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Meekatharra vs Port Hedland

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

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 500 km apart · Meekatharra profile · Port Hedland profile

Meekatharra Port Hedland

Port Hedland and Meekatharra are both remote Western Australian areas, but they differ sharply in wealth and demographics. Port Hedland is much wealthier, with a typical weekly household income of $2,865 compared to $1,243 in Meekatharra. It also has a much younger population, with 24.7% of residents being children under 15, which is 10 percentage points higher than in Meekatharra. This age gap is reflected in the schools; Port Hedland has much larger average school sizes (352 students) than Meekatharra (51 students).

The gap in the number of children has widened since 2011, while the two areas remain very similar in other ways. They share almost identical rates of people using another language at home (around 14%) and the same typical age for First Nations residents, who are 25 years old in both places. While Port Hedland is more mobile and has far more public transport options, both areas have similar levels of accessibility to local amenities within a 15-minute walk.

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Where they differ most

Population: 14,484 larger in Port Hedland Household income: $1,622 higher in Port Hedland Family income: $1,972 higher in Port Hedland Mortgage: $867 higher in Port Hedland Rent: $110 higher in Port Hedland

Demographics & Identity

Population in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +14,484 larger in Port Hedland gap steady

1,200 15th pct 15,684 55th pct

Median age in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +2 yrs older in Meekatharra gap narrowing

34 yrs 12th pct 32 yrs 9th pct

Age structure

36.5% Young adults (25–44) +1.1 pts ▸ 37.6%

26.1% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.9 pts 23.2%

14.7% Children (0–14) +10.1 pts ▸ 24.7%

13.8% Youth (15–24) ◂ +3.1 pts 10.6%

8.7% Seniors (65+) ◂ +4.8 pts 3.9%

Marital status

56.0% Never married ◂ +8.7 pts 47.3%

27.8% Married +11.8 pts ▸ 39.6%

7.7% Divorced ◂ +0.3 pts 7.4%

5.4% Separated ◂ +1.4 pts 4.0%

3.0% Widowed ◂ +1.2 pts 1.8%

Age & sex structure

Meekatharra Port Hedland

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

61.0% Australia +3.5 pts ▸ 64.5%

2.8% New Zealand +2.4 pts ▸ 5.2%

1.3% Philippines +1.6 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.1% England ◂ +0.1 pts 2.0%

0.8% India +0.6 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.4% South Africa +0.9 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.8% China ◂ +0.3 pts 0.4%

0.3% Italy ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.0% Vietnam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Nepal even 0.0%

Ancestry

17.4% Australian +10.9 pts ▸ 28.3%

19.7% English +7.9 pts ▸ 27.6%

5.0% Irish +2.4 pts ▸ 7.4%

4.4% Scottish +2.2 pts ▸ 6.6%

1.5% Filipino +1.8 pts ▸ 3.3%

2.6% German +0.3 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.1% Italian +1.1 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.7% Chinese ◂ +0.2 pts 1.5%

0.7% Indian +0.8 pts ▸ 1.5%

0.3% Dutch +1.2 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.3% Greek even 0.3%

0.0% Vietnamese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

60.9% English only +8.6 pts ▸ 69.5%

0.5% Tagalog +0.9 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.9% Mandarin ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

0.0% Vietnamese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.3% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.3% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.0% Hindi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Arabic +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.0% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

37.0% No religion +6.9 pts ▸ 43.9%

30.8% Christianity +1.9 pts ▸ 32.7%

30.4% Not stated ◂ +13.5 pts 16.9%

0.3% Islam +2.8 pts ▸ 3.1%

0.6% Buddhism +0.8 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.3% Hinduism +1.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

1.1% Other religions ◂ +0.4 pts 0.7%

0.0% Judaism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +6 more in Port Hedland

3 21st pct 9 46th pct

Schools/1k kids in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +14.73 more in Meekatharra

17.05 92nd pct 2.32 28th pct

Students in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +3,016 more in Port Hedland

154 14th pct 3,170 58th pct

Avg size in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +301 larger in Port Hedland

51 8th pct 352 67th pct

ICSEA in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +267 higher in Port Hedland

