Jurien Bay
With a median age of 52 and a vacancy rate of 45.9%, Jurien Bay is one of WA's most distinctive coastal towns rather than a conventional residential suburb. The population of 1,985 sits across 525 square kilometres, giving a density of just 3.8 people per km2, far below typical urban figures. Household income falls in the 23.8th percentile nationally, meaning roughly three quarters of Australian households earn more. Yet 46.9% of residents own their home outright, a rate well above national norms, pointing to older, mortgage-free owner-occupiers who have settled here for lifestyle rather than career proximity.
Population
1,985
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,187/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$408K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $408,000 based on 2025 rental data, placing Jurien Bay well below WA state medians for coastal markets. Separate houses dominate at 92.3% of stock, with apartments accounting for just 0.5%, so buyers are almost always purchasing a detached home on a larger block. The dominant bedroom profile is 4-plus at 48.3%, followed by 3-bedroom at 37.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 31.6%, which exceeds the 30% stress threshold. That said, 46.9% of homes are owned outright, higher than the national average, suggesting many buyers clear their mortgages over time. First-home buyers face a meaningful serviceability gap given household income in the 23.8th percentile nationally.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $408,000 based on 2025 rental data, placing Jurien Bay well below WA state medians for coastal markets. Separate houses dominate at 92.3% of stock, with apartments accounting for just 0.5%, so buyers are almost always purchasing a detached home on a larger block. The dominant bedroom profile is 4-plus at 48.3%, followed by 3-bedroom at 37.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 31.6%, which exceeds the 30% stress threshold. That said, 46.9% of homes are owned outright, higher than the national average, suggesting many buyers clear their mortgages over time. First-home buyers face a meaningful serviceability gap given household income in the 23.8th percentile nationally.
For Investors
A vacancy rate of 45.9% is the critical signal for investors considering Jurien Bay. This figure is far above the standard 3% threshold considered balanced, driven by the town's significant holiday-home and seasonal-worker population. Weekly rent is $320, which against the $408,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.1%, above most capital city averages. However, actual achievable occupancy for long-term leases is constrained by the high vacancy. Renters make up 25.7% of households, below the national share. With 0 development applications recorded in the past 12 months, new supply pressure is absent. The combination of negligible new supply and a stable local population points to a thin but potentially consistent rental market for the right property type.
Schools in Jurien Bay iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Jurien Bay District High School
K-12 · 364 students
Demographics
The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure, one of the most pronounced age gaps you will find in a coastal WA town. English (864 residents), Scottish (212) and Irish (175) ancestries lead, reflecting a heavily Anglo-Celtic profile with overseas-born residents at 16.2%, which is 5.4 points below the national average. University qualifications reach 16.0% of residents, sitting 14.1 points below the national rate, consistent with a working-class and trades-oriented economy. Average household size is 2.2, compared to the national 2.5, because couples without children account for 48.0% of families. The volunteering rate of 23.9% is notable, suggesting strong community engagement for a small town.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.3%
Houses
3.2%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Jurien Bay's housing stock is dominated by separate houses at 92.3%, with semi-detached at 3.2% and apartments at just 0.5%, far more detached than the national average. The four-plus bedroom category leads at 48.3%, followed by three-bedroom at 37.3%, indicating larger family-sized homes are the norm. Tenure splits to 46.9% owned outright, 27.3% with a mortgage and 25.7% renting. The outright ownership rate is high compared to national averages, likely because many residents are retirees who have paid off long-held properties. Rent-to-income sits at 27.0%, below the 30% stress threshold, while mortgage-to-income at 31.6% is marginally above it. The high vacancy rate of 45.9% reflects seasonal and holiday-use properties rather than structural oversupply in the long-term rental market.
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wk
$320
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$632
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
45.9%
Unoccupied
657
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.6% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.0%
Couples, no children
1,343
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce spreads across five industries with roughly equal weighting: Education (11.7%, 58 workers), Mining (11.3%, 56), Construction (11.3%, 56), Public Administration (11.1%, 55) and Healthcare (9.7%, 48). The Mining share is notable for a coastal town and reflects proximity to regional mining operations in WA's midwest. By occupation, Labourers (129) narrowly lead Professionals (120) and Managers (111), with Machinery and Drivers (98) close behind. This occupational mix is more working-class than a comparable state average, consistent with university qualifications 14.1 points below national. The unemployment rate is 5.5% and participation is 48.6%, lower than national norms because 633 residents are not in the labour force, driven by the retired age profile.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.3%
Part-time
36.2%
Participation
48.6%
Employed
785
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.0%
Postgraduate
2.1%
Born Overseas
16.2%
Dwellings
770
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 83.8% of residents driving to work, above national averages, reflecting the remote coastal location where public transport is used by just 3.0% of commuters. Walking and cycling accounts for 6.2% of journeys, reasonable for a small town. No schools are recorded within the suburb in the available dataset. The need-for-assistance rate of 5.5% (99 residents) is elevated relative to a young suburb, consistent with the aging population. Rent-to-income at 27.0% keeps housing costs manageable for renters, while the 45.9% vacancy rate means competition for rental properties is low. The volunteering rate of 23.9% is high relative to urban suburbs, reflecting the community character of a small regional town.
Drive
83.8%
Public Transport
3.0%
Walk / Cycle
6.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Jurien Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jurien Bay a good suburb to live in?
Jurien Bay suits lifestyle-focused residents, particularly retirees. The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure and 46.9% of homes are owned outright, above the national average. Car access is essential as 83.8% drive to work and public transport is minimal. Household income sits in the 23.8th percentile nationally, so it is more affordable than most coastal towns.
What is the median house price in Jurien Bay?
The median house price is estimated at $408,000, based on 2025 rental market data. Weekly rent averages $320 and monthly mortgage repayments are approximately $1,625. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 31.6%, slightly above the 30% stress threshold given household incomes in the 23.8th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Jurien Bay?
No schools are recorded within the Jurien Bay boundary in this dataset. Families should verify local schooling options through the WA Department of Education. University qualifications reach 16.0% of residents, which is 14.1 points below the national average, reflecting the town's trade and labour-oriented workforce.
Is Jurien Bay safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Jurien Bay are not available in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the town has a population of 1,985 spread across 525 square kilometres at 3.8 people per km2, and 23.9% of residents volunteer, a high rate that reflects community cohesion typically associated with lower-crime small towns.
Is Jurien Bay good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent of $320 against a $408,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.1%, higher than most capital city averages. However, the vacancy rate of 45.9% is far above the balanced threshold of 3%, reflecting holiday and seasonal-use properties. Zero development applications in 12 months means no new supply pressure.
How is Jurien Bay's population changing?
The 1,985 population is aging, with a median age of 52 that is 12 years above the national figure. Annual mobility shows 28.5% of residents moved in the past year while 71.5% stayed. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months. Future growth depends on sea-change demand from retirees offsetting natural demographic attrition.
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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