Kalgoorlie
Mining drives nearly 25% of the local workforce in Kalgoorlie, yet household incomes sit at the 79.3rd percentile nationally, a tangible payoff for remote-location wages. The suburb holds a population of 3,711 across 4.04 km2 and carries a vacancy rate of 18.3%, higher than most metropolitan areas, which keeps rents at $300 per week and purchase prices well below state medians. Affordability has improved from 29.1% rent-to-income in 2011 to 24.1% in 2021, a trend that benefits both renters and buyers. The population shrank 4.9% over the past decade, driven by net internal outflow of 90 residents annually, though overseas arrivals of 97 per year partially offset losses.
Population
3,711
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,095/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$381K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $381,000 is well below the WA state median, making Kalgoorlie one of the more affordable entry points for detached housing in the state. Separate houses dominate at 70% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes accounting for 43.3% of stock and four-plus bedroom homes a further 28%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Only 18.7% of households own outright compared to 33.6% on a mortgage and 47.7% renting, indicating a relatively transient owner base consistent with a fly-in, fly-out mining demographic. Rent-to-income at 14.3% is low, suggesting renters face minimal financial pressure compared to east-coast capitals.
For Buyers
The median house price of $381,000 is well below the WA state median, making Kalgoorlie one of the more affordable entry points for detached housing in the state. Separate houses dominate at 70% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes accounting for 43.3% of stock and four-plus bedroom homes a further 28%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Only 18.7% of households own outright compared to 33.6% on a mortgage and 47.7% renting, indicating a relatively transient owner base consistent with a fly-in, fly-out mining demographic. Rent-to-income at 14.3% is low, suggesting renters face minimal financial pressure compared to east-coast capitals.
For Investors
A 47.7% renter share is significantly higher than national averages, giving landlords a deep tenant pool. Weekly rent of $300 against a $381,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, above what most capital-city markets offer. The 18.3% vacancy rate is a genuine risk, however, because it signals available stock substantially exceeds current demand and prices rents downward. Net overseas migration of 97 per year provides a modest floor to demand, while internal migration removes 90 residents annually, keeping net growth thin at 0.25% per year. Population forecasts through 2031 show the broader area stabilising around 9,500, so investors are betting on yield maintenance rather than strong capital growth in the short term.
Schools in Kalgoorlie iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Mary's Primary School
PP-6 · 382 students
John Paul College
7-12 · 699 students
Kalgoorlie Primary School
K-6 · 496 students
Hannans Primary School
K-6 · 343 students
North Kalgoorlie Primary School
K-6 · 481 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure, reflecting the mining and construction workforce skewing younger. Overseas-born residents make up 35% of the population, which is 13.4 percentage points above the national average, driven partly by mining-sector migration. English ancestry leads at 1,168 residents, followed by Scottish (308) and Irish (296), with Afrikaans speakers (18) pointing to South African mining workers. University qualifications reach 26.3%, which is 3.8 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a trade and machinery-heavy occupational mix. The average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below the national figure, and 52.5% of the population is male, a demographic signature common to resource-extraction towns.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.0%
Houses
21.9%
Townhouse
7.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Kalgoorlie's tenure split is renter-heavy: 47.7% rent, 33.6% carry a mortgage, and only 18.7% own outright, compared to national ownership rates that favour mortgage and outright owners. The median house price of $381,000 sits well below state capital levels, with a median monthly mortgage of $1,517. Separate houses form 70% of the stock, well above the national average for dwellings mix, while apartments account for just 7.9%. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 43.3%, and four-plus bedroom homes at 28% reflect the family-sized detached housing that dominates the suburb. The 18.3% vacancy rate, higher than typical residential markets, is a structural feature tied to mining shift patterns and FIFO workforce movements rather than economic distress.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,175
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.3%
Unoccupied
307
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.2%
Couples, no children
2,291
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is the dominant industry at 24.9% of workers (318 employed), nearly double the share of the next-largest sector, Healthcare at 14.3% (183 workers). Education follows at 10.3% and Hospitality at 7.7%, serving the resident and transient workforce. By occupation, Machinery and Drivers (342) and Professionals (341) are almost equal in number, an unusual parity that reflects both the pit and processing workforce alongside the mining company white-collar presence. The unemployment rate is 3.9% and the full-time employment rate is 77.6%, both indicative of a tight labour market. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 7 and IRSAD decile of 6 place Kalgoorlie in the middle range nationally for relative advantage, above average despite its remote location.
