House prices plunge in WA's Pilbara

Median house prices in the Pilbara town of Karratha have plunged almost 34 per cent as the mining downturn prompts residents to leave.

Real Estate Institute of Western Australia data for the year to March shows the average price in Karratha has fallen to $450,000.

That compares to $650,000 in the March quarter last year.

"Not surprisingly, the mining downturn in the Pilbara has hit that region hard," REIWA president David Airey said.

Port Hedland is also shedding residents, with house prices falling 11.4 per cent in the year to March to $753,000.

Busselton was the best performer in the regions, up 5.7 per cent at $460,000.

"I think a lot of people who might have been attracted to Busselton in recent years were lured away to places like Karratha and Port Hedland when the mining boom was on, but are now starting to come back given that's winding down," REIWA southwest spokesman Joe White said.

In second place was Albany, with 4.1 per cent growth in the median house price to $385,000.