Little Grove
With 49.7% of residents owning their homes outright and a median age of 48, Little Grove reads as an established, low-churn coastal suburb where settled households dominate. The median house price sits at an estimated $389,000, well below the national average, yet household income lands at the 51.2nd percentile nationally, a combination that keeps mortgage-to-income at a manageable 23.7%. Population grew 12.3% over the past decade and is tracking upward at about 35 people per year, driven by a balanced mix of internal and overseas migrants. The suburb's 94.4% detached house stock and aging trajectory make it more comparable to a regional lifestyle market than a metro growth corridor.
Population
1,508
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,570/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$389K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At an estimated $389,000 median, Little Grove sits well below WA's capital city price levels. Mortgage repayments average $1,610 a month, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7% stays below the 30% stress threshold. Nearly 94.4% of dwellings are separate houses, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 49% of stock. Outright owners (49.7%) far outnumber mortgage holders (35.2%), pointing to a long-settled base rather than a market churned by recent buyers. Affordability improved from 45.0% in 2011 to 38.1% in 2021, making the suburb more accessible relative to incomes than a decade ago.
For Buyers
At an estimated $389,000 median, Little Grove sits well below WA's capital city price levels. Mortgage repayments average $1,610 a month, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7% stays below the 30% stress threshold. Nearly 94.4% of dwellings are separate houses, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 49% of stock. Outright owners (49.7%) far outnumber mortgage holders (35.2%), pointing to a long-settled base rather than a market churned by recent buyers. Affordability improved from 45.0% in 2011 to 38.1% in 2021, making the suburb more accessible relative to incomes than a decade ago.
For Investors
Investor metrics are modest but stable. Weekly rent averages $295 and rent-to-income is 18.8%, below the stress threshold. The 9.5% vacancy rate is elevated, reflecting the small renter base of 15.1% across only 1,508 residents. Rent grew 10% recently, a positive signal against limited new supply: zero development applications were lodged in the past 12 months. Net internal migration averages 29 arrivals a year and overseas migration adds 10, providing balanced but thin demand. The investment case rests on long-term capital appreciation rather than yield, given that $295 weekly rent against a $389,000 median implies a modest gross return.
Schools in Little Grove iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Little Grove Primary School
K-6 · 238 students
Demographics
The median age of 48 is 8 years above the national figure. The senior share rose 9.9 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 4.1 points, reinforcing an aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents stand at 19.7%, which is 1.9 points below the national rate. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (795 residents) leads, followed by Scottish (184) and Irish (152). Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure. Couples with children (481 families) slightly outnumber couples without children (448). The volunteering rate of 27.4% is notably high, because the settled, older population has the time and stability to contribute to community activities.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.4%
Houses
5.6%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses dominate at 94.4%, with semi-detached dwellings making up the remaining 5.6% and no recorded apartment stock. Bedroom sizes skew large: 4-plus bedroom homes account for 49.0% of dwellings and 3-bedroom homes for 39.6%, meaning small dwellings are the exception. Tenure is owner-heavy: 49.7% own outright and 35.2% hold a mortgage, while only 15.1% rent, well below state and national averages. The median house price is estimated at $389,000, with monthly repayments averaging $1,610 and weekly rent at $295. Rent-to-income at 18.8% and mortgage-to-income at 23.7% both sit comfortably below stress levels, reflecting the relative affordability compared to major capital city markets.
Mortgage / mo
$1,610
Rent / wk
$295
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$749
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.5%
Unoccupied
60
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.6%
Couples, no children
1,225
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 19.0% of the local workforce (94 workers), followed by Education at 14.8% (73) and Public Administration at 11.5% (57), typical of a regional service centre. Professionals (150 workers) rank first by occupation. The unemployment rate of 3.3% is low, but participation at 56.2% is moderate because 437 residents are not in the labour force, a direct consequence of the older median age of 48. Full-time employment runs at 57.3%. The IRSD decile of 6 places Little Grove at the national midpoint for disadvantage, above the bottom half nationally but below the top-decile advantage suburbs in capital cities.
Unemployment
1.4%
Labour Force
1,871
Unemployed
27
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.3%
Part-time
39.4%
Participation
56.2%
Employed
679
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.2%
Postgraduate
4.3%
Born Overseas
19.7%
Dwellings
572
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total: 93.8% drive to work and only 1.4% walk or cycle, typical for a lower-density WA suburb without major transit infrastructure. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on the wider Albany area. The IRSAD decile of 5 places Little Grove at the national midpoint for advantage. The IER decile is 8, notably higher, because the 49.7% outright ownership rate boosts household asset measures above the broader disadvantage score. The need-for-assistance rate of 5.0% (72 residents) is modest, consistent with an older but largely self-sufficient community where 80.7% of residents stayed in the same address over the five-year period.
Drive
93.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.88%/yr
(+35 people/yr)
EstablishedLittle Grove grew 12.3% over the past decade and is adding about 35 people per year at a 0.88% annual rate. The medium forecast projects the broader area reaching 4,183 residents by 2031, up from 3,995 in 2025. Migration is balanced: net internal arrivals average 29 a year and overseas adds 10. Gentrification scores at 6 and the stage is not gentrifying, so investment-driven price pressure is absent. Affordability improved from 45.0% in 2011 to 38.1% in 2021, which may draw buyers looking for affordable detached homes relative to Perth's metro fringe.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+10
Net Internal / yr
+29
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +18% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Little Grove compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Little Grove a good suburb to live in?
Little Grove suits buyers looking for affordable, established housing with low financial stress. Mortgage-to-income sits at 23.7% against a $389,000 median, well below the 30% stress threshold. The IRSAD decile of 5 places it at the national midpoint for advantage, and 49.7% of residents own their homes outright, indicating long-term stability.
What is the median house price in Little Grove?
The estimated median house price is $389,000, with average monthly mortgage repayments of $1,610 and weekly rent of $295. Affordability improved between 2011 and 2021, dropping from 45.0% to 38.1% of income required, making it more accessible than a decade ago.
What schools are in Little Grove?
No schools are recorded within the Little Grove suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on educational facilities in the wider Albany region. The suburb has a 25.2% university qualification rate among residents, which is 4.9 points below the national figure.
Is Little Grove safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Little Grove in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the IRSD decile is 6, placing the suburb in the middle of national disadvantage rankings, and only 5.0% of its 1,508 residents (72 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a stable, low-disadvantage community.
Is Little Grove good for property investment?
The investment case is modest. Weekly rent averages $295 against a $389,000 median, implying a low gross yield. Vacancy at 9.5% is elevated for a small suburb with only 15.1% renters. Rent grew 10% recently, and net migration of around 39 people annually provides steady but limited demand. Zero development applications suggest no new supply pressure.
How is Little Grove's population changing?
The suburb added 12.3% more residents over the past decade and is growing at roughly 35 people a year, a 0.88% annual rate. Forecasts project the broader area reaching about 4,183 by 2031. The profile is aging, with the senior share rising 9.9 points over 10 years while the working-age share fell 4.1 points.
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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