Shoalwater, WA: suburb profile

The population of Shoalwater WA is 4,368 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Shoalwater is $679 per week ($35,308 per year). Median rent in Shoalwater is $260 per week ($1,127 per month). Shoalwater has a median age of 49 years, older than the national median of 38. Shoalwater has a population density of 1,696 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Shoalwater is England. The most common religion is No religion (43.9% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is German. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Shoalwater is $1,668.

Population
4,368
Census 2021
Median income
$679/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$260/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
49years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021.

Shoalwater vs the typical WA suburb

The median personal income in Shoalwater is $679 a week, 16% below the typical WA suburb ($806). That ranks 534th of 701 WA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $260 a week, $60 less than the typical WA suburb. Rent takes 21.2% of the median household income here, against 18.6% in the typical WA suburb. The median resident is 49, 8 years older than in the typical WA suburb (41).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureShoalwaterTypical WADifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$679/wk$806/wk −16%$766/wk
Household income$1,225/wk$1,722/wk −29%$1,637/wk
Rent$260/wk$320/wk −19%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,668/mo$1,759/mo −5%$1,733/mo
Median age4941 +8 yrs42
Rent share of household income21.2%18.6% +2.6 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Shoalwater, the typical WA suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Shoalwater Population

4,368 residents at the 2021 Census.

Shoalwater Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$679/wk
$35,308 per year
Ranked 5,854 of 14,663
Median Rent
$260/wk
$1,127 per month
Ranked 5,884 of 14,663
Median Age
49years
11 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,668/mo
Avg household size: 2.1 · 0.7 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Shoalwater Rent Prices & Affordability

21% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,225/wk
Median rent $260/wk
Rent to income 21.2%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Shoalwater against your income

About $5,308 a month
Median rent $260/wk
Left after rent $965/wk
Rent share 21.2%

Shoalwater Schools

7
schools nearby
5
government
1000
avg ICSEA score
3,086
total students
Star of the Sea Primary School Catholic
Primary · PP-6 · 638 students
1041
ICSEA
Rockingham Montessori School Independent
Primary · PP-12 · 272 students
1033
ICSEA
Safety Bay Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 592 students
1000
ICSEA
Rockingham Beach Education Support Centre Government
Primary · K-6 · 67 students
993
ICSEA
Rockingham Beach Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 406 students
993
ICSEA
Rockingham Senior High School Education Support Centre Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 76 students
984
ICSEA
Rockingham Senior High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,035 students
954
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Shoalwater, with a map

Shoalwater Map

Shoalwater, Western Australia Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Shoalwater, Western Australia: 32.2976°S, 115.7081°E

Shoalwater Schools (7)

People in Shoalwater

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.3% (2,157) Female 50.7% (2,219)

Population Density

1,696
people per km²
4,368 people · 2.6 km²

Households

2.1
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,896
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
12.0%
New Zealand
3.2%
Scotland
1.6%
South Africa
1.4%
Wales
0.8%
Ireland
0.7%
Germany
0.7%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

German
0.7%
Serbian
0.5%
Tagalog
0.5%
Mandarin
0.4%
Punjabi
0.4%
Afrikaans
0.3%
Portuguese
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
46.0%
Australian
32.7%
Scottish
10.3%
Irish
9.6%
German
3.9%
Dutch
2.6%
Italian
2.4%
Welsh
1.6%
Australian Aboriginal
1.6%
Maori
1.4%
New Zealander
1.2%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
43.9%
Catholic
16.8%
Anglican
13.5%
Not stated
11.1%
Christian (other)
2.5%
Uniting Church
2.2%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.7%
Baptist
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.9%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
42.4% 1,588
Separated
4.6% 172
Divorced
12.6% 473
Widowed
8.8% 329
Never married
31.5% 1,179

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
34.6%
Couple: no children
34.2%
Couple: no children under 15
14.5%
One parent: children under 15
8.7%
One parent: no children under 15
7.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
39.3%
2 persons
33.8%
3 persons
11.4%
4 persons
9.8%
5 persons
4.0%
6+ persons
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Shoalwater

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,836 occupied private dwellings in Shoalwater at the 2021 Census, 33.3% were rented, 35.5% owned outright and 29.1% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.8% 15 dwellings
Owned outright
35.5% 651 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
29.1% 535 dwellings
Rented
33.3% 612 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.6% 29 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
92.1%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
6.9%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
3.6%
2 bedrooms
23.0%
3 bedrooms
37.6%
4 bedrooms
32.1%
5 bedrooms
3.1%
6+ bedrooms
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
7.1%
$300-$449/mo
2.9%
$450-$599/mo
2.1%
$600-$799/mo
2.9%
$800-$999/mo
4.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
19.4%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
23.5%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
19.4%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
11.3%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
7.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
7.5%
1 vehicle
43.0%
2 vehicles
35.2%
3 vehicles
9.4%
4+ vehicles
4.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Shoalwater