Unemployment
2.4%
Labour Force
8,292
Unemployed
199
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
77.6%
Part-time
18.5%
Participation
65.5%
Employed
1,961
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.3%
Postgraduate
6.2%
Born Overseas
35.0%
Dwellings
1,363
Transport to Work
Transport in Kalgoorlie is car-dependent: 78.6% drive to work and only 2.5% use public transport, higher than many remote towns but well below metropolitan averages. Unusually, 9.5% walk or cycle, a higher active-travel share than many comparable regional centres, likely linked to the compact 4.04 km2 footprint. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in adjacent Kalgoorlie suburbs. The IRSAD decile of 6 places the suburb in the middle tier nationally for relative advantage, above the bottom half. The need-for-assistance rate of 4.6% (153 residents) and rent-to-income of 14.3% both suggest moderate levels of vulnerability, below national stress indicators for remote mining communities.
Drive
78.6%
Public Transport
2.5%
Walk / Cycle
9.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.25%/yr
(+24 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation in the broader Kalgoorlie area grew from 9,324 in 2023 to 9,574 in 2025, a 2.7% rise over two years. The suburb-level 10-year change shows a 4.9% decline, however, because internal outflow of 90 residents annually outpaced overseas arrivals of 97 per year through most of the period. Annual suburb growth now tracks at 0.25%, adding roughly 24 persons per year. Medium forecasts project the broader area reaching around 9,539 by 2031, essentially flat, classifying Kalgoorlie as a slow-growth, established community. The gentrification score of 10 places it firmly in the not gentrifying category, consistent with stable commodity-linked pricing rather than lifestyle-driven appreciation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+97
Net Internal / yr
-90
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kalgoorlie compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kalgoorlie a good suburb to live in?
Kalgoorlie suits those connected to the mining industry or looking for affordable detached housing. Household incomes sit at the 79.3rd percentile nationally, above average, while the median house price of $381,000 is well below WA capital levels. The IRSD decile of 7 places it above average nationally for relative advantage, with rent-to-income at just 14.3%, meaning neither renters nor mortgage holders are under financial stress.
What is the median house price in Kalgoorlie?
The median house price is $381,000, well below the Perth metro median. Weekly rent averages $300 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.7%. The 47.7% renter share and 18.3% vacancy rate indicate the rental market has more supply than demand, keeping prices and rents modest.
What schools are in Kalgoorlie?
No schools are recorded inside the Kalgoorlie suburb boundary in this dataset. Families access schools in adjacent suburbs of the broader Kalgoorlie-Boulder urban area. The local university qualification rate is 26.3%, which is 3.8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a workforce concentrated in trades and machinery rather than degree-level occupations.
Is Kalgoorlie safe?
Detailed crime statistics for the suburb are not available in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the IRSD decile of 7 places Kalgoorlie above the national midpoint for relative advantage, and the need-for-assistance rate of 4.6% (153 residents) is in line with national norms. The mining-town demographic with a predominantly working-age, employed population generally correlates with moderate rather than elevated crime rates.
Is Kalgoorlie good for property investment?
The 47.7% renter share and estimated gross yield near 4.1% (weekly rent $300 on a $381,000 median) are attractive compared to capital-city yields. The main risk is an 18.3% vacancy rate, considerably above typical residential markets, which can suppress rents during mining slowdowns. Annual population growth is thin at 0.25%, so returns depend more on yield than capital growth. The overseas migration inflow of 97 per year provides modest but consistent demand.
How is Kalgoorlie's population changing?
The broader Kalgoorlie area grew from 9,324 in 2023 to 9,574 in 2025. At the suburb level, the 10-year change shows a 4.9% decline, with annual growth now just 0.25%, adding about 24 persons per year. Internal migration removes 90 residents annually while overseas arrivals add 97, producing near-neutral net movement. Forecasts project the area reaching roughly 9,539 by 2031.
What languages are spoken in Kalgoorlie?
About 35% of Kalgoorlie residents were born overseas, which is 13.4 percentage points above the national average. The main non-English languages are Mandarin (35 speakers), Punjabi (22), Afrikaans (18) and Malayalam (13), reflecting the diverse origins of mining and healthcare workers attracted to the region. English ancestry remains dominant at 1,168 residents.
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 Kalgoorlie on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map