Wickham
At 2,022 residents, Wickham stands out for a 93.4% renting share and a 35.5% vacancy rate, while household income sits at the 98.7th percentile nationally. The median age is 31, which is 9 years below the national figure, reflecting a workforce-led profile tied to the Pilbara economy. Compared with nearby Dampier, Wickham is better understood through its resident workforce and housing turnover than through a conventional owner-occupier market. Mining supplies 62.9% of local industry jobs, so prosperity and housing demand are more exposed to resource-sector cycles than in a broader regional centre.
Local council: Karratha
Population
2,022
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,358/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers face an unusual entry point because 93.4% of households rent, compared with 3.4% paying a mortgage and 2.0% owning outright. A purchase decision should compare current asking prices, recent sales, lease terms and property condition rather than rely on one benchmark. Housing is mainly detached, at 74.2%, with 53.5% of homes containing 3 bedrooms and 29.4% containing 4 or more. The monthly mortgage figure is $790 and mortgage payments equal 5.4% of household income, indicating low repayment pressure for the small owner cohort. The 35.5% vacancy rate may create more choice than in a tighter market, but buyers should test resale depth because the local workforce is highly rental-based.
For Buyers
Homebuyers face an unusual entry point because 93.4% of households rent, compared with 3.4% paying a mortgage and 2.0% owning outright. A purchase decision should compare current asking prices, recent sales, lease terms and property condition rather than rely on one benchmark. Housing is mainly detached, at 74.2%, with 53.5% of homes containing 3 bedrooms and 29.4% containing 4 or more. The monthly mortgage figure is $790 and mortgage payments equal 5.4% of household income, indicating low repayment pressure for the small owner cohort. The 35.5% vacancy rate may create more choice than in a tighter market, but buyers should test resale depth because the local workforce is highly rental-based.
For Investors
For investors, Wickham is a rental-heavy market with potentially attractive entry rents but substantial vacancy risk: 93.4% of households rent, weekly rent is $115, and vacancy is 35.5%. Compared with the 3.4% mortgage share, rental exposure is overwhelmingly dominant, but the vacancy figure warns that occupancy may be uneven. Mining represents 62.9% of local industry jobs, while Trades account for 329 workers and Machinery/Drivers for 174, so tenant demand is likely linked to project cycles and workforce movements. Resident turnover is 32.8%, reinforcing that sensitivity. Development activity was 0 in the past 12 months, while forecast migration is Balanced and annual growth is 1.63%. Investors should stress-test vacancy, maintenance and tenant churn rather than assume low rent guarantees returns.
Schools in Wickham
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
WICKHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
With a median age of 31, Wickham is 9 years younger than the national average, and its 12.3% university-educated share is 17.8 percentage points below the national figure. The 57.0% male share and 2.9-person average household size, 0.4 above national, fit a workforce-oriented profile, with 64.9% of families being couples with children. English is the largest named ancestry at 631 people, followed by 388 recorded as ancestry not stated, while 993 residents report no religion and 556 Christianity. Overseas-born residents make up 17.5%, 4.1 points below national, and resident turnover reaches 32.8%. Compared with nearby Dampier's coastal setting, Wickham's demographic story is more strongly anchored in a young industrial workforce and family households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.2%
Houses
25.8%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is overwhelmingly renter-oriented: 93.4% rent, compared with 2.0% owning outright and 3.4% paying a mortgage. The stock is mostly separate houses at 74.2%, while semi-detached dwellings account for 25.8%; 53.5% have 3 bedrooms and 29.4% have 4 or more. Weekly rent is $115 and rent absorbs 3.4% of household income, so measured affordability is materially lower than the pressure seen in many high-cost markets. Yet the 35.5% vacancy rate suggests that price alone does not determine availability, because workforce accommodation patterns can leave homes empty between occupancies. Compared with nearby Dampier, buyers should assess whether a property suits long-term residents or a more mobile worker market before assuming standard suburban demand.
