South Hedland, WA: suburb profile

The population of South Hedland WA is 11,046 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in South Hedland is $1,415 per week ($73,580 per year). Median rent in South Hedland is $240 per week ($1,040 per month). South Hedland has a median age of 32 years, younger than the national median of 38. South Hedland has a population density of 496 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in South Hedland is New Zealand. The most common religion is No religion (42.6% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Southeast Asian Austronesian languages: Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in South Hedland is $1,387.

Population
11,046
Census 2021
Median income
$1,415/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$240/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
32years
Census 2021

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

South Hedland vs the typical WA suburb

The median personal income in South Hedland is $1,415 a week, 76% above the typical WA suburb ($806). That ranks 32nd of 701 WA suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $240 a week, $80 less than the typical WA suburb. Rent takes 9.3% of the median household income here, against 18.6% in the typical WA suburb. The median resident is 32, 9 years younger 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.
MeasureSouth HedlandTypical WADifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$1,415/wk$806/wk +76%$766/wk
Household income$2,586/wk$1,722/wk +50%$1,637/wk
Rent$240/wk$320/wk −25%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,387/mo$1,759/mo −21%$1,733/mo
Median age3241 −9 yrs42
Rent share of household income9.3%18.6% −9.4 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 South Hedland, the typical WA suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

South Hedland Population

11,046 residents at the 2021 Census.

South Hedland Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$1,415/wk
$73,580 per year
Ranked 168 of 14,663
Median Rent
$240/wk
$1,040 per month
Ranked 6,627 of 14,663
Median Age
32years
6 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,387/mo
Avg household size: 2.7 · 0.9 per bedroom

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

South Hedland Rent Prices & Affordability

9% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $2,586/wk
Median rent $240/wk
Rent to income 9.3%

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

Median rent in South Hedland against your income

About $11,206 a month
Median rent $240/wk
Left after rent $2,346/wk
Rent share 9.3%

South Hedland Schools

5
schools nearby
5
government
860
avg ICSEA score
2,481
total students
Baler Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 592 students
902
ICSEA
Hedland Senior High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,138 students
886
ICSEA
Cassia Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 444 students
867
ICSEA
Cassia Education Support Centre Government
Primary · K-6 · 42 students
828
ICSEA
South Hedland Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 265 students
815
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 South Hedland, with a map

South Hedland Map

South Hedland, Western Australia Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

South Hedland, Western Australia: 20.4048°S, 118.6004°E

South Hedland Schools (5)

People in South Hedland

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 52.5% (5,801) Female 47.5% (5,249)

Population Density

496
people per km²
11,046 people · 22.3 km²

Households

2.7
Avg household size
0.9
Persons per bedroom
$3,024
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

New Zealand
5.4%
Philippines
3.5%
England
1.8%
India
1.5%
South Africa
1.2%
Indonesia
0.8%
Thailand
0.6%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Southeast Asian Austronesian languages: Other
2.5%
Australian Indigenous Languages
2.1%
Tagalog
1.7%
Filipino
1.1%
Gujarati
0.7%
Indonesian
0.7%
Afrikaans
0.7%

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

Ancestry

Australian
27.2%
English
26.0%
Australian Aboriginal
20.0%
Irish
6.1%
Scottish
5.7%
Filipino
3.9%
Maori
3.4%
German
2.7%
Italian
2.0%
New Zealander
1.5%
Indian
1.4%

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
42.6%
Not stated
17.3%
Catholic
16.8%
Anglican
5.0%
Islam
3.9%
Christian (other)
3.1%
Hinduism
1.5%
Buddhism
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

22.2%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
37.6% 3,107
Separated
4.4% 364
Divorced
7.1% 589
Widowed
1.9% 154
Never married
49.1% 4,058

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
55.6%
Couple: no children
20.8%
One parent: children under 15
11.3%
Couple: no children under 15
7.9%
One parent: no children under 15
4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
25.3%
2 persons
29.3%
3 persons
16.5%
4 persons
15.5%
5 persons
8.1%
6+ persons
5.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in South Hedland

Housing Tenure

Of the 3,377 occupied private dwellings in South Hedland at the 2021 Census, 67.3% were rented, 6.9% owned outright and 18.9% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
4.8% 161 dwellings
Owned outright
6.9% 233 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
18.9% 638 dwellings
Rented
67.3% 2,274 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.1% 72 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
77.0%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
16.5%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
6.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
8.4%
2 bedrooms
12.7%
3 bedrooms
49.2%
4 bedrooms
27.0%
5 bedrooms
2.4%
6+ bedrooms
0.3%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.1%
$300-$449/mo
3.4%
$450-$599/mo
3.6%
$600-$799/mo
8.0%
$800-$999/mo
13.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
21.5%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
16.4%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
14.9%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
6.4%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
8.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
6.3%
1 vehicle
30.5%
2 vehicles
41.5%
3 vehicles
15.3%
4+ vehicles
6.3%

