Port Hedland
Household income in the 98.9th percentile nationally sits alongside a $353,000 median house price, a gap that makes Port Hedland one of Australia's most unusual income-to-price stories. The reason is structure: 77% of residents rent rather than own, the vacancy rate runs at 27.1%, and the suburb is shaped almost entirely by the mining industry at 30.6% of local employment. Population has been declining, falling from 4,423 in 2023 to roughly 4,081 today, a 3.1% drop over 10 years driven by an annual net internal outflow of 131 people. Median age is 34, which is 6 years below the national figure, reflecting the transient, working-age workforce that drives this resource economy.
Population
4,081
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,434/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$353K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $353,000, the median house price is well below the WA state median, making Port Hedland accessible on purchase price alone. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,812, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 12.2%, one of the lowest stress ratios you will find in any suburb nationally, because household income sits at the 98.9th percentile. Separate houses make up 68.1% of stock, higher than the national average, and 4-plus bedroom homes account for 36.4% of dwellings, the largest bedroom category. However, only 8.7% of households own outright and 14.4% carry a mortgage, because 77% rent. The high renter share reflects the FIFO workforce structure rather than housing unaffordability, meaning buyers face a genuinely thin owner-occupier resale market.
For Buyers
At $353,000, the median house price is well below the WA state median, making Port Hedland accessible on purchase price alone. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,812, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 12.2%, one of the lowest stress ratios you will find in any suburb nationally, because household income sits at the 98.9th percentile. Separate houses make up 68.1% of stock, higher than the national average, and 4-plus bedroom homes account for 36.4% of dwellings, the largest bedroom category. However, only 8.7% of households own outright and 14.4% carry a mortgage, because 77% rent. The high renter share reflects the FIFO workforce structure rather than housing unaffordability, meaning buyers face a genuinely thin owner-occupier resale market.
For Investors
A 77% renter share is among the highest in Australia and, combined with weekly rent of $210, reflects a market dominated by company-leased accommodation for mining workers. Against the $353,000 median, a gross yield calculation suggests returns near 3.1%, moderate but compressed by the very low rent level relative to the high-income workforce. The 27.1% vacancy rate is a serious risk signal, indicating that a large share of stock sits unused, likely tied to FIFO roster cycles. Net internal migration averages negative 131 residents per year, meaning demand depends on employer contracts rather than population-driven growth. Overseas migration adds about 41 people annually, providing a partial offset. Development activity recorded 0 applications in the past 12 months, so supply pressure is not a near-term concern.
Schools in Port Hedland iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Port Hedland Primary School
K-6 · 478 students
Port Hedland School Of The Air
K-6 · 28 students
St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School
PP-6 · 157 students
Strelley Community School
PP-11 · 53 students
Demographics
The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national average, consistent with a workforce suburb where young professionals dominate. Males make up 51.9% of residents, modestly above the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 23.7%, which is 2.1 points above the national rate. The full-time employment rate reaches 82.5%, substantially above most Australian suburbs, because part-time or casual work is uncommon in the mining sector. Unemployment sits at just 2.1%, one of the lowest rates in WA. Ancestry leans English (1,350), Irish (445) and Scottish (372). University qualifications reach 23.9%, which is 6.2 points below national, reflecting a workforce that skews toward trade and technical occupations rather than degree-level roles.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
68.1%
Houses
12.2%
Townhouse
18.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split in Port Hedland is extreme by any national comparison: 77% rent, 14.4% carry a mortgage, and only 8.7% own outright. This is because the dominant employer, the mining industry, typically provides or subsidises accommodation for its workforce. Separate houses dominate at 68.1%, with apartments at 18.3% and semi-detached at 12.2%. The 4-plus bedroom category is the largest at 36.4%, well above national norms, because family housing was built to attract workers. The rent-to-income ratio of 6.1% is extremely low, confirming that rent is not a financial burden relative to the high incomes earned here. The $353,000 median house price remains affordable compared to most WA coastal towns, kept in check by the 27.1% vacancy rate limiting demand pressure.
