Spalding
A 17.3% vacancy rate alongside a $291,000 median house price tells the core story of Spalding: this is an affordable, low-pressure market in WA's Mid West where housing costs stay well within reach even on modest incomes. Household income sits in the 15.3rd percentile nationally, yet rent-to-income at 20.7% and mortgage-to-income at 26.4% both stay below stress thresholds, because prices are low enough to match local earnings. The suburb of 1,992 residents is overwhelmingly car-dependent, with 85.5% driving to work, and the workforce leans toward labouring and trades roles rather than professional services, with university qualifications at 6.2%, which is 23.9 percentage points below the national average.
Population
1,992
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,061/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$291K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $291,000, the median house price in Spalding sits well below the WA state median and requires far less capital than most metropolitan markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,211, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.4% stays below the 30% stress threshold even on local incomes at the 15.3rd percentile nationally. The stock is predominantly separate houses at 86.3% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes accounting for 63.9% and four-plus bedroom homes at 23.9%, so buyers can access genuine family-sized properties at accessible price points. Semi-detached dwellings make up 10.4% and apartments just 3.2%, meaning the market offers little high-density alternative. Outright ownership at 34.7% is a notable feature, suggesting a large base of long-term, debt-free residents who have not needed to refinance at higher prices.
For Buyers
At $291,000, the median house price in Spalding sits well below the WA state median and requires far less capital than most metropolitan markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,211, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.4% stays below the 30% stress threshold even on local incomes at the 15.3rd percentile nationally. The stock is predominantly separate houses at 86.3% of dwellings, with three-bedroom homes accounting for 63.9% and four-plus bedroom homes at 23.9%, so buyers can access genuine family-sized properties at accessible price points. Semi-detached dwellings make up 10.4% and apartments just 3.2%, meaning the market offers little high-density alternative. Outright ownership at 34.7% is a notable feature, suggesting a large base of long-term, debt-free residents who have not needed to refinance at higher prices.
For Investors
The 17.3% vacancy rate is the standout risk for investors, well above typical thresholds that suggest balanced rental demand, and it reflects both modest population size and relatively flat economic conditions. Weekly rent of $220 against a $291,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.9%, higher than most capital city markets but offset by the vacancy exposure. The renter share of 33.1% provides a meaningful tenant pool. The participation rate of 44.3% and unemployment of 11.0% are both weaker than national benchmarks, which caps rental income growth. The town is a regional service hub for Healthcare (20.5% of workers) and Education (12.3%), both relatively stable employment sectors that underpin baseline tenant demand compared to a purely resource-dependent economy.
Demographics
Spalding's median age of 40 sits at the national average, with household size of 2.3, slightly below the national figure of 2.5. The overseas-born share of 12.0% is 9.6 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with the Anglo-leaning ancestry profile: English (607 residents), Irish (143) and Scottish (133) dominate, and no significant non-English languages are recorded in the suburb. University qualifications reach just 6.2% of residents, which is 23.9 percentage points below national, reflecting the trade and service industry workforce rather than a professional-class population. Couples with children make up 434 families compared to 358 couples without children, indicating a family-oriented household structure. Volunteering at 13.4% of residents points to an engaged local community despite economic constraints.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.3%
Houses
10.4%
Townhouse
3.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits roughly evenly across three groups: 34.7% own outright, 32.2% carry a mortgage and 33.1% rent, an unusually balanced three-way split. Outright owners at one-third of households indicate a long-standing resident base, while the high renter share at 33.1% reflects the affordability of the market and the transient component of the workforce. Three-bedroom homes are the clear dominant type at 63.9%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 23.9%, meaning the stock suits families rather than singles or couples seeking compact dwellings. The 17.3% vacancy rate across the suburb is high relative to national benchmarks and suggests supply outpaces current demand. Rent-to-income sits at 20.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress level, confirming that housing costs are affordable for renters despite the elevated vacancy rate.
Mortgage / mo
$1,211
Rent / wk
$220
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$537
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.3%
Unoccupied
149
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.9%
Couples, no children
1,332
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local employment base at 20.5% of workers (63 employed), well ahead of Education at 12.3% (38) and Retail at 9.7% (30), pointing to Spalding's role as a regional service centre within the Mid West. Mining accounts for 7.8% of workers (24), a relatively small share for a WA regional suburb, suggesting the town is not directly exposed to major resource projects. By occupation, Labourers (127) and Machinery/Drivers (99) are the two largest groups, consistent with the manual-trades structure. The 11.0% unemployment rate is above average nationally, and the participation rate of 44.3% is notably low, partly because 593 residents are not in the labour force. Personal weekly income of $537 places households at the 15.3rd percentile nationally, reflecting the lower-skilled occupational mix.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.6%
Part-time
27.4%
Participation
44.3%
Employed
623
Occupations
Top Industries
University
6.2%
Postgraduate
0.5%
Born Overseas
12.0%
Dwellings
710
Transport to Work
Car dependency is pronounced: 85.5% of residents drive to work and only 2.8% use public transport, reflecting the regional city context where transit options are limited compared to metropolitan areas. Walking and cycling account for 2.4% of commutes, a minor but non-zero active transport share. The absence of crime data in this dataset means safety cannot be quantified directly, though the low-disadvantage profile suggested by affordable housing costs and stable resident tenure is an indirect positive indicator. Seven point three percent of residents (122 people) need daily assistance, and housing stress is absent with mortgage-to-income at 26.4% and rent-to-income at 20.7%, both below national stress benchmarks. The predominance of detached housing at 86.3% with a median of 3 bedrooms provides family-sized space at costs that remain accessible on regional incomes.
Drive
85.5%
Public Transport
2.8%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Spalding compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spalding a good suburb to live in?
Spalding offers affordable housing with a $291,000 median house price and mortgage-to-income at 26.4%, below the 30% stress threshold. The suburb has 1,992 residents, 86.3% separate houses and an 80.6% five-year residential stability rate, suggesting a settled community. The main limitations are a high 17.3% vacancy rate and limited public transport, with 85.5% of residents driving.
What is the median house price in Spalding?
The median house price in Spalding is $291,000 (estimated from rent data, 2025). Weekly rent averages $220 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,211. The household income sits at the 15.3rd percentile nationally, yet mortgage-to-income at 26.4% stays below the stress threshold because prices are low.
What schools are in Spalding?
No schools are recorded within the Spalding suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding areas within the broader Geraldton metro area (postcode 6530). The suburb has a low university qualification rate of 6.2%, which is 23.9 percentage points below the national average.
Is Spalding safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Spalding in this dataset. As indirect indicators, housing stress is absent with rent-to-income at 20.7% and mortgage-to-income at 26.4%, both well below stress thresholds, and 80.6% of residents have lived at the same address for at least 5 years, suggesting community stability.
Is Spalding good for property investment?
The 17.3% vacancy rate is the key risk, well above levels that signal balanced rental demand. Weekly rent of $220 against a $291,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.9%, above most capital city markets. The renter share of 33.1% provides a tenant base, supported by stable Healthcare (20.5% of workers) and Education (12.3%) employment sectors.
How is Spalding's population changing?
Spalding has a population of 1,992 with a residential stability rate of 80.6%, meaning most residents stayed at the same address over a 5-year period. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, consistent with a slow-growth environment where existing housing stock at a 17.3% vacancy rate absorbs available demand.
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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