Paraburdoo
A 34.9% vacancy rate is the standout feature of Paraburdoo's housing market, alongside a population of 1,324 and a workforce shaped by mining. The industry accounts for 63.0% of employment, while 89.3% of households rent and 96.7% of homes are separate houses. Household income sits at the 98.1st percentile nationally, but local ownership is only 1.8% outright and 0.9% with a mortgage. Compared with nearby Tom Price, households weighing a move to Paraburdoo should focus on job exposure, rental availability and the small-town service base rather than assuming high incomes translate into broad owner-occupier demand.
Local council: Ashburton
Population
1,324
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,215/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Paraburdoo suits buyers who value a detached three-bedroom home and mining-linked incomes, but the absence of a median sale price makes address-level valuation essential. Separate houses account for 96.7% of homes, with 78.0% containing three bedrooms and 13.7% containing four or more. The indicative mortgage payment is $1,563 per month, equal to 11.2% of household income, while only 1.8% own outright and 0.9% hold a mortgage. Compared with renting, ownership is uncommon, so prospective buyers should test resale depth, building condition and employer-linked demand before committing. For households comparing Paraburdoo with nearby Tom Price, inspect current listings in both suburbs rather than relying on a generic median.
For Buyers
Paraburdoo suits buyers who value a detached three-bedroom home and mining-linked incomes, but the absence of a median sale price makes address-level valuation essential. Separate houses account for 96.7% of homes, with 78.0% containing three bedrooms and 13.7% containing four or more. The indicative mortgage payment is $1,563 per month, equal to 11.2% of household income, while only 1.8% own outright and 0.9% hold a mortgage. Compared with renting, ownership is uncommon, so prospective buyers should test resale depth, building condition and employer-linked demand before committing. For households comparing Paraburdoo with nearby Tom Price, inspect current listings in both suburbs rather than relying on a generic median.
For Investors
Paraburdoo presents a low-rent, high-vacancy and highly specialised rental proposition. Rent is listed at $30 per week, while 89.3% of residents rent and vacancy is 34.9%, a combination that is much looser than a tight rental market and can limit effective income despite the low advertised rent. Mining supplies 63.0% of employment, so tenant demand is tied to roster patterns and commodity-linked jobs. There were 0 development projects recorded in the past 12 months, reducing near-term new-supply pressure, but it does not remove concentration risk. Compared with a diversified regional market, investors should stress-test vacancy, repairs, management access and resale liquidity before treating the rent figure as a reliable return.
Schools in Paraburdoo
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
PARABURDOO PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Paraburdoo has a working-age profile, with a median age of 35, which is 5 years below the national figure. Men represent 57.5% of residents, and the average household size is 2.5 people, matching the national comparison. University attainment is 10.4%, 19.7 percentage points below the national level, consistent with an employment base led by machinery and drivers at 259 people and trades at 144. English ancestry is reported for 400 people, while 23.6% were born overseas, 2.0 percentage points above the national comparison. Mobility is material: 39.4% changed address while 60.6% stayed over the relevant period. Compared with nearby Tom Price, households should assess services and social networks at street level because a population of 1,324 can make community composition change quickly.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.7%
Houses
3.3%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing dominates at 96.7%, with three-bedroom dwellings making up 78.0% and four-plus-bedroom homes 13.7%. Tenure is the sharper story: 89.3% rent, compared with 1.8% owning outright and 0.9% paying a mortgage. The weekly rent is $30 and the vacancy rate is 34.9%, so low housing costs reflect a remote, employer-shaped market rather than strong owner-occupier competition. Mortgage repayments are $1,563 monthly and equal 11.2% of household income. Compared with the 89.3% renting share, the 1.8% outright ownership rate shows how limited owner occupation is. For buyers comparing Paraburdoo with nearby Tom Price, inspect dwelling condition, lease arrangements and access to services because no sale-price median supports a simple suburb-to-suburb ranking.
