Spencer Park
At a median age of 48, Spencer Park sits 8 years above the national figure, making it one of Albany's most distinctly older suburbs. Household incomes rank at the 16.5th percentile nationally, yet the suburb scores decile 8 on all four SEIFA indexes, a gap that reflects lower household size (2.1 vs 2.5 nationally) rather than concentrated disadvantage. The 11.1% vacancy rate is high for a suburb where 86.3% of dwellings are separate houses, pointing to affordability pressure that pushes renters out even as purchase prices remain low at $349,000. Rent grew 50% over the decade, compressing affordability from 29.6% of income in 2011 to 33.3% in 2021.
Population
3,445
Median Age
48.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,076/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$349K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $349,000 median house price sits well below the WA state median, making Spencer Park one of the more accessible owner-occupier markets in the Albany region. Separate houses dominate at 86.3% of dwellings, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 47.8% and 4-plus bedroom homes accounting for 30.2%. The monthly mortgage repayment estimate of $1,300 produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers on average household incomes can service a purchase without financial strain. Outright owners at 32.6% outnumber mortgage holders at 27.7%, a sign that many residents have held property for years. Affordability has worsened since 2011, when housing costs consumed 29.6% of income compared to 33.3% in 2021.
For Buyers
The $349,000 median house price sits well below the WA state median, making Spencer Park one of the more accessible owner-occupier markets in the Albany region. Separate houses dominate at 86.3% of dwellings, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 47.8% and 4-plus bedroom homes accounting for 30.2%. The monthly mortgage repayment estimate of $1,300 produces a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers on average household incomes can service a purchase without financial strain. Outright owners at 32.6% outnumber mortgage holders at 27.7%, a sign that many residents have held property for years. Affordability has worsened since 2011, when housing costs consumed 29.6% of income compared to 33.3% in 2021.
For Investors
Spencer Park's 39.7% renter share is higher than the national average, providing a broad tenant base for landlords. Weekly rent of $290 against a $349,000 median implies a gross yield around 4.3%, reasonable by WA regional standards. The key risk is the 11.1% vacancy rate, which is elevated and suggests supply exceeds current tenant demand in the Albany market. Rent growth of 50% over the past decade significantly outpaced real income growth of 8.1%, tightening affordability for renters. Population is contracting at 0.32% per year, averaging a loss of 8 residents annually, with net internal migration running at minus 44 per year. Overseas arrivals of 16 per year provide partial offset but are insufficient to reverse the trend.
Schools in Spencer Park iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Spencer Park Primary School
K-6 · 303 students
Demographics
The median age of 48 is 8 years above the national figure, a gap driven by a senior share that rose 7.5 percentage points over the decade while the working-age share fell 4.8 points. Overseas-born residents at 22.2% sit 0.6 points above national, a modest difference. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,597 residents), Irish (336) and Scottish (329). University qualifications at 22.5% are 7.6 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a workforce concentrated in healthcare and community services rather than knowledge industries. Average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below national, reflecting the large share of couples without children at 33.6% of families. Volunteering runs at 20.4%, above typical suburban rates, which fits the older, established population profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.3%
Houses
12.3%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses make up 86.3% of dwellings, one of the higher detached-house rates in WA, with semi-detached properties at 12.3% and apartments at only 1.4%. Bedroom distribution centres on 3-bedroom homes at 47.8%, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 30.2% and 2-bedroom at 14.6%. Tenure is spread across outright owners at 32.6%, mortgage holders at 27.7% and renters at 39.7%. The rent-to-income ratio of 27.0% and mortgage-to-income of 27.9% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are manageable at current income levels. The vacancy rate of 11.1% is well above healthy market levels typically considered around 2-3%, which gives tenants negotiating power and signals caution for new investment purchases.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$290
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$608
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.1%
Unoccupied
177
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.6%
Couples, no children
2,292
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 26.7% of workers (238 people), more than double the second-ranked sector Education at 13.0% (116 workers). Retail follows at 9.1%, Construction at 8.6% and Public Administration at 6.3%. The occupational mix reflects this service-sector tilt: Professionals (244) and Community/Personal service workers (240) lead, with Labourers (162) and Sales workers (141) also significant. The full-time employment rate is 56.1% and unemployment is 5.4%, above the typical WA metro rate. Participation at 46.8% is low, because 1,302 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older population where many are retired. SEIFA decile 8 across all four indexes places Spencer Park in the moderately advantaged tier nationally, above 70% of Australian suburbs.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
1,388
Unemployed
75
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.1%
Part-time
38.5%
Participation
46.8%
Employed
1,285
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.5%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
22.2%
Dwellings
1,421
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 86.7% of commuters driving, while public transport use is just 0.5%, below most WA regional centres. Walking and cycling account for 4.5% of commute modes. Crime data for Spencer Park is not available in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the suburb scores decile 8 on IRSAD, placing it in the moderately low disadvantage tier, above 70% of Australian suburbs nationally. Need-for-assistance rates at 11.4% (373 residents) are elevated compared to national norms, consistent with the older median age of 48. No schools are recorded within the Spencer Park boundary, so families rely on nearby Albany schools. The 20.4% volunteering rate reflects strong community participation for a suburb of 3,445 residents.
Drive
86.7%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
4.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.32%/yr
(-8 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation declined from 2,562 in 2023 to 2,535 in 2025, and medium forecasts project a further fall to around 2,477 by 2031. Net internal migration runs at minus 44 residents per year, a net outflow rate higher than most WA regional suburbs, partially offset by overseas arrivals of 16 per year. The 10-year population change is just 1.1%, well below the national average for established suburbs. Real income growth of 8.1% over the decade was outpaced by rent growth of 50%, a divergence that worsens affordability even as nominal incomes rose. The gentrification score of 33 indicates early signals, though no confirmed stage shift is recorded. The senior share rose 7.5 points over the decade, which will continue to increase demand for healthcare services well above the state baseline.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+16
Net Internal / yr
-44
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Spencer Park compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spencer Park a good suburb to live in?
Spencer Park scores decile 8 on all four SEIFA indexes, placing it in the moderately advantaged tier nationally, above 70% of Australian suburbs. The median house price is $349,000, the housing stress ratios sit below 30%, and volunteering runs at 20.4%. The main trade-offs are an 11.1% vacancy rate and a declining population of 2,535.
What is the median house price in Spencer Park?
The median house price is estimated at $349,000, well below the WA state median. Weekly rent averages $290, implying a gross yield around 4.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.9%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Spencer Park?
No schools are recorded within the Spencer Park boundary in this dataset. Families rely on nearby schools in adjacent Albany suburbs. The local population has a 22.5% university qualification rate, which is 7.6 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the area's healthcare and trades workforce mix.
Is Spencer Park safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Spencer Park are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on IRSD, the index of relative socioeconomic disadvantage, placing it well above average nationally. The 11.4% need-for-assistance rate among 3,445 residents reflects the older median age of 48 rather than disadvantage.
Is Spencer Park good for property investment?
The 39.7% renter share and weekly rent of $290 against a $349,000 median imply a gross yield of roughly 4.3%, reasonable by WA regional standards. The concern is the 11.1% vacancy rate, which is high, and a population declining at 0.32% per year. Rent growth of 50% over the decade has compressed affordability, limiting further rental upside.
How is Spencer Park's population changing?
Population fell from 2,562 in 2023 to 2,535 in 2025, and medium forecasts project a further decline to around 2,477 by 2031. Net internal migration runs at minus 44 residents per year, partially offset by 16 overseas arrivals annually. The 10-year population change is only 1.1%, classifying Spencer Park as a slow-growth suburb.
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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