Shoalwater
A median age of 49 puts Shoalwater's residents 9 years older than the national figure, and that single fact shapes almost everything else about the suburb. With 4,368 people in 2.57 square kilometres, it sits at the affordable end of Perth's coastal fringe: a median house price of $371,000 and weekly rent of $260 reflect household incomes at just the 26.8th percentile nationally. Vacancy runs at 17.9%, well above the typical rental market, which is consistent with seasonal demand patterns for a coastal suburb south of Rockingham. IRSAD and IRSD both score decile 4, below the national average on advantage and relative disadvantage indicators.
Population
4,368
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,225/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$371K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $371,000 the median house price sits comfortably below the Perth metropolitan average, making Shoalwater one of the more accessible coastal entry points in WA. Separate houses dominate at 77% of dwellings, with apartments at 16.3%, so buyers are primarily choosing detached homes rather than competing in a dense unit market. The most common configurations are 3-bedroom (37.6%) and 4-plus bedroom (35.8%), which suits families and downsizers alike. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,668, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.4%, which exceeds the standard stress threshold compared to a household income at the 26.8th percentile nationally. That compression between price and income is the key risk for buyers stretching to enter the market.
For Buyers
At $371,000 the median house price sits comfortably below the Perth metropolitan average, making Shoalwater one of the more accessible coastal entry points in WA. Separate houses dominate at 77% of dwellings, with apartments at 16.3%, so buyers are primarily choosing detached homes rather than competing in a dense unit market. The most common configurations are 3-bedroom (37.6%) and 4-plus bedroom (35.8%), which suits families and downsizers alike. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,668, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.4%, which exceeds the standard stress threshold compared to a household income at the 26.8th percentile nationally. That compression between price and income is the key risk for buyers stretching to enter the market.
For Investors
A 34% renter share gives landlords a steady tenant base, and weekly rent of $260 reflects the suburb's affordable positioning relative to the Perth coastal belt. Against the $371,000 median, that implies a gross yield around 3.6%, higher than inner-city Perth benchmarks. The vacancy rate of 17.9% is elevated, suggesting units and smaller properties may sit empty between tenancies, particularly off-season. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, so new supply is not a near-term pressure. The aging population and affordable price point attract retirees and downsizers, which tends to stabilise demand but limits the tenant pool to income-constrained households.
Demographics
The median age of 49 is 9 years above the national figure, placing Shoalwater firmly in the older-resident category. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, consistent with couples-without-children households: 33.8% of families fall into that category. Overseas-born residents reach 31%, which is 9.4 percentage points above the national average, while ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,010), Scottish (448) and Irish (421). University qualifications at 22.3% run 7.8 points below the national figure, reflecting the blue-collar and trade employment base. Volunteering stands at 16.1% of the population, above the community average for a suburb at decile 4 SEIFA.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
77.0%
Houses
6.7%
Townhouse
16.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Shoalwater is overwhelmingly detached-house territory: 77% separate houses, 16.3% apartments and 6.7% semi-detached. Tenure splits into 36.2% owned outright, 29.8% with a mortgage and 34% renting, meaning more than a third of households have cleared their debt, which is notable for a decile 4 income suburb. Bedroom sizes skew larger, with 3-bedroom homes at 37.6% and 4-plus at 35.8%, leaving only 23% in the 2-bedroom bracket. The rent-to-income ratio sits at 21.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning rental affordability is manageable compared to many Perth markets. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 31.4% is above the stress threshold, which matters for newer buyers who borrowed closer to current prices.
Mortgage / mo
$1,668
Rent / wk
$260
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$679
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.9%
Unoccupied
401
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.4% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.8%
Couples, no children
2,908
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 15.8% of the workforce (198 workers), followed by Education at 12.6% (158) and Construction at 11.2% (140), with Public Admin at 10.8% and Mining at 7.6%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 334 workers, then Community and Personal Service at 248, and Clerical and Admin at 200. The unemployment rate of 8.8% is elevated compared to the WA state average, and the participation rate of 48.5% is low, partly because 1,412 residents are not in the labour force due to the suburb's older age profile. SEIFA IEO decile 4 reflects below-average education and occupation advantage, consistent with the industry mix skewing toward care, trades and public sector rather than finance or tech.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.7%
Part-time
27.5%
Participation
48.5%
Employed
1,657
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.3%
Postgraduate
4.5%
Born Overseas
31.0%
Dwellings
1,826
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 86% of commuters, compared to just 6.4% using public transport, which is below the WA state average for connected suburbs. Walking and cycling account for 2.5% of journeys, modest but not negligible for a coastal area. No schools are recorded within the Shoalwater boundary, so families rely on nearby Rockingham institutions. Crime data is not available for this suburb, though the IRSD decile 4 score places it in the below-average advantage tier nationally. Mortgage stress affects a segment of owner-occupiers at 31.4% of income, while renters remain below the stress threshold at 21.2%. The high rate of outright home ownership at 36.2% provides some financial resilience for a significant portion of the 4,368-strong community.
Drive
86.0%
Public Transport
6.4%
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 Shoalwater compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shoalwater a good suburb to live in?
Shoalwater offers affordable coastal living at a $371,000 median house price, with 77% detached houses and a quiet, older demographic profile. Household incomes sit at the 26.8th percentile nationally and IRSAD scores decile 4, so services and amenities are modest compared to higher-ranked Perth suburbs. The main trade-offs are limited public transport at 6.4% usage and no schools within the boundary.
What is the median house price in Shoalwater?
The median house price is approximately $371,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $260 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,668. This price point is below the Perth metropolitan median, making Shoalwater one of the more accessible coastal options in the Rockingham area.
What schools are in Shoalwater?
No schools are recorded inside the Shoalwater boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Rockingham suburbs. University qualifications in the suburb reach 22.3% of residents, which is 7.8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the trade and service employment base.
Is Shoalwater safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Shoalwater in this dataset. As a proxy, the suburb scores decile 4 on IRSD, below the national average on relative disadvantage measures. The unemployment rate of 8.8% is above state averages, which is a factor to weigh alongside the suburb's stable resident retention rate of 76.9%.
Is Shoalwater good for property investment?
The 34% renter share and $260 weekly rent against a $371,000 median imply a gross yield near 3.6%, higher than many inner-Perth markets. However, the 17.9% vacancy rate signals excess supply in parts of the rental market. No development applications were recorded in 12 months, limiting new supply risk, but the aging population and below-average incomes at the 26.8th percentile constrain rent growth potential.
How is Shoalwater's population changing?
Shoalwater has 4,368 residents and shows the characteristics of a stable, slow-growth suburb rather than an expanding one. Residential turnover is 23.1% with 76.9% of residents remaining in place. The median age of 49 is 9 years above national, and no development activity was recorded in the past 12 months, pointing to flat or modest population change in the near term.
What languages are spoken in Shoalwater?
About 31% of Shoalwater residents were born overseas, which is 9.4 percentage points above the national average. English dominates, with German (13 speakers) and Serbian (11) the most common non-English languages recorded, a small but present international component within the predominantly Anglo-Celtic community.
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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