Golden Bay
A median age of 30 sits a full 10 years below the national figure, and that youth shapes almost everything else about Golden Bay. The population grew 42.0% over the past decade and is still expanding at 2.88% a year, far above most established WA suburbs. Housing is overwhelmingly detached, with 98.0% separate houses and 56.3% of dwellings carrying four or more bedrooms, built for the families who make up the bulk of the 5,681 residents. The $446,000 median house price keeps it affordable, with household income in the 70.6th percentile nationally, and SEIFA advantage reads mid-pack at decile 6 on IRSAD.
Population
5,681
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,891/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$446K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $446,000 median house price, Golden Bay sits well below most metropolitan Perth markets, which is the main reason 59.9% of residents carry a mortgage, more than double the 15.1% who own outright. The stock is built for families: 98.0% are separate houses and 56.3% have four or more bedrooms, with another 39.0% offering three. That leaves apartments and small dwellings almost absent, so buyers looking for a large detached home on a single title are the natural fit here. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,777, and because incomes sit in the 70.6th percentile, the mortgage-to-income ratio is a comfortable 21.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. The combination of low entry price and large floor plans explains why the suburb skews so young, with a median age of 30, ten years under the national figure.
For Buyers
At a $446,000 median house price, Golden Bay sits well below most metropolitan Perth markets, which is the main reason 59.9% of residents carry a mortgage, more than double the 15.1% who own outright. The stock is built for families: 98.0% are separate houses and 56.3% have four or more bedrooms, with another 39.0% offering three. That leaves apartments and small dwellings almost absent, so buyers looking for a large detached home on a single title are the natural fit here. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,777, and because incomes sit in the 70.6th percentile, the mortgage-to-income ratio is a comfortable 21.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. The combination of low entry price and large floor plans explains why the suburb skews so young, with a median age of 30, ten years under the national figure.
For Investors
A 25.1% renter share and weekly rent of $350 give landlords a modest tenant base in a market dominated by owner-occupiers. Against the $446,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 4.1%, stronger than the sub-2% returns common in premium Perth suburbs and a function of the low purchase price rather than high rent. The 9.1% vacancy rate is elevated, signalling that demand has not fully absorbed recent supply. Demand support is genuine, with balanced migration adding about 310 net internal and 329 net overseas residents a year, and rent grew 4.3% over the period. Annual population growth of 2.88% and a 42.0% rise over the decade point to a market still in expansion, so the case rests on affordability-driven tenant demand and capital growth more than on yield alone.
Schools in Golden Bay iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Golden Bay Primary School
K-6 · 511 students
Demographics
The median age of 30 is 10.0 years below the national figure, the clearest marker of a young family suburb rather than an aging one. The young-resident share has actually slipped 3.5 points over the decade as those families mature, while the senior share crept up 2.4 points. Overseas-born residents reach 26.8%, which is 5.2 points above national, though ancestry leans strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,785), Scottish (586) and Irish (496). University qualifications sit at 17.7%, fully 12.4 points below national, consistent with a workforce weighted toward trades and service roles rather than knowledge sectors. Average household size is 2.8, which is 0.3 above national, reflecting the 2,197 couple-with-children families that anchor the suburb's 4,643 family households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.0%
Houses
2.0%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by mortgage holders at 59.9%, against just 15.1% owning outright and 25.1% renting, a profile typical of a young suburb where most residents are still paying down recent purchases. The stock is 98.0% separate houses with only 2.0% semi-detached and effectively no apartments, and bedroom counts run large, with 56.3% of homes at four-plus bedrooms and 39.0% at three. The $446,000 median house price keeps the suburb affordable relative to greater Perth, which is why mortgage-to-income stays at 21.7% and rent-to-income at 18.5%, both well below the 30% stress line. Affordability has improved over time, easing from 45.9% in 2011 to 38.9% in 2021, a rare trend that helps explain why so many young mortgage-holding families have been able to enter the market here.