628 0th pct 895 16th pct

Highest year of school

29.9% Year 12 +15.7 pts ▸ 45.6%

22.6% Year 10 ◂ +3.1 pts 19.6%

10.1% Year 11 +1.6 pts ▸ 11.7%

9.6% Year 9 or below ◂ +3.6 pts 5.9%

Highest qualification level

23.9% Certificate III / IV +12.3 pts ▸ 36.2%

11.0% Bachelor degree +3.2 pts ▸ 14.2%

6.8% Advanced diploma / diploma +4.4 pts ▸ 11.2%

2.1% Certificate I / II +1.1 pts ▸ 3.2%

2.6% Postgraduate degree +0.4 pts ▸ 2.9%

0.6% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.4 pts ▸ 2.1%

Field of qualification

14.7% Engineering & related +9.9 pts ▸ 24.6%

6.1% Management & commerce +6.3 pts ▸ 12.5%

3.1% Health +4.0 pts ▸ 7.1%

5.5% Society & culture +1.0 pts ▸ 6.5%

4.8% Education +1.6 pts ▸ 6.4%

2.6% Architecture & building +1.7 pts ▸ 4.3%

4.0% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.2 pts 3.9%

2.3% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.0 pts 1.3%

2.1% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.8 pts 1.3%

1.8% Creative arts ◂ +0.6 pts 1.2%

0.8% Information technology even 0.8%

Income

Personal income in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +$522 higher in Port Hedland gap widening

$1,010 86th pct $1,532 99th pct

Household income in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +$1,622 higher in Port Hedland gap narrowing

$1,243 30th pct $2,865 99th pct

Family income in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +$1,972 higher in Port Hedland gap widening

$1,292 12th pct $3,264 97th pct

Household income distribution

27.5% $1,500–$2,999 +2.3 pts ▸ 29.9%

25.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +15.7 pts 10.0%

2.5% $4,000 or more +22.4 pts ▸ 24.9%

22.1% Under $650 ◂ +15.8 pts 6.3%

5.1% $3,000–$3,999 +12.5 pts ▸ 17.6%

Personal income distribution

19.4% $1,500–$2,999 +10.4 pts ▸ 29.7%

27.4% Under $650 ◂ +6.4 pts 21.1%

18.6% $650–$1,499 +0.7 pts ▸ 19.3%

4.2% $3,000 or more +8.3 pts ▸ 12.5%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

6.3% Diabetes ◂ +3.1 pts 3.2%

4.7% Asthma +1.5 pts ▸ 6.2%

4.4% Mental health +0.4 pts ▸ 4.8%

3.3% Other condition +1.2 pts ▸ 4.5%

4.3% Heart disease ◂ +2.6 pts 1.6%

3.6% Arthritis ◂ +0.6 pts 3.0%

1.8% Lung condition ◂ +1.2 pts 0.6%

1.3% Cancer ◂ +0.4 pts 1.0%

0.5% Stroke even 0.5%

0.4% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.0% None +9.7 pts ▸ 65.7%

12.6% One condition +0.3 pts ▸ 12.9%

3.1% Two conditions ◂ +0.5 pts 2.6%

2.4% Three or more ◂ +1.4 pts 1.0%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +2,467 larger in Port Hedland

449 46th pct 2,916 86th pct

Median age in Meekatharra in Port Hedland even

25 yrs 50th pct 25 yrs 50th pct

Median income in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +$253 higher in Port Hedland

$379 10th pct $632 71st pct

Household income in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +$1,070 higher in Port Hedland

$1,010 14th pct $2,080 89th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +0.3 larger in Port Hedland gap steady

2.4 43rd pct 2.7 86th pct

Family composition

39.0% Couples with children +25.2 pts ▸ 64.3%

29.3% One-parent families ◂ +16.5 pts 12.8%

26.5% Couples without children ◂ +4.9 pts 21.6%

4.8% Other families ◂ +3.5 pts 1.3%

Household size

37.3% 1 person ◂ +11.4 pts 25.9%

28.6% 2 people +1.2 pts ▸ 29.8%

14.9% 3 people +1.1 pts ▸ 16.0%

8.0% 4 people +7.7 pts ▸ 15.7%

5.1% 5 people +3.0 pts ▸ 8.0%

6.9% 6 or more ◂ +2.3 pts 4.6%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +$110 higher in Port Hedland gap widening

$115 7th pct $225 38th pct

Mortgage in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +$867 higher in Port Hedland gap narrowing

