Harvey
A 10.1% vacancy rate in a town of 3,462 people signals something unusual: Harvey, WA carries more housing supply than demand can readily absorb. The median house price of $368,000 sits well below state and national benchmarks, reflecting household income in the 42nd percentile nationally. Manufacturing employs 32.3% of workers, making it the dominant industry by a wide margin, and 93% of dwellings are separate houses, giving the suburb a distinctly low-density character. The population grew 10.9% over the decade, and gentrification signals are beginning to emerge, though the town remains in early-stage transition.
Population
3,462
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,425/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$368K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $368,000 median house price, Harvey is affordable compared to most Western Australian regional centres, and mortgage stress is not a concern here: mortgage repayments average $1,517 per month, representing 24.6% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 93% of dwellings, with 4-plus bedroom homes accounting for 40.1% of stock and 3-bedroom homes at 44%. Semi-detached dwellings make up 6.3%, with no apartment stock recorded. Outright ownership stands at 38.7%, higher than typical mortgage-belt suburbs, suggesting an established owner base. For buyers seeking detached housing below the national median, Harvey offers genuine affordability without the financial pressure seen in higher-cost markets.
For Buyers
At a $368,000 median house price, Harvey is affordable compared to most Western Australian regional centres, and mortgage stress is not a concern here: mortgage repayments average $1,517 per month, representing 24.6% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses dominate at 93% of dwellings, with 4-plus bedroom homes accounting for 40.1% of stock and 3-bedroom homes at 44%. Semi-detached dwellings make up 6.3%, with no apartment stock recorded. Outright ownership stands at 38.7%, higher than typical mortgage-belt suburbs, suggesting an established owner base. For buyers seeking detached housing below the national median, Harvey offers genuine affordability without the financial pressure seen in higher-cost markets.
For Investors
A 31.2% renter share provides a reasonable tenant pool, with weekly rents at $280. However, the 10.1% vacancy rate is the key caution: it is significantly above healthy market levels and points to excess supply relative to tenant demand. Rent growth has been strong at 40% over the period, though this came from a low base. Net internal migration averages 102 per year and net overseas migration adds 88, together providing the balanced growth driver underpinning population gains. The medium-scenario forecast projects the broader SA2 area reaching 10,928 by 2031 from 10,457 in 2025. With no development applications recorded in the past 12 months, new supply pressure is absent, but the existing vacancy rate still warrants caution before committing.
Schools in Harvey iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Anne's School
PP-6 · 164 students
Harvey Primary School
K-6 · 258 students
Harvey Senior High School
7-12 · 271 students
Demographics
Harvey's median age of 44 is 4 years above the national figure, and the trajectory is aging: the senior share has risen 5.9 percentage points over the decade while the young adult share fell 3.3 points. Overseas-born residents stand at 29.1%, which is 7.5 points above the national average, with English (1,251), Italian (527) and Filipino (422) the top ancestry groups. The Italian and Filipino communities are notably large relative to town size. University qualifications reach 19.8%, which is 10.3 points below national, consistent with the manufacturing and labourer-heavy occupation profile. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure. Volunteering runs at 19.6%, reflecting active community participation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.0%
Houses
6.3%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock in Harvey is overwhelmingly detached, with 93% of dwellings being separate houses and just 6.3% semi-detached. Bedroom distribution leans large: 4-plus bedroom homes account for 40.1% and 3-bedroom homes 44%, with smaller dwellings making up the remainder. Tenure is split across owned outright (38.7%), mortgaged (30.1%) and renting (31.2%). The $368,000 median house price and $280 weekly rent produce a gross rental yield of approximately 3.95%, reasonable by regional standards. Mortgage repayments average $1,517 per month against household income in the 42nd percentile nationally, keeping mortgage-to-income at 24.6%. Rent-to-income sits at 19.6%, both comfortably below stress thresholds, making housing relatively affordable compared to metro and coastal WA markets.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$742
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.1%
Unoccupied
147
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.0%
Couples, no children
2,609
Total families
Economy & Employment