Mortgage / mo
$1,812
Rent / wk
$210
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,859
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
27.1%
Unoccupied
498
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
6.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
12.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.5%
Couples, no children
2,801
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining dominates at 30.6% of employment (499 workers), more than double the next largest sector. Healthcare follows at 12.5% (204 workers) and Transport at 11.5% (188), reflecting the port's role as a bulk commodity export hub. Education contributes 8.0% and Construction 6.3%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 403 workers, followed by Managers (327) and Clerical/Admin (301), with Machinery/Drivers at 236 indicating the operational intensity of resource extraction. SEIFA tells a split story: the IRSD decile of 9 and IRSAD decile of 8 show very low disadvantage, consistent with the 98.9th-percentile household income. The IEO and IER deciles land at 6, lower than the income might suggest, because educational attainment and asset accumulation lag in a transient workforce.
Unemployment
0.8%
Labour Force
2,892
Unemployed
24
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
82.5%
Part-time
15.4%
Participation
68.0%
Employed
2,063
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.9%
Postgraduate
5.0%
Born Overseas
23.7%
Dwellings
1,336
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total: 88.6% of residents drive to work, compared to the national average, while only 1.1% use public transport and 5.5% walk or cycle. This reflects the suburban layout and distances involved in a large industrial town. The IRSAD decile of 8 and IRSD decile of 9 indicate well below average disadvantage nationally, consistent with the high-income workforce. Only 1.6% of residents (58 people) need daily assistance. The volunteering rate is 19.0%, similar to the national average. Household turnover is high at 39.4%, meaning 4 in 10 residents had moved in the previous 5 years, underscoring the transient nature of the population. No schools are recorded inside the Port Hedland boundary in this dataset.
Drive
88.6%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
5.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.16%/yr
(-7 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation peaked around 4,423 in 2023 and has trended downward at about 7 persons per year, reaching an estimated 4,081. The 10-year change is negative 3.1%, classifying Port Hedland as a slow-decline suburb. Net internal migration averages negative 131 per year, the primary driver, because FIFO workers cycle through rather than settle. Overseas migration provides a partial offset at positive 41 per year. The gentrification score reads 0 and the suburb is classified as not gentrifying. Medium forecasts project a gradual decline to around 4,350 by 2031. Rent grew 75% over the measured period, a significant real increase, though affordability worsened from 7.6 in 2011 to 11.4 in 2021. Real income growth was negative 4.7%, meaning purchasing power eroded despite high nominal incomes.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+41
Net Internal / yr
-131
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -131/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Port Hedland compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Hedland a good suburb to live in?
Port Hedland suits workers tied to the mining industry, with household income in the 98.9th percentile nationally and a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 12.2%. The trade-offs are a high 27.1% vacancy rate, near-total car dependence at 88.6%, and a population that has been declining at about 7 people per year. It is built around employment rather than lifestyle amenity.
What is the median house price in Port Hedland?
The median house price is estimated at $353,000 (derived from 2025 rent data), well below most WA coastal markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,812 and rent averages $210 per week. The low price reflects a 27.1% vacancy rate and a renter-dominated market where 77% of households do not own their home.
What schools are in Port Hedland?
No schools are recorded inside the Port Hedland boundary in this dataset. Families in the area rely on schools in nearby suburbs. The university qualification rate is 23.9%, which is 6.2 points below the national figure, reflecting the trade and technical orientation of the local mining workforce.
Is Port Hedland safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Port Hedland in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, placing it in the low-disadvantage tier nationally. Only 1.6% of the 4,081 residents need daily assistance. The 2.1% unemployment rate is also among the lowest in WA.
Is Port Hedland good for property investment?
Investment here carries specific risks. The 77% renter share provides a large tenant pool, but the 27.1% vacancy rate signals ongoing oversupply tied to FIFO roster cycles. Gross yield on a $353,000 purchase at $210 weekly rent is near 3.1%. Net internal migration is negative 131 per year, so demand depends on employer contracts rather than population growth, making returns volatile with commodity cycles.
How is Port Hedland's population changing?
Population has fallen from 4,423 in 2023 to approximately 4,081 today, a decline of about 3.1% over 10 years. The annual trend is negative 7 people. Net internal migration removes around 131 residents per year while overseas migration adds about 41. Medium forecasts project gradual decline to around 4,350 by 2031, driven by the FIFO workforce structure.
What industries employ people in Port Hedland?
Mining is the dominant industry at 30.6% of employment (499 workers), more than double the next sector. Healthcare accounts for 12.5% (204 workers) and Transport 11.5% (188 workers), reflecting the port's bulk export role. The full-time employment rate reaches 82.5%, well above national norms, because the mining economy generates primarily full-time roles.
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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