Mortgage / mo
$1,777
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$895
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.1%
Unoccupied
196
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
18.3%
Couples, no children
4,643
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce is spread across population-serving and resource sectors rather than concentrated in professional services: Healthcare leads at 14.2% (265 workers), Education follows at 13.0% (242) and Construction at 11.6% (217), with Mining at 9.3% and Public Admin at 8.6%. By occupation, Professionals (433) and Community and Personal Service workers (417) are the two largest groups, ahead of Labourers (305). Unemployment is 5.8% with a 64.2% full-time rate, and participation sits at 66.6%. The mid-range SEIFA scores fit this picture: IER (economic resources) reaches decile 9, well above the IEO education-and-occupation score of decile 5, a gap explained by solid household incomes from trades and resource work despite the lower 17.7% university rate.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
15,700
Unemployed
565
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.2%
Part-time
30.0%
Participation
66.6%
Employed
2,659
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.7%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
26.8%
Dwellings
1,930
Transport to Work
Transport is heavily car-dependent, with 86.8% of residents driving to work against just 5.1% on public transport and 1.7% walking or cycling, a pattern that reflects the suburb's outer-metropolitan, low-density location at 1,287 residents per km2. On disadvantage measures the suburb reads comfortably mid-range, scoring decile 7 on IRSD and decile 6 on IRSAD, with only 3.6% of residents (192 people) needing daily assistance despite the family-heavy profile. Housing costs stay manageable, with rent-to-income at 18.5%, well below the 30% stress line. No schools are recorded inside the 4.41 km2 boundary in this dataset, so the area's many young families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off for an affordable, still-developing growth corridor.
Drive
86.8%
Public Transport
5.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.88%/yr
(+761 people/yr)
EstablishedGolden Bay is a genuine growth market, expanding 2.88% a year and 42.0% over the past decade, well above the flat or single-digit growth of established suburbs. Migration is balanced rather than reliant on one source, adding roughly 310 net internal and 329 net overseas residents annually, so demand is broad-based. The gentrification reading is Active with a score of 50, supported by accelerating turnover and steady inflows, though the lower 17.7% university rate suggests this is family-led expansion rather than wealth-led displacement. Real income growth was essentially flat at 0.1% over the decade, so the affordability gains came from price moderation rather than rising pay. The young median age of 30, ten years below national, points to continued household formation driving the trajectory.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+329
Net Internal / yr
+310
Gentrification Signal
Active
Net internal migration +310/yr, Strong overseas inflow +329/yr, Accelerating: 24% → 31%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Golden Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Golden Bay a good suburb to live in?
Golden Bay suits young families, with a median age of 30, ten years below national, and 98.0% of homes being separate houses. It is affordable, with a $446,000 median house price and household income in the 70.6th percentile. The main trade-off is heavy car dependence, with 86.8% of residents driving to work.
What is the median house price in Golden Bay?
The median house price is $446,000, well below most greater Perth markets. Weekly rent averages $350 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,777, giving a comfortable mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Golden Bay?
No schools are recorded inside the 4.41 km2 Golden Bay boundary in this dataset, so the suburb's many young families, reflected in a median age of 30, rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the wider growth corridor.
Is Golden Bay safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Golden Bay in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 7 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, above the midpoint, and only 3.6% of residents (192 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a moderate-disadvantage area.
Is Golden Bay good for property investment?
Rent of $350 a week against a $446,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.1%, stronger than the sub-2% returns in premium Perth suburbs. Balanced migration adds about 639 net residents a year, supporting demand, though the 9.1% vacancy rate is elevated and returns lean on capital growth.
How is Golden Bay's population changing?
The population is growing fast, up 42.0% over the past decade and still expanding 2.88% a year, well above established suburbs. Growth is balanced, with about 310 net internal and 329 net overseas residents added annually, while the young-resident share eased 3.5 points as families matured.
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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