Mortgage / mo
$1,563
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$30
Census 2021
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,959
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
34.9%
Unoccupied
181
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
0.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
11.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.9%
Couples with children
40.9%
Couples, no children
11.8%
Single parent
237
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is the economic anchor, accounting for 63.0% of employment and 244 workers, far above Education at 7.2% and 28 workers. Construction and Healthcare each contribute 4.9%, with 19 workers apiece, while Public Administration adds 4.1% and 16 workers. Occupations reinforce that structure: machinery and drivers number 259, trades 144 and labourers 66, compared with 44 in clerical and administration and 35 professionals. The labour-force participation rate is 67.3%, unemployment is 2.2%, and 71.5% of workers are full time, supporting household income at the 98.1st percentile nationally. Compared with a diversified service economy, Paraburdoo's high earnings are more exposed to mining rosters and employer cycles because 63.0% of jobs sit in one industry.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
685
Unemployed
15
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
13.9%
Participation
67.3%
Employed
670
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
10.4%
Postgraduate
1.8%
Born Overseas
23.6%
Dwellings
335
Transport to Work
Paraburdoo is compact and practical, with 1,324 residents across 153.13 square kilometres and a density of 8.6 people per square kilometre. Transport is mixed: 45.3% drive as car occupants, 38.3% use public transport, 7.5% walk or cycle and 1.7% work from home, so daily convenience depends on roster and service routes. One government primary school serves local families; check enrolment zones and secondary-school arrangements against the exact address. Volunteering reaches 24.7%, while 1.2% need assistance, suggesting community participation alongside a small support-services footprint. No verified suburb crime rate is available, so safety decisions should use current WA Police information and local advice. Compared with a denser regional centre, Paraburdoo provides more space but fewer layers of amenity, making health, shopping and education access important checks before moving.
Drive
45.3%
Public Transport
38.3%
Walk / Cycle
7.5%
Work from Home
1.7%
Growth Outlook
Paraburdoo's growth outlook is shaped by a small population of 1,324, a 39.4% mobility rate and 0 development activity in the past 12 months. Mining's 63.0% employment share means local demand is likely to rise or soften with workforce requirements, while 34.9% vacancy points to spare housing capacity rather than immediate pressure. Compared with a supply-constrained regional town, the suburb has room to absorb change, but its trajectory is likely to be employment-led. The 60.6% stay rate indicates that mobility is significant without suggesting constant churn. Households should watch mine staffing, rental occupancy and service continuity as the clearest practical signals of future change.
Population trend: Ashburton council area
Paraburdoo sits in the Ashburton council area. These are the council area's residents, not Paraburdoo's.
Residents 2025
8,335
Growth, 5 yr average
-1.4%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.2%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Paraburdoo compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paraburdoo a good suburb to live in?
Paraburdoo can suit households seeking mining work, detached housing and low listed rent, but it is not a conventional owner-occupier market. The suburb has 1,324 residents, 96.7% separate houses and 89.3% renters. Check employment, schooling, health access and rental availability before deciding.
What is the median house price in Paraburdoo?
A median house price is not available for Paraburdoo. Housing indicators include a listed weekly rent of $30, a $1,563 monthly mortgage indicator and a 34.9% vacancy rate. Buyers should obtain recent comparable sales and inspect lease, maintenance and resale conditions for the exact property.
What schools are in Paraburdoo?
Paraburdoo Primary School is the local government primary option. The suburb has 1,324 residents, so families should confirm year-level availability, enrolment zones and secondary-school arrangements directly before signing a lease or contract. Do not assume a nearby school covers every address.
Is Paraburdoo safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available, so safety should be checked through current WA Police information and local advice rather than inferred from the town's size. Paraburdoo has 1,324 residents and 24.7% volunteering, but those figures do not replace checking lighting, travel routes and property security.
Is Paraburdoo good for property investment?
Investment may suit a specialist landlord, but the risks are significant. Paraburdoo has 89.3% renters, $30 weekly rent and a 34.9% vacancy rate, while mining accounts for 63.0% of employment. A buyer should model extended vacancies, management costs and resale liquidity because tenant demand is concentrated.
How is Paraburdoo's population changing?
Paraburdoo has a current population of 1,324 and a mobile workforce profile. Population movement appears meaningful rather than static: 39.4% changed address while 60.6% stayed over the relevant period. Mining accounts for 63.0% of employment, so workforce demand, rental occupancy and service changes are the clearest practical signals of future change.
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).
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