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

Work, income and education in South Hedland

Employment

Employed full-time
59.2% 3,803 people
Employed part-time
16.0% 1,025 people
Unemployed
3.5% 222 people
Not in labour force
21.4% 1,374 people

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

Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
33.6%
Professionals
16.6%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
10.8%
Clerical & Administrative
10.1%
Community & Personal Service
9.7%
Managers
7.8%
Labourers
7.7%
Sales Workers
3.6%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.3%
$1-$149/wk
0.4%
$150-$299/wk
1.0%
$300-$399/wk
1.6%
$400-$499/wk
1.6%
$500-$649/wk
1.5%
$650-$799/wk
2.2%
$800-$999/wk
2.5%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
3.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
4.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.3%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
16.0%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
8.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
12.0%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
7.5%
$4,000+/wk
23.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.7%
$1-$149/wk
2.3%
$150-$299/wk
4.3%
$300-$399/wk
1.9%
$400-$499/wk
1.4%
$500-$649/wk
0.9%
$650-$799/wk
4.6%
$800-$999/wk
5.5%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
9.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
8.7%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
19.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
7.3%
$3,500+/wk
6.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
75.1%
Did not go to work
11.0%
Car (passenger)
7.1%
Walked only
2.1%
Other
1.2%
Bus
1.2%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.7%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.7%
Truck
0.6%
Bicycle
0.3%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
55.1%
Year 10 or equivalent
25.0%
Year 11 or equivalent
15.0%
Year 9 or equivalent
4.9%

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
55.0%
Bachelor Degree
18.1%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
15.8%
Certificate I/II
5.1%
Postgraduate Degree
3.3%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
2.9%

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

Field of Study

Engineering
36.8%
Management & Commerce
17.1%
Education
9.9%
Society & Culture
9.4%
Health
8.9%
Architecture & Building
6.4%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
5.2%
Agriculture & Environment
1.9%
Creative Arts
1.8%
Information Technology
1.4%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.2%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
44.0%
Secondary: Government
29.5%
Vocational Education
12.2%
Pre-school
8.1%
Primary: Catholic
3.9%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
1.6%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
0.5%
Secondary: Catholic
0.2%

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
81.7%
Has need for assistance
2.3%
Need for assistance not stated
16.0%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
509
Asthma
324
Diabetes
221
Arthritis
131
Heart disease
101
Lung condition
77
Kidney disease
62
Stroke
55
Cancer
43

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
7.3% 494
Did not provide
92.7% 6,305

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
13.2% 904
Not a volunteer
86.8% 5,926

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.1% 4
Current ADF: Reserves
0.2% 15
Previously served
1.9% 129
Never served
97.9% 6,737

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
34.1%
1 child
15.9%
2 children
23.3%
3 children
15.2%
4 children
8.3%
5+ children
3.3%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
3
1951: 1960
17
1961: 1970
69
1971: 1980
88
1981: 1990
182
1991: 2000
148
2001: 2010
672
2011: 2015
579
2016
97
2017
74
2018
112
2019
139
2020
50
2021
18

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

Population Mobility

25.5%
moved in the last year
67.2%
moved in the last 5 years
4.1%
unemployment rate (Census)
66.7%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
6,813
Moved: same area (SA2)
1,049
Moved from WA
829
Moved from QLD
135
Moved from VIC
77
Moved from NSW
70
Moved from overseas
67
Moved from NT
27
Moved from SA
23
Moved from TAS
20
Moved from ACT
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
21.3%
5: 14 hours
27.4%
15: 29 hours
9.6%
30+ hours
7.9%
Did not do domestic work
34.0%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
74.6%
Step family: no other children
13.9%
Blended family: no other children
7.8%
Intact family: other children present
1.7%
Other couple: children only
0.9%
Step family: other children present
0.8%
Blended family: other children present
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Wickham (WA)
Income: $1,674/wk Rent: $115/wk $125/wk less rent

Suburbs near South Hedland

The closest suburb to South Hedland is Port Hedland, 7.9 km away.

Port Hedland
7.9 km away · income $1,859/wk · rent $210/wk

Compare South Hedland

Frequently Asked Questions About South Hedland

What is the population of South Hedland WA?

The population of South Hedland WA is 11,046 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 496 people per km². South Hedland is ranked #525 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in South Hedland?

The median personal income in South Hedland WA is $1,415 per week, or $73,580 per year. The median household income is $2,586 per week. Family income is $3,024 per week. South Hedland is ranked #168 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in South Hedland?

Median rent in South Hedland WA is $240 per week ($1,040 per month). Rent represents 9.3% of household income, which is considered affordable. South Hedland ranks #6,627 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in South Hedland?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in South Hedland WA is $1,387. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in South Hedland?

The median age in South Hedland WA is 32 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is South Hedland a good suburb to live in?

South Hedland is a suburb in Western Australia with a population of 11,046. The median income is $1,415/wk, which is above the typical WA suburb ($806/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (9.3% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Perth Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 51372. All dollar figures in AUD.