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Meekatharra vs Murchison

Name: Meekatharra vs Murchison — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 306 km apart · Meekatharra profile · Murchison profile

Meekatharra Murchison

Meekatharra and Murchison are both remote Western Australian areas, but they differ in their population and economy. Meekatharra is larger with 1,200 people and a strong mining presence, while Murchison is sparsely populated with just 101 residents and a workforce dominated by agriculture. Significant gaps exist in family life and wealth; for example, 32.7% of Murchison's population are children under 15, compared to 14.7% in Meekatharra. Meekatharra also has a higher share of high earners, with 14.4% of people earning over $2,000 a week, while only 4.2% do so in Murchison.

Since 2011, the two areas have drifted further apart in several ways. The gap in children under 15 and those who completed Year 12 has widened, and far more people in Murchison now work from home compared to Meekatharra. Despite these shifts, they remain very similar in other respects. Both have about 37% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents, similar average temperatures, and an equal standing in terms of access to money and resources.

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Where they differ most

Mortgage: $1,150 higher in Murchison Work from home: 32.1 pts higher in Murchison PT commute: 9.7 pts higher in Meekatharra Housework 15h+: 23.8 pts higher in Murchison Population: 1,099 larger in Meekatharra

Demographics & Identity

Population in Meekatharra in Murchison +1,099 larger in Meekatharra gap narrowing

1,200 15th pct 101 1st pct

Median age in Meekatharra in Murchison +2 yrs older in Murchison gap narrowing

34 yrs 12th pct 36 yrs 19th pct

Age structure

36.5% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +2.8 pts 33.7%

14.7% Children (0–14) +18.0 pts ▸ 32.7%

26.1% Older adults (45–64) +0.6 pts ▸ 26.7%

13.8% Youth (15–24) ◂ +13.8 pts 0.0%

8.7% Seniors (65+) ◂ +0.7 pts 7.9%

Marital status

56.0% Never married ◂ +24.1 pts 31.9%

27.8% Married +25.0 pts ▸ 52.8%

5.4% Separated +3.0 pts ▸ 8.3%

7.7% Divorced ◂ +2.1 pts 5.6%

3.0% Widowed ◂ +3.0 pts 0.0%

Age & sex structure

Meekatharra Murchison

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

61.0% Australia +25.1 pts ▸ 86.1%

0.4% South Africa +3.5 pts ▸ 4.0%

2.8% New Zealand ◂ +2.8 pts 0.0%

2.1% England ◂ +2.1 pts 0.0%

1.3% Philippines ◂ +1.3 pts 0.0%

0.8% India ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

0.8% China ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

0.3% Italy ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.0% Vietnam even 0.0%

0.0% Nepal even 0.0%

Ancestry

17.4% Australian +15.3 pts ▸ 32.7%

19.7% English +6.1 pts ▸ 25.7%

2.6% German +5.3 pts ▸ 7.9%

4.4% Scottish +2.5 pts ▸ 6.9%

5.0% Irish +0.9 pts ▸ 5.9%

1.1% Italian +1.9 pts ▸ 3.0%

1.7% Chinese ◂ +1.7 pts 0.0%

1.5% Filipino ◂ +1.5 pts 0.0%

0.7% Indian ◂ +0.7 pts 0.0%

0.3% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.3% Dutch ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%

Language

Language used at home

60.9% English only +21.3 pts ▸ 82.2%

0.9% Mandarin ◂ +0.9 pts 0.0%

0.5% Tagalog ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%

0.3% Cantonese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.3% Italian ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.0% Arabic even 0.0%

0.0% Vietnamese even 0.0%

0.0% Punjabi even 0.0%

0.0% Greek even 0.0%

0.0% Hindi even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

30.8% Christianity +10.8 pts ▸ 41.6%

37.0% No religion +4.6 pts ▸ 41.6%

30.4% Not stated ◂ +13.6 pts 16.8%

1.1% Other religions +1.9 pts ▸ 3.0%

0.6% Buddhism ◂ +0.6 pts 0.0%

0.3% Islam ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.3% Hinduism ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Meekatharra in Murchison +2 more in Meekatharra