Employment

Employed full-time
32.6% 1,051 people
Employed part-time
18.6% 601 people
Unemployed
4.9% 159 people
Not in labour force
43.8% 1,412 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
24.3%
Technicians & Trade Workers
21.8%
Community & Personal Service
14.1%
Managers
11.7%
Clerical & Administrative
10.2%
Labourers
6.4%
Sales Workers
6.2%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.9%
$1-$149/wk
0.8%
$150-$299/wk
2.9%
$300-$399/wk
4.5%
$400-$499/wk
10.6%
$500-$649/wk
6.9%
$650-$799/wk
7.4%
$800-$999/wk
7.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.4%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.0%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
10.5%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
4.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.6%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.2%
$4,000+/wk
8.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.9%
$1-$149/wk
4.4%
$150-$299/wk
7.0%
$300-$399/wk
5.7%
$400-$499/wk
4.9%
$500-$649/wk
4.2%
$650-$799/wk
9.0%
$800-$999/wk
8.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.3%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.0%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
10.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.5%
$3,500+/wk
4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
69.3%
Did not go to work
15.7%
Car (passenger)
4.1%
Other
2.6%
Bus
2.6%
Train
2.5%
Walked only
1.7%
Truck
0.7%
Bicycle
0.4%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.3%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
54.0%
Year 10 or equivalent
29.1%
Year 11 or equivalent
12.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
4.8%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
43.0%
Bachelor Degree
23.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
20.6%
Postgraduate Degree
6.0%
Certificate I/II
4.0%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
24.7%
Management & Commerce
18.3%
Society & Culture
13.4%
Health
12.2%
Education
10.3%
Architecture & Building
6.2%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
5.4%
Creative Arts
3.0%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.9%
Agriculture & Environment
2.1%
Information Technology
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
29.6%
Secondary: Government
17.9%
Vocational Education
14.0%
Secondary: Catholic
9.0%
Primary: Catholic
8.4%
Pre-school
8.0%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
7.1%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
5.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
84.9%
Has need for assistance
6.1%
Need for assistance not stated
9.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
454
Arthritis
204
Heart disease
147
Diabetes
127
Asthma
123
Lung condition
120
Cancer
98
Kidney disease
57
Stroke
55
Dementia
14

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
12.6% 421
Did not provide
87.4% 2,923

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
16.1% 541
Not a volunteer
83.9% 2,820

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
1.7% 58
Current ADF: Reserves
0.2% 6
Previously served
5.4% 181
Never served
92.7% 3,123

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
28.4%
1 child
12.0%
2 children
32.3%
3 children
19.6%
4 children
5.7%
5+ children
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
27
1951: 1960
51
1961: 1970
236
1971: 1980
170
1981: 1990
192
1991: 2000
103
2001: 2010
214
2011: 2015
135
2016
25
2017
12
2018
4
2019
30
2020
6

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

15.3%
moved in the last year
43.8%
moved in the last 5 years
8.1%
unemployment rate (Census)
52.2%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
3,433
Moved from WA
414
Moved: same area (SA2)
82
Moved from overseas
22
Moved from NSW
20
Moved from VIC
17
Moved from QLD
12
Moved from SA
8
Moved from NT
5

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.9%
5: 14 hours
28.8%
15: 29 hours
13.2%
30+ hours
10.3%
Did not do domestic work
26.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
75.7%
Step family: no other children
18.5%
Blended family: no other children
4.8%
Intact family: other children present
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Mount Barker (WA)
Income: $602/wk Rent: $225/wk $35/wk less rent
Wagin
Income: $621/wk Rent: $195/wk $65/wk less rent
Geraldton
Income: $645/wk Rent: $220/wk $40/wk less rent
Kojonup
Income: $793/wk Rent: $200/wk $60/wk less rent
Esperance
Income: $696/wk Rent: $235/wk $25/wk less rent
Wundowie
Income: $692/wk Rent: $250/wk $10/wk less rent
Hopetoun (WA)
Income: $748/wk Rent: $250/wk $10/wk less rent
Beachlands
Income: $735/wk Rent: $200/wk $60/wk less rent

Suburbs near Shoalwater

The closest suburb to Shoalwater is Safety Bay, 2.2 km away.

Safety Bay
2.2 km away · income $704/wk · rent $310/wk
Rockingham (WA)
3.9 km away · income $671/wk · rent $300/wk
Hillman
5.6 km away · income $599/wk · rent $300/wk
Waikiki
5.8 km away · income $740/wk · rent $320/wk
Cooloongup
5.9 km away · income $596/wk · rent $300/wk
Warnbro
8.1 km away · income $684/wk · rent $320/wk

Compare Shoalwater (WA)

Frequently Asked Questions About Shoalwater

What is the population of Shoalwater WA?

The population of Shoalwater WA is 4,368 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,696 people per km². Shoalwater is ranked #1,775 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Shoalwater?

The median personal income in Shoalwater WA is $679 per week, or $35,308 per year. The median household income is $1,225 per week. Family income is $1,896 per week. Shoalwater is ranked #5,854 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Shoalwater?

Median rent in Shoalwater WA is $260 per week ($1,127 per month). Rent represents 21.2% of household income, which is considered affordable. Shoalwater ranks #5,884 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Shoalwater?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Shoalwater WA is $1,668. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Shoalwater?

The median age in Shoalwater WA is 49 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Shoalwater a good suburb to live in?

Shoalwater is a suburb in Western Australia with a population of 4,368. The median income is $679/wk, which is below the typical WA suburb ($806/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (21.2% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 51348. All dollar figures in AUD.