Kununurra
Renters make up 62.4% of Kununurra households, while vacancy sits at 18.2%, creating a more fluid housing market than an owner-led town. The median age is 33, which is 7 years below the national figure, and household income ranks at the 79.1 percentile despite low area disadvantage scores. Compared with nearby Wyndham, Kununurra should be assessed as a distinct market because its combination of renter concentration, high vacancy and younger residents is unusually important. The town has 5,494 residents across 2,175.02 square kilometres, producing a very low density of 2.5 people per square kilometre.
Population
5,494
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,091/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Kununurra buyers need to assess individual properties because a current median house price is not available. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $2,019, while weekly rent is $266, giving households a clearer cash-flow comparison than a suburb-wide price statistic. Mortgage repayments represent 22.3% of household income, below the 30% stress benchmark, while rent takes 12.7%. Housing is mainly detached, with 66.5% separate houses, and 3-bedroom homes account for 43.1% of stock, followed by 4-plus-bedroom homes at 27.9%. Renting at 62.4% is higher than outright ownership at 14.7% and mortgage ownership at 18.5%, so buyers may face less competition from established owner-occupiers but should check resale depth carefully.
For Buyers
Kununurra buyers need to assess individual properties because a current median house price is not available. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $2,019, while weekly rent is $266, giving households a clearer cash-flow comparison than a suburb-wide price statistic. Mortgage repayments represent 22.3% of household income, below the 30% stress benchmark, while rent takes 12.7%. Housing is mainly detached, with 66.5% separate houses, and 3-bedroom homes account for 43.1% of stock, followed by 4-plus-bedroom homes at 27.9%. Renting at 62.4% is higher than outright ownership at 14.7% and mortgage ownership at 18.5%, so buyers may face less competition from established owner-occupiers but should check resale depth carefully.
For Investors
Kununurra has a large renter base, with 62.4% of households renting, but the 18.2% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly supplied market. That combination can make tenant demand uneven even though weekly rent is $266 and rent growth has reached 64.3%. Rent consumes 12.7% of household income, below the 22.3% mortgage burden, which supports relative rental affordability but may limit future rent increases. There were 0 recorded developments in the last 12 months, reducing immediate new-supply risk, although the lack of a median sale price prevents a reliable gross-yield calculation. The annual growth trend is 0.57% and overseas migration is the primary driver, so investors should focus on employment-linked demand from healthcare, education and public administration.
Schools in Kununurra
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
EAST KIMBERLEY COLLEGE
ALTA-1 KIMBERLEY COLLEGE
NGALANGANGPUM SCHOOL
ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL
DAWUL REMOTE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Demographics
Kununurra has a younger age profile than Australia overall: the median age is 33, or 7 years below the national figure. University qualification attainment is 24.8%, which is 5.3 percentage points below the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 18.0%, 3.6 points below national levels. Average household size is 2.7 people, 0.2 above the national figure, supported by 39.7% of couples having children and 19.3% of families being one-parent households. Residential turnover is substantial, with 31.5% moving within the relevant period and 68.5% staying. English ancestry is recorded for 1,528 residents, compared with 421 Irish and 348 Scottish, while no religion accounts for 2,432 people versus 1,772 identifying with Christianity.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
66.5%
Houses
14.5%
Townhouse
7.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Kununurra is a renter-majority housing market: 62.4% of households rent, compared with 18.5% paying a mortgage and 14.7% owning outright. The stock is predominantly detached, with 66.5% separate houses, but semi-detached dwellings account for 14.5% and apartments 7.5%. Three-bedroom homes form the largest segment at 43.1%, while 27.9% have 4 or more bedrooms and 17.9% have 2 bedrooms. Weekly rent is $266 and the mortgage benchmark is $2,019 per month. Rent takes 12.7% of household income, lower than the 22.3% mortgage share, and neither measure indicates housing stress. The 18.2% vacancy rate is higher than in a constrained market, so property condition, employer demand and exact location matter more than a simple suburb-wide benchmark.
