Exmouth
A 19.4% vacancy rate in a town of 2,806 people tells you most of what you need to know about Exmouth's property market: supply runs well ahead of demand, which keeps the estimated median house price at $475,000 well below comparable coastal WA markets. Household income sits in the 76th percentile nationally despite the remote location, driven by tourism, professional services, and public administration workers who command good wages. The town is younger than national average at median age 36, four years below the national figure, and the renter share at 43.8% is notably high compared to broader WA suburban norms.
Population
2,806
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,029/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$475K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $475,000 is based on 2025 rent data, reflecting Exmouth's thin sales market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,090, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.8%, below the 30% stress threshold nationally, so buyers who commit are not heavily stretched. The stock is weighted toward separate houses at 83.6%, with apartments at just 5.1%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 50.9% of dwellings, with four-plus bedroom homes at 27.4%. Outright owners are 22.2% of the market, lower than the national average, consistent with a younger and more transient workforce population.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $475,000 is based on 2025 rent data, reflecting Exmouth's thin sales market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,090, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.8%, below the 30% stress threshold nationally, so buyers who commit are not heavily stretched. The stock is weighted toward separate houses at 83.6%, with apartments at just 5.1%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 50.9% of dwellings, with four-plus bedroom homes at 27.4%. Outright owners are 22.2% of the market, lower than the national average, consistent with a younger and more transient workforce population.
For Investors
A 43.8% renter share and $340 weekly rent underpin landlord demand, but the 19.4% vacancy rate is a significant caution, far above the 3% to 5% range typical of stable coastal markets. Against the $475,000 median, rent implies a gross yield near 3.7%, reasonable for regional WA, yet high vacancy means income gaps between tenants are likely. Population growth of 1.49% annually and net internal migration of 61 per year support gradual demand. Development activity shows zero applications in the past 12 months, so no new supply pressure near term, which could support rents if demand continues its upward trend.
Schools in Exmouth iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Exmouth District High School
K-12 · 536 students
Demographics
The median age of 36 is four years below the national figure, pointing to a workforce-age population drawn by employment. Overseas-born residents at 20.3% are 1.3 points below the national average. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic: English leads with 1,088 residents, followed by Scottish (286) and Irish (232). Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure. The senior share rose 1.4 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 2.4 points. Volunteering at 27.2% is notably high compared to national norms, consistent with the close-knit community ties that form in remote towns where residents depend on each other more than in major cities.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.6%
Houses
2.5%
Townhouse
5.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses represent 83.6% of the stock, well above the national mix, while apartments are just 5.1%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 50.9%, with four-plus bedroom dwellings at 27.4%. Tenure splits at 22.2% owned outright, 34.0% on a mortgage, and 43.8% renting, with the renter share above the national average, consistent with a transient workforce. The 19.4% vacancy rate means roughly one in five dwellings sits empty at any given time, reflecting seasonal tourism patterns. Rent-to-income at 16.8% stays well below the 30% stress level, so tenants are not financially pressured despite paying for a remote coastal location.
Mortgage / mo
$2,090
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$967
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
19.4%
Unoccupied
240
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.0%
Couples, no children
1,864
Total families
Economy & Employment
Hospitality leads at 12.2% of workers (126 people), reflecting Exmouth's role as the gateway to Ningaloo Reef. Professional and technical services follow at 11.9% (123 workers), then public administration at 10.0% and transport at 9.9%. Unemployment is just 2.6% and the full-time employment rate reaches 67.5%. Household weekly income averages $2,029, placing the suburb in the 76th income percentile nationally, which reflects the high-wage workforce attracted to marine research, resource logistics, and government roles rather than a typical service-sector remote town. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 6 is at the national median, but the IEO decile of 3 is below average for education and occupation, pointing to a split between well-paid specialist workers and a lower-credentialled service sector.