3 21st pct 1 0th pct

Schools/1k kids in Meekatharra in Murchison +13.26 more in Murchison

17.05 92nd pct 30.30 100th pct

Students in Meekatharra in Murchison +143 more in Meekatharra

154 14th pct 11 1st pct

Avg size in Meekatharra in Murchison +40 larger in Meekatharra

51 8th pct 11 0th pct

ICSEA in Meekatharra in Murchison +34 higher in Meekatharra

628 0th pct 594 0th pct

Highest year of school

29.9% Year 12 +18.0 pts ▸ 47.9%

22.6% Year 10 +0.7 pts ▸ 23.3%

10.1% Year 11 +3.6 pts ▸ 13.7%

9.6% Year 9 or below even 9.6%

Highest qualification level

23.9% Certificate III / IV +6.6 pts ▸ 30.6%

6.8% Advanced diploma / diploma +9.9 pts ▸ 16.7%

0.6% Graduate diploma / certificate +10.5 pts ▸ 11.1%

11.0% Bachelor degree ◂ +2.7 pts 8.3%

2.6% Postgraduate degree ◂ +2.6 pts 0.0%

2.1% Certificate I / II ◂ +2.1 pts 0.0%

Field of qualification

14.7% Engineering & related +10.3 pts ▸ 25.0%

6.1% Management & commerce +16.1 pts ▸ 22.2%

5.5% Society & culture +16.7 pts ▸ 22.2%

3.1% Health +5.3 pts ▸ 8.3%

4.8% Education ◂ +4.8 pts 0.0%

4.0% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +4.0 pts 0.0%

2.6% Architecture & building ◂ +2.6 pts 0.0%

2.3% Agriculture & environment ◂ +2.3 pts 0.0%

2.1% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +2.1 pts 0.0%

1.8% Creative arts ◂ +1.8 pts 0.0%

0.8% Information technology ◂ +0.8 pts 0.0%

Income

Personal income in Meekatharra in Murchison +$177 higher in Meekatharra gap narrowing

$1,010 86th pct $833 71st pct

Household income in Meekatharra in Murchison +$406 higher in Murchison gap widening

$1,243 30th pct $1,649 69th pct

Family income in Meekatharra in Murchison +$382 higher in Murchison gap widening

$1,292 12th pct $1,674 40th pct

Household income distribution

27.5% $1,500–$2,999 +25.6 pts ▸ 53.1%

25.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +10.1 pts 15.6%

22.1% Under $650 ◂ +12.7 pts 9.4%

5.1% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +5.1 pts 0.0%

2.5% $4,000 or more ◂ +2.5 pts 0.0%

Personal income distribution

27.4% Under $650 +10.1 pts ▸ 37.5%

18.6% $650–$1,499 +16.1 pts ▸ 34.7%

19.4% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +4.1 pts 15.3%

4.2% $3,000 or more ◂ +4.2 pts 0.0%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

4.7% Asthma +5.2 pts ▸ 9.9%

4.4% Mental health +4.5 pts ▸ 8.9%

1.3% Cancer +5.6 pts ▸ 6.9%

6.3% Diabetes ◂ +3.3 pts 3.0%

3.3% Other condition +1.6 pts ▸ 5.0%

4.3% Heart disease ◂ +4.3 pts 0.0%

3.6% Arthritis ◂ +3.6 pts 0.0%

1.8% Lung condition ◂ +1.8 pts 0.0%

0.5% Stroke ◂ +0.5 pts 0.0%

0.4% Dementia ◂ +0.4 pts 0.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.0% None +7.4 pts ▸ 63.4%

12.6% One condition +7.2 pts ▸ 19.8%

3.1% Two conditions +0.9 pts ▸ 4.0%

2.4% Three or more ◂ +2.4 pts 0.0%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Meekatharra in Murchison +411 larger in Meekatharra