Mortgage / mo
$2,019
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$266
Census 2021
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,153
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.2%
Unoccupied
357
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
12.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.7%
Couples with children
39.4%
Couples, no children
19.3%
Single parent
1,194
Total families
Economy & Employment
Kununurra's economy is concentrated in essential services and regional industries. Healthcare is the largest industry at 20.7%, or 356 workers, followed by education at 14.0% and 240 workers, public administration at 12.4% and 213, agriculture at 9.0% and 154, and construction at 7.2% and 123. Employment conditions are relatively firm, with unemployment at 3.1%, labour-force participation at 63.3% and a full-time employment rate of 71.5%. Professionals number 543, managers 400, community and personal service workers 362, clerical and administrative workers 336, and trades workers 333. Household income is $2,091 per week and ranks at the 79.1 percentile, above the middle of the distribution, while SEIFA results are lower: IEO decile 5, IER decile 1, IRSD decile 1 and IRSAD decile 3. Compared with income alone, those deciles point to weaker area-level access and advantage.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
2,679
Unemployed
83
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
71.5%
Part-time
21.3%
Participation
63.3%
Employed
2,596
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.8%
Postgraduate
4.9%
Born Overseas
18.0%
Dwellings
1,551
Transport to Work
Kununurra's very low density, at 2.5 people per square kilometre across 2,175.02 square kilometres, makes private transport important. Car driving accounts for 72.1% of journeys, compared with just 1.1% using public transport, while 13.4% walk or cycle and 4.5% work from home. Five local schools span one government K-12 college, one government remote community school and three non-government schools, including primary and broader school-age options. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because catchments can cross local boundaries. Socioeconomic access is below national expectations in several measures, with IRSD at decile 1 and IRSAD at decile 3, although IEO is decile 5. No suburb-level crime rate is available, so safety decisions should include current local police information and street-level advice rather than relying on a broad comparison.
Drive
72.1%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
13.4%
Work from Home
4.5%
Population Forecast
+0.57%/yr
(+48 people/yr)
EstablishedKununurra's growth outlook is mixed rather than uniformly expanding. The annual trend is 0.57%, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver, yet population change across the wider area is -4.2% over 10 years, below zero. The shift trajectory is labelled Mixed, while rent growth has reached 64.3% and affordability worsened from 17.6% in 2011 to 22.6% in 2021. The gentrification model gives a score of 15 and a stage of Not gentrifying, although a separate shift measure records a score of 30 and Early signs. A senior-share increase of 3.0% and young-share decline of 1.4% also indicate gradual ageing. Compared with a high-growth metro market, Kununurra's outlook depends more on migration and essential-service employment than on broad-based demographic expansion.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+74
Net Internal / yr
-51
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Accelerating: -9% → 13%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kununurra compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kununurra a good suburb to live in?
Kununurra suits people who value regional living, essential services and a younger population. The median age is 33, 62.4% of households rent and 72.1% of commuters drive, so it is more car-dependent and renter-led than many established suburban markets. Check the exact street, school access and local services before choosing a home.
What is the median house price in Kununurra?
A current median house price is not available for Kununurra, so buyers should compare individual listings and recent comparable sales. The mortgage benchmark is $2,019 per month, while weekly rent is $266 and mortgage costs equal 22.3% of household income. Property condition and tenure mix can materially affect the price of each home.
What schools are in Kununurra?
Kununurra has 5 schools across government and non-government sectors. Local options include East Kimberley College, a government K-12 school, a government remote community school and 3 non-government schools, including St Joseph's School. Confirm enrolment zones, year levels and transport arrangements against the exact address.
Is Kununurra safe?
A definitive yes or no answer requires current local checking because a suburb-level crime rate is not available. Review recent WA Police information and speak with residents before deciding. Kununurra's density is 2.5 people per square kilometre across 2,175.02 square kilometres, so street-level conditions and distance from services can matter more than a broad area comparison.
Is Kununurra good for property investment?
Kununurra can suit investors seeking regional rental exposure, but the 18.2% vacancy rate is high compared with tightly supplied markets. Weekly rent is $266, rent growth is 64.3% and 62.4% of households rent. There were 0 recorded developments in the past 12 months, while the absence of a median sale price means yield must be calculated property by property.
How is Kununurra's population changing?
Kununurra has 5,494 residents today. The annual growth trend is 0.57% and overseas migration is the main driver, but population change across the wider area is -4.2% over 10 years, below zero. The trajectory is Mixed, with the senior share up 3.0% and the young share down 1.4%, indicating modest growth alongside gradual ageing.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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