Unemployment
1.7%
Labour Force
3,153
Unemployed
55
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.5%
Part-time
29.9%
Participation
64.9%
Employed
1,448
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.3%
Postgraduate
4.1%
Born Overseas
20.3%
Dwellings
988
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 74.8% driving to work, with only 1.4% using public transit, typical for a remote town. Walking and cycling at 17.6% of commuters is above average, because the compact town footprint makes active transport practical. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families must rely on nearby facilities. The need-assistance rate is 2.8% (71 people), consistent with the younger median age of 36, four years below the national figure. Housing stress is absent: rent-to-income at 16.8% and mortgage-to-income at 23.8% both sit below stress thresholds. The IRSAD decile of 5 places Exmouth at the national median for advantage, a more balanced profile than many remote WA towns that score below decile 3.
Drive
74.8%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
17.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.49%/yr
(+81 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 18.3% over the decade to 2021, above the national average for remote coastal towns, and the current trend runs at 1.49% annually, adding 81 people per year. The medium forecast has the broader SA2 reaching 5,748 by 2031 from 5,419 in 2025. Gentrification signals are at an early stage: score of 34, with population growth of 34% since 2011 and professional employment rising from 9% to 23%. Real income growth of 11.6% over the decade confirmed rising earnings, while rent growth of 31.5% over the same period outpaced income. Affordability shifted from 30.3% rent-to-income in 2011 to 29.1% in 2021, a stable trend compared to many coastal WA markets that saw sharp deterioration.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+54
Net Internal / yr
+61
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +34% since 2011, Net internal migration +61/yr, Accelerating: 9% → 23%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Exmouth compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Exmouth a good suburb to live in?
Exmouth offers a remote coastal lifestyle with low housing stress: rent-to-income sits at 16.8% and mortgage-to-income at 23.8%, both below stress thresholds. Household income is in the 76th percentile nationally, unemployment is just 2.6%, and volunteering runs at 27.2%. The main trade-offs are a 19.4% vacancy rate signalling transient population, no recorded schools within the suburb boundary, and limited public transport with 74.8% of residents driving.
What is the median house price in Exmouth?
The estimated median house price is $475,000, based on 2025 rent data given the thin transaction volume. Weekly rent averages $340 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,090. The 83.6% separate house stock means most buyers are purchasing detached homes, with three-bedroom homes the most common configuration at 50.9% of dwellings.
What schools are in Exmouth?
No schools are recorded inside the Exmouth suburb boundary in this dataset. Families with school-age children will need to rely on educational facilities nearby. The university qualification rate is 24.3%, which is 5.8 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a workforce skewed toward trades and service industries rather than knowledge-sector professions.
Is Exmouth safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Exmouth in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores SEIFA IRSD decile 6, placing it in the middle tier for relative disadvantage nationally, and only 2.8% of its 2,806 residents need daily assistance. The low unemployment rate of 2.6% and engaged community, evidenced by a volunteering rate of 27.2%, are generally associated with lower crime environments.
Is Exmouth good for property investment?
The 43.8% renter share and $340 weekly rent deliver an estimated gross yield near 3.7% against the $475,000 median, reasonable for regional WA. However, the 19.4% vacancy rate is the key risk: it signals significant periods of empty properties, particularly outside peak tourism season. Annual population growth of 1.49% and net internal migration of 61 per year provide gradual demand support, and zero new development applications in 12 months means no new supply pressure near term.
How is Exmouth's population changing?
Exmouth grew 18.3% over the decade to 2021 and continues at 1.49% per year, adding about 81 people annually. Migration is balanced: net internal migration of 61 per year and net overseas migration of 54 per year both contribute. The medium forecast has the broader area reaching 5,748 residents by 2031, up from 5,419 in 2025. The working-age share fell 2.4 points while the senior share rose 1.4 points over the decade, a modest aging trend.
What industries drive Exmouth's economy?
Tourism and hospitality lead at 12.2% of workers (126 people), consistent with Exmouth's role as the main gateway to Ningaloo Reef, one of Australia's premier marine parks. Professional and technical services follow at 11.9% (123 workers), then public administration at 10.0% (104 workers). Construction accounts for 9.6% and transport 9.9%, both elevated compared to the national average, reflecting ongoing remote-area infrastructure needs.
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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