Port Denison
A median age of 56 places Port Denison 16 years above the national figure, making it one of the most distinctly retirement-oriented coastal towns in Western Australia. The population of 1,452 lives across 14.62 square kilometres at a density of just 99 residents per km2, compared to typical urban suburbs. Nearly half of all households own their home outright, and the weekly rent of $250 is well below the state median, reflecting the affordability that draws downsizers. The 29% vacancy rate signals substantial holiday and seasonal property use rather than oversupply in the traditional sense.
Population
1,452
Median Age
56.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,027/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$347K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $347,000, well below the Western Australian state median, making Port Denison one of the more accessible coastal markets in the Mid West region. The dominant dwelling type is the separate house at 80% of stock, with semi-detached homes accounting for 17.8%. Bedrooms skew large, with 42% of dwellings having 3 bedrooms and 40.3% having 4 or more, so buyers get generous floor space relative to price. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 34.1%, which technically crosses the stress threshold compared to the national benchmark of 30%, though the strong 48.3% outright ownership rate suggests most long-term residents bought in well below current prices.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $347,000, well below the Western Australian state median, making Port Denison one of the more accessible coastal markets in the Mid West region. The dominant dwelling type is the separate house at 80% of stock, with semi-detached homes accounting for 17.8%. Bedrooms skew large, with 42% of dwellings having 3 bedrooms and 40.3% having 4 or more, so buyers get generous floor space relative to price. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 34.1%, which technically crosses the stress threshold compared to the national benchmark of 30%, though the strong 48.3% outright ownership rate suggests most long-term residents bought in well below current prices.
For Investors
The investor picture is mixed. Weekly rent of $250 against a $347,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.7%, modest but higher than many coastal WA markets. The 29% vacancy rate is the critical variable: it reflects heavy short-stay and holiday use rather than structural oversupply, so actual returns depend on occupancy management. The renter share of 31.2% provides a tenant base, and only 20.5% of households carry a mortgage compared to national norms. Development activity recorded 0 applications in the past 12 months, meaning no new supply pressure in the near term. Income sits in the 13.9th percentile nationally, so rental demand is locally price-sensitive.
Demographics
Port Denison skews strongly toward older residents and established families. The median age of 56 is 16 years above the national figure, and the largest household type is couples without children at 44.8% of all families, consistent with an empty-nester and retirement demographic. Average household size is 2.0, which is 0.5 below the national average of 2.5. The overseas-born share is 14.7%, some 6.9 points below the national figure, and ancestry is overwhelmingly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (583 residents), Irish (144) and Scottish (140). The volunteering rate of 23.9% is well above national norms, typical of a community where retirees contribute to local organisations.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.0%
Houses
17.8%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Port Denison is unusually secure: 48.3% of households own outright, one of the higher rates seen across WA coastal suburbs, versus the national benchmark closer to 31%. Only 20.5% hold a mortgage and 31.2% rent, a structure that reflects the older, wealth-holding resident base. The stock is 80% separate houses, so apartment-style investment products are rare. The 29% vacancy rate is the standout figure, roughly 3 to 4 times a typical suburb, pointing to a large pool of holiday and investment properties that sit empty for parts of the year. Rent-to-income at 24.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold, giving tenants reasonable affordability relative to local incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$617
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
29.0%
Unoccupied
243
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
34.1% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
44.8%
Couples, no children
895
Total families
Economy & Employment
Agriculture leads the local industry mix at 12.4% of employed residents, followed by Education and Healthcare both at 11.6%, then Mining at 10.5% and Construction at 8.7%. This spread reflects the town's role as a service hub for surrounding farming land and the Batavia Coast. By occupation, Labourers (78) and Managers (74) are the two largest groups, which is unusual compared to more urbanised suburbs where Professionals dominate. The unemployment rate is low at 3.3%, but the participation rate of only 38.7% is well below the national average, driven by the large retired population. Household weekly income of $1,027 sits at the 13.9th percentile nationally, underlining that Port Denison earns below the national average.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.1%
Part-time
35.6%
Participation
38.7%
Employed
471
Occupations
Top Industries
University
11.6%
Postgraduate
1.3%
Born Overseas
14.7%
Dwellings
596
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near total: 88.3% of residents drive to work, while only 1.6% use public transport, well below the national average for regional towns. Walking and cycling account for 5.5%. No schools are recorded inside the Port Denison boundary in this dataset, so families rely on facilities in nearby Dongara or Geraldton, roughly 7 kilometres north. The volunteering rate of 23.9% suggests a socially active community despite the small population of 1,452. Detailed crime statistics are not available for this suburb. Rent-to-income at 24.3% keeps the cost of renting reasonable relative to local earnings, below the 30% stress threshold used nationally.
Drive
88.3%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
5.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Port Denison compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Denison a good suburb to live in?
Port Denison suits retirees and lifestyle seekers rather than working families. The median age is 56, some 16 years above the national figure, and 48.3% of households own their home outright. The weekly rent of $250 and a median house price of $347,000 make it one of the more affordable coastal options in WA, though public transport is very limited at just 1.6% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Port Denison?
The median house price is estimated at $347,000, well below the Western Australian state median. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 34.1%. Separate houses make up 80% of the stock, and 40.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms.
What schools are in Port Denison?
No schools are recorded inside the Port Denison boundary in this dataset. The suburb has a population of 1,452, and the dominant demographic is older couples without children at 44.8% of households. Families typically access schools in nearby Dongara, which is adjacent to Port Denison, or in Geraldton approximately 50 kilometres north.
Is Port Denison safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Port Denison in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has a low unemployment rate of 3.3%, a volunteering rate of 23.9% above national norms, and 48.3% of households own their home outright, factors associated with lower disadvantage and community stability in comparable coastal towns.
Is Port Denison good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $250 against a $347,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.7%, higher than many WA coastal markets. However, the 29% vacancy rate, roughly 3 to 4 times a typical suburb rate, reflects heavy holiday use and means actual net yield depends on occupancy management. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, limiting new supply risk.
How is Port Denison's population changing?
Port Denison has a population of 1,452 with 82.5% of residents remaining at the same address year to year, indicating high stability. The median age of 56 is 16 years above the national average. The demographic profile leans toward retirement-age couples, with 44.8% of households being couples without children, suggesting slow organic growth rather than expansion driven by young families.
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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