449 46th pct 38 9th pct

Median age in Meekatharra in Murchison +2 yrs older in Murchison

25 yrs 50th pct 27 yrs 64th pct

Median income in Meekatharra in Murchison +$70 higher in Murchison

$379 10th pct $449 20th pct

Household income in Meekatharra in Murchison +$115 higher in Murchison

$1,010 14th pct $1,125 24th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Meekatharra in Murchison +0.2 larger in Murchison gap widening

2.4 43rd pct 2.6 79th pct

Family composition

39.0% Couples with children ◂ +2.3 pts 36.7%

26.5% Couples without children +3.9 pts ▸ 30.4%

29.3% One-parent families ◂ +2.7 pts 26.6%

4.8% Other families +0.3 pts ▸ 5.1%

Household size

37.3% 1 person ◂ +6.1 pts 31.3%

28.6% 2 people +2.6 pts ▸ 31.3%

6.9% 6 or more +11.9 pts ▸ 18.8%

14.9% 3 people +0.8 pts ▸ 15.6%

5.1% 5 people +10.6 pts ▸ 15.6%

8.0% 4 people +1.4 pts ▸ 9.4%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Meekatharra in Murchison +$24 higher in Murchison gap narrowing

$115 7th pct $139 12th pct

Mortgage in Meekatharra in Murchison +$1,150 higher in Murchison gap narrowing

$650 5th pct $1,800 74th pct

People / bedroom in Meekatharra in Murchison even gap steady

0.90 86th pct 0.90 86th pct

How homes are owned or rented

49.6% Rented +0.4 pts ▸ 50.0%

11.6% Other tenure +29.0 pts ▸ 40.6%

25.7% Owned outright ◂ +16.3 pts 9.4%

5.1% Owned with a mortgage +7.4 pts ▸ 12.5%

8.3% Not stated ◂ +8.3 pts 0.0%

Types of homes

78.6% Separate house ◂ +22.4 pts 56.3%

3.6% Other dwelling +18.3 pts ▸ 21.9%

6.5% Townhouse / semi-detached +2.9 pts ▸ 9.4%

4.0% Flat or apartment ◂ +4.0 pts 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

50.7% 3 bedrooms ◂ +16.3 pts 34.4%

13.0% 2 bedrooms +15.1 pts ▸ 28.1%

15.6% 4 bedrooms +3.2 pts ▸ 18.8%

9.4% 1 bedroom even 9.4%

3.6% 5 or more ◂ +3.6 pts 0.0%

1.8% Studio / none ◂ +1.8 pts 0.0%

Weekly rent distribution

67.2% Under $200 ◂ +29.7 pts 37.5%

10.9% $200–$349 ◂ +10.9 pts 0.0%

0.0% $350–$549 even 0.0%

0.0% $550–$749 even 0.0%

0.0% $750 or more even 0.0%

Monthly mortgage distribution

71.4% Under $1,000 ◂ +71.4 pts 0.0%

0.0% $1,000–$1,799 even 0.0%

0.0% $1,800–$2,999 even 0.0%

0.0% $3,000 or more even 0.0%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Meekatharra in Murchison +2 more in Meekatharra

2 24th pct 0 0th pct

Stops/1k in Meekatharra in Murchison +1.67 more in Meekatharra

1.67 35th pct 0.00 0th pct

Departures/1k in Meekatharra in Murchison +3.3 more in Meekatharra

3.3 20th pct 0.0 0th pct

PT routes in Meekatharra in Murchison +1 more in Meekatharra

1 29th pct 0 0th pct

How people get to work

18.6% Walked +21.4 pts ▸ 40.0%

5.4% Worked at home +32.1 pts ▸ 37.5%

36.2% Car (driver) ◂ +18.7 pts 17.5%

9.7% Bus ◂ +9.7 pts 0.0%

6.4% Car (passenger) ◂ +6.4 pts 0.0%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

0.0% Bicycle even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

40.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +13.0 pts 27.6%

23.6% 2 vehicles +0.5 pts ▸ 24.1%

18.1% No vehicle ◂ +7.8 pts 10.3%

7.5% 3 vehicles +2.9 pts ▸ 10.3%

8.7% 4 or more +1.7 pts ▸ 10.3%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