Manufacturing is Harvey's economic anchor, employing 32.3% of workers, a concentration far above national averages and driven by the town's food and agri-processing industries. Healthcare follows at 11.7%, Education at 8.8%, Agriculture at 7.1% and Mining at 6.7%. By occupation, Labourers form the largest group at 446 workers, ahead of Machinery and Drivers (169), Managers (149) and Professionals (135). The full-time employment rate is 67.1% and unemployment sits at 4.0%, close to the national rate. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 3 and IRSAD decile of 3 place Harvey in the lower-advantage tier nationally, consistent with below-median incomes and lower tertiary qualification rates. The IER decile of 6 is notably higher, reflecting solid physical resource access through owned housing and vehicles.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
5,859
Unemployed
187
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.1%
Part-time
28.9%
Participation
53.0%
Employed
1,456
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.8%
Postgraduate
1.7%
Born Overseas
29.1%
Dwellings
1,308
Transport to Work
Harvey is a car-dependent town: 86.3% of residents drive to work and only 1.2% use public transport, which is well below the national share. Walking or cycling accounts for 3.6% of commute modes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on facilities in nearby areas. The IRSAD decile of 3 places Harvey below most Australian suburbs on the combined advantage-disadvantage index, meaning residents face more barriers to resources and opportunities than the national median. About 7.5% of the population, or 244 people, require daily assistance, above the national rate, linked partly to the older median age of 44. Rent-to-income at 19.6% and mortgage-to-income at 24.6% keep housing affordable relative to income, a genuine quality-of-life advantage compared to higher-cost regional centres.
Drive
86.3%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.1%/yr
(+115 people/yr)
EstablishedHarvey's population grew 10.9% over the ten years to 2021, and the trend continues with annual growth of approximately 1.1% adding around 115 persons per year to the broader SA2 area. The medium-scenario projection shows population rising from 10,457 in 2025 to 10,928 by 2031. Migration is balanced, with net internal inflows averaging 102 per year and overseas migration adding 88. Rent growth of 40% over the period has compressed affordability ratios, though the suburb's gentrification score of 35 to 36 places it in early-signs territory rather than active transformation. The signals include a 21% population increase since 2011 and accelerating internal migration. Real income growth of 14.7% over the decade adds modest purchasing power to the existing base.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+88
Net Internal / yr
+102
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +21% since 2011, Net internal migration +102/yr, Accelerating: 5% → 16%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Harvey compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Harvey a good suburb to live in?
Harvey suits buyers and renters who want affordable detached housing in a regional town. The median house price of $368,000 is well below state averages, and housing costs stay below stress thresholds: mortgage repayments are 24.6% of household income. The IRSAD decile of 3 signals limited access to some services compared to metro areas, and public transport is minimal at 1.2% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Harvey?
The median house price in Harvey is $368,000, estimated from 2025 rent data. Weekly rents average $280, giving a gross yield of around 3.95%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, representing 24.6% of household income, below the 30% stress benchmark.
What schools are in Harvey?
No schools are recorded within the Harvey suburb boundary in this dataset. The town of Harvey does have local schools, but families should verify current schooling options directly with the WA Department of Education. University qualifications in the suburb stand at 19.8%, which is 10.3 points below the national figure.
Is Harvey safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Harvey in this dataset. As a broader indicator, the suburb scores IRSAD decile 3 nationally, placing it in the lower-advantage tier. About 7.5% of the 3,462 residents, or 244 people, need daily assistance, slightly above the national rate, linked to the older median age of 44.
Is Harvey good for property investment?
The investment case for Harvey is mixed. Rents have grown 40% over the period and the 31.2% renter share provides tenants, but the 10.1% vacancy rate is the key risk, sitting well above healthy market levels. The $368,000 median and $280 weekly rent imply a gross yield near 3.95%. Population growth of 1.1% annually and balanced migration support steady demand without rapid appreciation.
How is Harvey's population changing?
Harvey's broader SA2 population grew 10.9% over the decade and continues to expand at around 1.1% per year, adding approximately 115 people annually. Medium-scenario forecasts project the area reaching 10,928 by 2031, up from 10,457 in 2025. Migration is balanced, with net internal inflows of 102 per year and overseas migration adding 88 residents annually. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 5.9 points over the decade.
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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