Utakarra
A vacancy rate of 10.3% in a suburb where 94.1% of dwellings are separate houses tells you something important about Utakarra: this is a buyer's and renter's market at the affordable end of Geraldton. The median house price sits at $315,000, well below national and state medians, and household income falls at the 34.5th percentile nationally. The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, pointing to a younger-than-average resident base. With 86.2% of residents driving to work and only 2.0% using public transport, the suburb functions as a car-dependent residential area within the Geraldton urban zone.
Population
1,467
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,345/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$315K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a median house price of $315,000, Utakarra sits considerably below the national median for houses, making it accessible for first buyers or those upgrading from renting. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold, which is favourable compared to most capital city markets. Separate houses make up 94.1% of dwellings, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 52.0% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 36.3%. Semi-detached properties account for 5.1% and apartments just 0.8%. Currently 41.5% of residents carry a mortgage and 24.9% own outright, suggesting the suburb is in mid-cycle, with more buyers still paying off than those who have cleared debt.
For Buyers
At a median house price of $315,000, Utakarra sits considerably below the national median for houses, making it accessible for first buyers or those upgrading from renting. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold, which is favourable compared to most capital city markets. Separate houses make up 94.1% of dwellings, with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 52.0% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 36.3%. Semi-detached properties account for 5.1% and apartments just 0.8%. Currently 41.5% of residents carry a mortgage and 24.9% own outright, suggesting the suburb is in mid-cycle, with more buyers still paying off than those who have cleared debt.
For Investors
The 33.6% renter share provides a reasonable tenant pool, but the 10.3% vacancy rate is a material risk signal, running higher than the standard 3% equilibrium benchmark. Weekly rent averages $240, which against a $315,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.0%, higher than most metropolitan markets. The unemployment rate of 12.1% is elevated, running above state averages, which can pressure tenant affordability and lead to rent arrears. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, indicating little near-term supply addition. The rent-to-income ratio of 17.8% is below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting existing tenants can afford current rents, but the high vacancy points to weak demand rather than oversupply from construction.
Demographics
Utakarra's median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, making it meaningfully younger than average. The overseas-born share of 10.6% is 11.0 percentage points below the national figure, and ancestry leans strongly Anglo-Celtic, with English (479 residents) the dominant heritage, followed by Scottish (96) and Irish (94). University qualifications reach just 5.4% of residents, which is 24.7 percentage points below national, pointing to a trade and services-oriented workforce rather than professional or knowledge workers. Average household size is 2.6, slightly above the national average. Christianity is the dominant religion (561 residents), with Buddhism and Islam each representing smaller groups of around 14 to 16 residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.1%
Houses
5.1%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
The overwhelming majority of homes are separate houses at 94.1%, with only 5.1% semi-detached and 0.8% apartments, giving the suburb a classic suburban residential character compared to denser urban areas. Tenure splits show 41.5% carrying mortgages, 24.9% owning outright and 33.6% renting. Three-bedroom homes make up 52.0% of stock and 4-plus bedroom homes account for 36.3%, so most dwellings are family-sized. The median house price of $315,000 sits at the affordable end of the WA market, and the monthly mortgage of $1,300 gives a 22.3% mortgage-to-income ratio, below stress levels. The 10.3% vacancy rate is the key risk factor, as it indicates that a significant share of properties sit empty at any given time.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$240
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$631
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.3%
Unoccupied
57
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.5%
Couples, no children
1,061
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 15.9% (48 workers), followed by Education at 11.6% (35 workers) and Retail at 11.3% (34 workers), then Construction at 9.6% (29 workers) and Transport at 8.3% (25 workers). By occupation, Labourers form the largest group at 100 workers, with Community and Personal Service at 66 and Sales at 64. This occupation profile sits below the national average for managerial and professional roles, consistent with a personal weekly income of $631 that places households at the 34.5th percentile nationally. The unemployment rate of 12.1% is notably elevated above typical WA regional norms, and the participation rate of 51.8% is low, with 360 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment among those working runs at 59.3%.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.3%
Part-time
28.6%
Participation
51.8%
Employed
509
Occupations
Top Industries
University
5.4%
Postgraduate
1.2%
Born Overseas
10.6%
Dwellings
490
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 86.2% driving to work, compared to lower rates in metro areas with better public transport, with only 2.0% using public transport and 2.7% walking or cycling. The rent-to-income ratio of 17.8% keeps housing costs comfortable for renters below the 30% stress threshold, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3% is similarly manageable. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families use schools in surrounding Geraldton suburbs. The volunteering rate of 13.1% reflects community engagement, and 7.3% of residents (92 people) require some form of daily assistance. Household composition shows 377 couples with children versus 239 couples without children, consistent with the family-oriented housing stock of predominantly 3 and 4-plus bedroom houses.
Drive
86.2%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Utakarra compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Utakarra a good suburb to live in?
Utakarra offers affordable living with a median house price of $315,000, well below national medians, and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.3% that stays below the 30% stress threshold. Car ownership is essential as 86.2% commute by car and only 2.0% use public transport. Unemployment at 12.1% is higher than state norms, which is worth considering when evaluating job market proximity.
What is the median house price in Utakarra?
The median house price is $315,000, estimated from 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $240 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $1,300. At 94.1% separate houses, most purchases will be detached family homes, predominantly 3-bedroom (52.0%) or 4-plus bedroom (36.3%).
What schools are in Utakarra?
No schools are recorded within the Utakarra suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding Geraldton suburbs. University qualifications among residents are low at 5.4%, which is 24.7 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the trade and services character of the local workforce.
Is Utakarra safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Utakarra in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, household income sits at the 34.5th percentile nationally and the unemployment rate is 12.1%, both of which are below average and can correlate with elevated property crime in some regional areas. Checking WA Police crime mapping for Geraldton suburbs is recommended for current data.
Is Utakarra good for property investment?
The gross rental yield is approximately 4.0% based on $240 weekly rent against a $315,000 median, higher than most capital city markets. However, the 10.3% vacancy rate is a significant risk, indicating weak rental demand. The unemployment rate of 12.1% is elevated, and no development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, suggesting a flat market rather than an expanding one.
How is Utakarra's population changing?
Utakarra has a population of 1,467 residents across 4.93 km2, giving a density of 297 people per km2. The mobility rate of 21.1% indicates moderate churn, with 78.9% of residents having stayed at the same address. The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, suggesting a younger demographic mix rather than an aging or declining population.
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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