Mortgage / mo
$790
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$115
Census 2021
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,674
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
35.5%
Unoccupied
280
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
3.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
5.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
64.9%
Couples with children
26.8%
Couples, no children
9.5%
Single parent
399
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining dominates Wickham's economy, accounting for 62.9% of industry employment and 407 people, well above Healthcare at 8.7% and 56 people. Education contributes 8.2% and 53 people, while Admin and Construction account for 3.2% and 3.1%. The occupational mix tells the same story: Trades lead with 329 people, followed by Machinery/Drivers at 174 and Labourers at 96. Household income sits at the 98.7th percentile, above the national median, while unemployment is 1.7% and labour-force participation is 70.0%. High earnings and low unemployment are likely consequences of resource-sector demand, but the concentration means conditions can shift faster than in a more diversified economy.
Unemployment
1.7%
Labour Force
1,012
Unemployed
17
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.5%
Part-time
20.6%
Participation
70.0%
Employed
995
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.3%
Postgraduate
1.5%
Born Overseas
17.5%
Dwellings
515
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-based: 72.7% drive to work, compared with 12.6% using public transport, while 4.8% walk or cycle and only 1.0% work from home. That pattern suits a dispersed industrial settlement, but households without a car may face fewer practical options than in a denser regional centre. Wickham has 1 local government primary school, Wickham Primary School, so families should check enrolment zones and secondary-school arrangements against the exact address. The 31-year median age and 2.9-person average household size support a working-family orientation, while 24.2% volunteering indicates some community participation. Compared with nearby Dampier, residents should weigh access to employment, shops and services against the convenience of a more self-contained suburb.
Drive
72.7%
Public Transport
12.6%
Walk / Cycle
4.8%
Work from Home
1.0%
Growth Outlook
Growth across the wider area is forecast at 1.63% annually, with Balanced migration rather than a single dominant inflow driver. The 10-year population change is 19.6%, while the shift trajectory is Mixed, so momentum is positive but not uniform. Rent growth of 57.3% has been higher than real income growth of 31.0%, tightening the relationship between workforce demand and housing outcomes even though current rent is $115 a week. Gentrification is rated Early signs with a score of 37, while the separate shift measure records Active at 49, reinforcing the mixed reading. With 0 development events in the past 12 months, future change is more likely to depend on employment, migration and turnover than on a large visible construction pipeline.
Population trend: Karratha council area
Wickham sits in the Karratha council area. These are the council area's residents, not Wickham's.
Residents 2025
25,429
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.8%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.2%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wickham compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wickham a good suburb to live in?
Wickham may suit people seeking a resource-sector lifestyle, relatively low rent and access to detached housing. Its median age is 31, weekly rent is $115 and 72.7% drive to work. The 35.5% vacancy rate can improve choice, but the 93.4% renter share also points to a mobile workforce and changing occupancy patterns.
What is the median house price in Wickham?
Wickham should not be judged by a single median house price because 93.4% of households rent, while only 2.0% own outright and 3.4% have a mortgage. Buyers should compare recent settled sales, asking prices, dwelling condition and lease demand for the exact street. The 74.2% separate-house share also means property type can materially affect comparisons.
What schools are in Wickham?
Wickham Primary School is the suburb's 1 local government primary school. Families should check enrolment zones and secondary-school arrangements against the exact address, since school access can cross suburb boundaries. The median age is 31 and 64.9% of families are couples with children, making school access relevant to local housing decisions.
Is Wickham safe?
Wickham cannot be labelled safe or unsafe from housing and workforce figures alone. Check recent police incident information, lighting and street activity at different times before choosing an address. Resident turnover is 32.8%, indicating a mobile population, while 72.7% drive to work, so the experience can vary between streets and housing settings.
Is Wickham good for property investment?
Wickham may suit investors comfortable with resource-sector exposure and vacancy risk. The renter share is 93.4%, weekly rent is $115 and vacancy is 35.5%, while mining accounts for 62.9% of industry jobs. Development activity was 0 over the past 12 months, so investors should test tenant demand, downtime and maintenance costs carefully.
How is Wickham's population changing?
Wickham has 2,022 residents today, while population change across the wider area is 19.6% over 10 years. Annual forecast growth is 1.63%, migration is Balanced and the shift trajectory is Mixed. The median age is 31, which is 9 years below national, indicating that workforce demand and household turnover remain important influences.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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