West Lamington
Household income in West Lamington sits at the 91.7th percentile nationally, yet the median house price is just $440,000, a combination that puts mortgage stress well below the national average at 16.3% of income. Mining drives 31.6% of local employment, roughly three times the share seen in most Australian suburbs, which explains both the elevated wages and the 14.1% vacancy rate that moves with commodity cycles. The population of 1,373 skews young, with a median age of 34 compared to the national figure of around 40.
Population
1,373
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,456/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$440K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $440,000, the median house price is substantially lower than the national median, and repayments average $1,733 per month, only 16.3% of household income. That affordability ratio is well below the 30% stress threshold, making West Lamington accessible for buyers on mining-sector wages. The stock is 84.6% separate houses with 15.4% semi-detached and no meaningful apartment supply. Bedroom distribution favours larger homes: 46.8% have 3 bedrooms and 45.9% have 4 or more, compared to the typical suburban split that skews toward 3-bedroom properties. Outright owners are 17.7% of households, lower than national averages, while 44.2% carry a mortgage, reflecting a younger population still building equity.
For Buyers
At $440,000, the median house price is substantially lower than the national median, and repayments average $1,733 per month, only 16.3% of household income. That affordability ratio is well below the 30% stress threshold, making West Lamington accessible for buyers on mining-sector wages. The stock is 84.6% separate houses with 15.4% semi-detached and no meaningful apartment supply. Bedroom distribution favours larger homes: 46.8% have 3 bedrooms and 45.9% have 4 or more, compared to the typical suburban split that skews toward 3-bedroom properties. Outright owners are 17.7% of households, lower than national averages, while 44.2% carry a mortgage, reflecting a younger population still building equity.
For Investors
West Lamington's 38.1% renter share is above average and weekly rent of $350 provides a gross yield around 4.1% against the $440,000 median, more competitive than most metro markets. The 14.1% vacancy rate is the main risk: it is high by national standards and reflects the boom-bust nature of mining-driven demand. When commodity markets contract, occupancy can fall sharply. Full-time employment sits at 77.9% of the workforce, higher than national norms, supporting rent payment reliability when the local economy is active. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, so the for-sale supply pipeline is thin.
Demographics
West Lamington's median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, driven by a workforce dominated by working-age adults in mining and related industries. Overseas-born residents account for 26.6% of the population, 5 percentage points above the national share, with English ancestry leading (475 residents), followed by Scottish (97) and Irish (96). Average household size of 2.7 is slightly above the national average of 2.5, consistent with the dominant household type of couples with children (558 families). The community leans male at 52.7%, which is typical of mining-adjacent suburbs. University qualifications reach 23.9%, which is 6.2 points below the national rate.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.6%
Houses
15.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split leans toward mortgaged owner-occupiers at 44.2%, with 38.1% renting and only 17.7% owning outright. The low outright ownership rate compared to national averages reflects the younger median age and the transient nature of some mining employment. Separate houses dominate at 84.6% of dwellings, and the bedroom mix is large-home oriented: 4-plus bedroom properties account for 45.9% of stock, higher than the national norm. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 against household incomes at the 91.7th percentile nationally produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.3%, which is well below typical Australian levels. Rent-to-income at 14.3% is similarly comfortable for tenants.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,308
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.1%
Unoccupied
77
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.8%
Couples, no children
1,063
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is the dominant employer at 31.6% of the workforce (137 workers), a concentration far higher than the national average and the primary reason household incomes reach the 91.7th percentile nationally. Healthcare and Education each contribute around 10%, providing a stable public-sector base that moderates the cyclic risk from mining. By occupation, Professionals (120) edge ahead of Machinery and Drivers (115), indicating a mix of technical and white-collar mining roles. The unemployment rate is 4.2%, close to the national average, and the full-time employment rate of 77.9% is notably higher than national levels. Labour force participation is 66.7% with 227 residents not in the labour force.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
77.9%
Part-time
17.9%
Participation
66.7%
Employed
655
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.9%
Postgraduate
5.0%
Born Overseas
26.6%
Dwellings
469
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total in West Lamington, with 86.3% of residents driving to work, well above the national average, and only 3% using public transport. This is typical for a regional mining suburb where distances and limited bus services make driving the only practical option. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on Kalgoorlie-Boulder's broader education network. Safety data is not available at the suburb level. Volunteering participation reaches 17.2% of residents, above the national average, and housing stress indicators are low: rent-to-income at 14.3% and mortgage-to-income at 16.3% both sit comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Only 3.1% of residents (39 people) require daily assistance.
Drive
86.3%
Public Transport
3.0%
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How West Lamington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Lamington a good suburb to live in?
West Lamington suits workers in the Goldfields mining industry. Household income is at the 91.7th percentile nationally, housing is affordable at $440,000 median with mortgage repayments only 16.3% of income, and the suburb has a young median age of 34. The trade-offs are high car dependency (86.3% drive to work) and a 14.1% vacancy rate that reflects boom-bust demand cycles.
What is the median house price in West Lamington?
The median house price is approximately $440,000 (estimated from 2025 rental data). Weekly rent averages $350 and monthly mortgage repayments run $1,733, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 16.3%, well below the 30% stress threshold for a household at the 91.7th percentile nationally.
What schools are in West Lamington?
No schools are recorded inside the West Lamington suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the broader Kalgoorlie-Boulder area. The local university qualification rate is 23.9%, which is 6.2 percentage points below the national figure.
Is West Lamington safe?
Suburb-level crime statistics are not available for West Lamington in this dataset. As context, only 3.1% of the 1,373 residents (39 people) require daily assistance, and housing stress indicators are low, with rent-to-income at 14.3% and mortgage-to-income at 16.3%, both well below national stress thresholds.
Is West Lamington good for property investment?
The gross rental yield is around 4.1% based on $350 weekly rent against a $440,000 median, higher than most metro markets. However, the 14.1% vacancy rate is elevated and tracks mining activity. With 38.1% renters and full-time employment at 77.9% of the workforce, rental demand is solid when commodity markets are strong.
How is West Lamington's population changing?
West Lamington's population of 1,373 is tied to Goldfields mining cycles. The 31.2% turnover rate over 5 years shows high mobility compared to stable suburban norms, with 68.8% of residents staying put. The 14.1% vacancy rate indicates that population can contract when mining project phases end. The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure.
What industries employ residents in West Lamington?
Mining employs 31.6% of the workforce (137 workers), far above the national average. Healthcare accounts for 10.8% (47 workers) and Education 10.1% (44 workers). The mining concentration drives household incomes to the 91.7th percentile nationally, significantly higher than comparable regional suburbs.
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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