
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$696
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
21.8%
Unoccupied
253
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.9% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.2%
Couples, no children
1,126
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs 20.0% of the local workforce (99 workers), the largest sector, which reflects the older demographic needing services more than a high-income economic base. Education follows at 14.3% (71 workers), Construction at 9.7% (48), Transport at 8.3% (41) and Agriculture at 7.1% (35). By occupation, Professionals (140) and Managers (117) lead, followed closely by Labourers (116) and Machinery/Drivers (94), an occupational split typical of a regional service town with agriculture and logistics on the fringe. Unemployment is 3.4% and the full-time employment rate among the employed is 66.2%, but the participation rate of 45.3% is low, because 737 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the high proportion of retirees. Weekly personal income averages $696 and the IRSAD decile sits at 3, below average nationally.
Unemployment
2.8%
Labour Force
6,445
Unemployed
183
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.2%
Part-time
30.4%
Participation
45.3%
Employed
789
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.9%
Postgraduate
2.6%
Born Overseas
19.5%
Dwellings
904
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 82.9% of residents driving to work, above typical national figures for accessible urban areas, reflecting Esperance's remote location where public transport is negligible. Walking or cycling accounts for 11.7% of journeys, a reasonable share given the compact 2.51 sq km footprint. The IRSAD decile of 3 places Esperance below the national average on social and economic advantage, and the IEO decile of 2 indicates limited access to economic and educational opportunity compared to most Australian suburbs. Volunteering participation at 25.2% is notable, higher than many metropolitan benchmarks, and 10.9% of residents need daily assistance, consistent with the older population profile. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in the dataset, so families rely on institutions in nearby areas.
Drive
82.9%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
11.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.42%/yr
(+53 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation sits at approximately 12,580 in 2025, broadly stable after a slight dip from 12,593 in 2023. Annual growth registers 0.42%, adding around 53 persons per year, with the medium forecast projecting the broader Esperance region reaching 12,992 by 2031. The gentrification score of 14 classifies the suburb as not gentrifying, meaning no meaningful capital-driven demographic shift is underway. Overseas migration contributes 38 arrivals per year, while net internal migration averages negative 46, meaning more people leave to other Australian areas than arrive. Population grew 5.0% over the decade and real incomes increased 10.4%, but rent outpaced both at 35%, compressing affordability for renters over time.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+38
Net Internal / yr
-46
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Esperance compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Esperance a good suburb to live in?
Esperance suits those seeking affordable coastal living, with a $335,000 median house price well below most WA coastal markets. The IRSAD decile of 3 places it below the national average on socioeconomic advantage, and with 49.2% of households renting at $235 per week, costs are manageable. The median age of 52 reflects a quieter, older community rather than a high-amenity urban centre.
What is the median house price in Esperance?
The median house price is $335,000, estimated from 2025 rent data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,500, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.9% against local income levels. Weekly rent is $235, with rent having grown 35% over the decade, faster than local real income growth of 10.4%.
What schools are in Esperance?
No schools are recorded within the Esperance suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding parts of the Esperance region. University qualifications among residents stand at 18.9%, which is 11.2 points below the national figure, consistent with a regional service-town profile rather than an education-focused hub.
Is Esperance safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Esperance in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb's IRSD decile of 4 places it slightly below the national median on relative disadvantage, which is generally associated with moderate rather than high crime risk. The volunteering rate of 25.2% signals community cohesion relative to national averages.
Is Esperance good for property investment?
The 49.2% renter share supports tenant demand, and weekly rent of $235 against a $335,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.6%, above inner-city levels. However, the 21.8% vacancy rate is the key risk, indicating oversupply in the current market. Annual population growth of 0.42% and net internal migration of negative 46 per year limit upside from organic demand growth.
How is Esperance's population changing?
The broader Esperance region holds around 12,580 residents in 2025, growing at 0.42% annually. Over 10 years, population increased 5.0%. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 5.5 points and the working-age share down 1.4 points over the decade. Overseas migration adds 38 per year, offset by a net internal outflow of 46, resulting in thin net 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.
Explore Esperance on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map