9.1% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +40.9 pts ▸ 50.0%

30.4% Mining ◂ +30.4 pts 0.0%

5.8% Public administration & safety +21.7 pts ▸ 27.5%

13.5% Education & training +1.5 pts ▸ 15.0%

11.8% Accommodation & food +0.7 pts ▸ 12.5%

7.0% Health care & social assistance ◂ +7.0 pts 0.0%

6.4% Retail trade ◂ +6.4 pts 0.0%

3.7% Construction ◂ +3.7 pts 0.0%

3.3% Transport & warehousing ◂ +3.3 pts 0.0%

2.5% Administrative & support ◂ +2.5 pts 0.0%

2.1% Other services ◂ +2.1 pts 0.0%

1.0% Professional & technical ◂ +1.0 pts 0.0%

Occupations people work in

15.5% Managers +37.0 pts ▸ 52.5%

12.4% Labourers +10.1 pts ▸ 22.5%

18.0% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +18.0 pts 0.0%

17.6% Technicians & trades ◂ +10.1 pts 7.5%

12.4% Professionals ◂ +12.4 pts 0.0%

9.7% Community & personal service +0.3 pts ▸ 10.0%

7.9% Clerical & administrative ◂ +7.9 pts 0.0%

3.7% Sales workers ◂ +3.7 pts 0.0%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Meekatharra in Murchison +1 higher in Murchison

1 0th pct 2 14th pct

IRSD decile in Meekatharra in Murchison even

1 0th pct 1 0th pct

IER decile in Meekatharra in Murchison even

1 0th pct 1 0th pct

IEO decile in Meekatharra in Murchison +7 higher in Murchison

2 14th pct 9 86th pct

IRSAD score in Meekatharra in Murchison +14 higher in Murchison

871 12th pct 885 13th pct

ERP in Meekatharra in Murchison +1,181 higher in Meekatharra

1,292 15th pct 111 0th pct

Growth in Meekatharra in Murchison

0.4% 17th pct —

Businesses in Meekatharra in Murchison +46 higher in Meekatharra

52 5th pct 6 1st pct

Approvals in Meekatharra in Murchison even

0 0th pct 0 0th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Meekatharra in Murchison +4 higher in Murchison

188 1st pct 192 2nd pct

Max temp in Meekatharra in Murchison +0.7 higher in Meekatharra

32.3 92nd pct 31.5 90th pct

Min temp in Meekatharra in Murchison +1.5 higher in Meekatharra

16.6 87th pct 15.1 81st pct

Walkability

Walk score in Meekatharra in Murchison +2.7 higher in Meekatharra

3.2 34th pct 0.5 0th pct

Types ≤15 min in Meekatharra in Murchison +3.0 more in Meekatharra

3.9 47th pct 0.8 0th pct

15-min city in Meekatharra in Murchison +52.5 pts higher in Meekatharra

52.5% 57th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to shops in Meekatharra in Murchison +77.0 pts higher in Meekatharra

77.0% 82nd pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to transit in Meekatharra in Murchison +37.6 pts higher in Meekatharra

37.6% 45th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Meekatharra in Murchison +52.7 pts higher in Meekatharra

52.7% 46th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to a park in Meekatharra in Murchison +72.1 pts higher in Meekatharra

72.1% 54th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to health in Meekatharra in Murchison +52.4 pts higher in Meekatharra

52.4% 73rd pct 0.0% 0th pct

Amenities/1k in Meekatharra in Murchison +12.9 more in Murchison

26.7 69th pct 39.6 80th pct

Intersections/km² in Meekatharra in Murchison even

0 0th pct 0 0th pct

Mean slope in Meekatharra in Murchison +0.1 pts higher in Murchison

3.0% 17th pct 3.1% 20th pct

Compare Meekatharra with nearby areas

Cue Upper Gascoyne Murchison Wiluna Mount Magnet Sandstone Ashburton Leonora

Compare Murchison with nearby areas

Shark Bay Yalgoo Upper Gascoyne Cue Northampton Greater Geraldton Chapman Valley Mount Magnet

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Meekatharra vs Murchison [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA55250/meekatharra/vs/LGA56160/murchison