Lockyer
At 1,298 residents in 1.34 square kilometres, Lockyer sits in the bottom 9th percentile nationally for household income, with weekly household income averaging $904 compared to the national median. The suburb's most striking feature is its housing affordability: a $296,000 median house price places it well below the WA state average, yet 47.7% of residents rent rather than buy, suggesting constrained purchasing power rather than choice. Detached houses dominate at 89.7% of dwellings, and the median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, making this a demographically typical outer suburb in an atypically low-income bracket.
Population
1,298
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$904/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$296K
Estimated from rent (2025)
With a median house price of $296,000, Lockyer sits substantially below the WA state median, making entry-level ownership accessible by Australian standards. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,196, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.6% is just above the 30% stress threshold despite low prices, because household incomes sit at the 8.9th percentile nationally. Separate houses account for 89.7% of the stock with no significant apartment supply. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.9%, followed by two-bedroom at 25.5%. Only 18.9% of dwellings are owned outright, below typical levels at this price point, because 47.7% of residents rent.
For Buyers
With a median house price of $296,000, Lockyer sits substantially below the WA state median, making entry-level ownership accessible by Australian standards. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,196, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.6% is just above the 30% stress threshold despite low prices, because household incomes sit at the 8.9th percentile nationally. Separate houses account for 89.7% of the stock with no significant apartment supply. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.9%, followed by two-bedroom at 25.5%. Only 18.9% of dwellings are owned outright, below typical levels at this price point, because 47.7% of residents rent.
For Investors
A renter share of 47.7% gives landlords a large tenant pool, and weekly rent of $230 against a $296,000 median implies a gross yield near 4%, higher than many metro suburbs. The 6.0% vacancy rate is elevated compared to a healthy 2-3% benchmark, signalling softer rental demand than the renter share suggests. No development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so no near-term supply is entering the market. Household incomes at the 8.9th percentile nationally are the key constraint on rent growth, because most tenants have limited capacity for increases above the current $230 per week.
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly. Overseas-born residents make up 23.7%, which is 2.1 percentage points above the national average. Ancestry leans strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (567 residents), Scottish (113) and Irish (88). University qualifications reach only 13.8%, which is 16.3 percentage points below national, the sharpest gap in the data, explaining why Healthcare and Labourer roles dominate the local workforce. Average household size is 2.3 and 13.3% of residents need daily assistance, a rate above more advantaged suburbs. Volunteering stands at 13.5% of the population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.7%
Houses
10.3%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenures split with 47.7% renting, 33.4% on a mortgage, and 18.9% owning outright. The high renter share despite a low $296,000 median indicates income barriers rather than price barriers, because household income is at the 8.9th percentile nationally. Stock is 89.7% detached houses and 10.3% semi-detached, with three-bedroom homes the most common type at 49.9%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 30.6% crosses the 30% stress benchmark, while the rent-to-income ratio of 25.4% stays below it, making renting comparatively more sustainable at current prices and incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,196
Rent / wk
$230
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$531
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.0%
Unoccupied
33
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.6% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.3%
Couples, no children
893
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 26.1% of local workers (64 employed), nearly triple the next sector, Manufacturing at 10.6%. Retail, Education and Construction each account for under 10%. Labourers are the largest occupation group at 121 workers, ahead of Community and Personal Service at 82, reflecting the blue-collar and care-sector workforce. Unemployment is 6.5%, above national metro averages, and the participation rate is 43.9%, because 473 residents are outside the labour force. Personal weekly income averages $531, below state and national medians, consistent with an economy concentrated in lower-wage sectors rather than professional or technical work.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
49.2%
Part-time
44.3%
Participation
43.9%
Employed
431
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.8%
Postgraduate
1.9%
Born Overseas
23.7%
Dwellings
513
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 83.0% of commuters driving, above the national average, while public transport sits at 2.0% and walking or cycling at 2.5%. No schools are recorded within the Lockyer boundary, so families rely on neighbouring Albany suburb schools. Crime statistics are not available in this dataset. As an indirect measure, 13.3% of residents (160 people) need daily assistance, above the national norm, likely reflecting both age and lower-income health outcomes. Rent-to-income of 25.4% keeps tenants below the 30% stress threshold, a relative advantage for the 47.7% of households who rent despite incomes at the 8.9th percentile nationally.
Drive
83.0%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lockyer compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lockyer a good suburb to live in?
Lockyer offers affordable housing with a $296,000 median house price well below WA averages, and 89.7% of dwellings are detached houses. The trade-offs are a household income sitting at the 8.9th percentile nationally, a 6.0% vacancy rate suggesting softer local demand, and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Lockyer?
The median house price in Lockyer is $296,000 (estimated from 2025 rental data). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,196, and weekly rent averages $230. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 30.6%, just above the standard 30% affordability threshold.
What schools are in Lockyer?
No schools are recorded within the Lockyer boundary in this dataset. Residents access schools in neighbouring Albany suburbs. University qualifications among locals reach only 13.8%, which is 16.3 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly trade and service workforce.
Is Lockyer safe?
Specific crime statistics for Lockyer are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, 13.3% of residents (160 people) need daily assistance, a rate higher than national norms. The unemployment rate of 6.5% is above average, which can correlate with elevated community stress in lower-income areas.
Is Lockyer good for property investment?
With 47.7% of residents renting and a median price of $296,000, the gross yield is near 4% at $230 per week, above typical metro levels. However, the 6.0% vacancy rate is elevated compared to a healthy 2-3% benchmark, and household incomes at the 8.9th percentile nationally limit rent growth potential. Zero development applications in 12 months means no near-term supply pressure.
How is Lockyer's population changing?
Lockyer has a population of 1,298 across 1.34 square kilometres. Residential turnover is 22.6%, with 77.4% of residents having stayed in the suburb for at least five years before the Census. No development applications were lodged in the 12 months to the data cut, suggesting limited investment in new housing supply.
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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