$650 5th pct $1,517 57th pct

People / bedroom in Meekatharra in Port Hedland even gap steady

0.90 86th pct 0.90 86th pct

How homes are owned or rented

49.6% Rented +17.0 pts ▸ 66.7%

25.7% Owned outright ◂ +18.4 pts 7.3%

5.1% Owned with a mortgage +12.3 pts ▸ 17.4%

11.6% Other tenure ◂ +4.9 pts 6.7%

8.3% Not stated ◂ +6.5 pts 1.8%

Types of homes

78.6% Separate house ◂ +8.4 pts 70.2%

6.5% Townhouse / semi-detached +11.7 pts ▸ 18.2%

4.0% Flat or apartment +5.3 pts ▸ 9.3%

3.6% Other dwelling ◂ +2.2 pts 1.4%

Bedrooms per home

50.7% 3 bedrooms ◂ +7.5 pts 43.2%

15.6% 4 bedrooms +12.4 pts ▸ 27.9%

13.0% 2 bedrooms +1.5 pts ▸ 14.5%

9.4% 1 bedroom ◂ +1.1 pts 8.3%

3.6% 5 or more even 3.6%

1.8% Studio / none ◂ +1.3 pts 0.5%

Weekly rent distribution

67.2% Under $200 ◂ +27.2 pts 40.0%

10.9% $200–$349 +8.6 pts ▸ 19.6%

0.0% $350–$549 +17.6 pts ▸ 17.6%

0.0% $550–$749 +8.0 pts ▸ 8.0%

0.0% $750 or more +5.9 pts ▸ 5.9%

Monthly mortgage distribution

71.4% Under $1,000 ◂ +47.7 pts 23.7%

0.0% $1,000–$1,799 +32.7 pts ▸ 32.7%

0.0% $1,800–$2,999 +21.6 pts ▸ 21.6%

0.0% $3,000 or more +14.9 pts ▸ 14.9%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +149 more in Port Hedland

2 24th pct 151 67th pct

Stops/1k in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +7.96 more in Port Hedland

1.67 35th pct 9.63 98th pct

Departures/1k in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +293.6 more in Port Hedland

3.3 20th pct 296.9 65th pct

PT routes in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +2 more in Port Hedland

1 29th pct 3 38th pct

How people get to work

36.2% Car (driver) +35.7 pts ▸ 71.9%

18.6% Walked ◂ +15.7 pts 2.9%

9.7% Bus ◂ +8.7 pts 1.0%

6.4% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.5 pts 5.9%

5.4% Worked at home ◂ +3.0 pts 2.4%

0.0% Bicycle +0.5 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

23.6% 2 vehicles +18.4 pts ▸ 42.1%

40.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +10.5 pts 30.1%

18.1% No vehicle ◂ +12.6 pts 5.5%

7.5% 3 vehicles +7.9 pts ▸ 15.4%

8.7% 4 or more ◂ +1.7 pts 7.0%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

30.4% Mining ◂ +4.3 pts 26.1%

13.5% Education & training ◂ +6.1 pts 7.4%

11.8% Accommodation & food ◂ +7.7 pts 4.1%

3.3% Transport & warehousing +7.3 pts ▸ 10.6%

7.0% Health care & social assistance +2.1 pts ▸ 9.1%

9.1% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +8.9 pts 0.2%

3.7% Construction +2.8 pts ▸ 6.6%

6.4% Retail trade ◂ +0.4 pts 6.0%

5.8% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.3 pts 5.5%

0.0% Manufacturing +3.9 pts ▸ 3.9%

2.1% Other services +1.5 pts ▸ 3.5%

0.0% Wholesale trade +2.8 pts ▸ 2.8%

Occupations people work in

17.6% Technicians & trades +7.3 pts ▸ 24.9%

18.0% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +3.1 pts 14.9%

15.5% Managers ◂ +6.1 pts 9.4%

12.4% Professionals +0.7 pts ▸ 13.1%

12.4% Labourers ◂ +2.5 pts 9.9%

7.9% Clerical & administrative +3.3 pts ▸ 11.2%

9.7% Community & personal service ◂ +1.4 pts 8.4%

3.7% Sales workers +1.8 pts ▸ 5.5%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +7 higher in Port Hedland

1 0th pct 8 71st pct

IRSD decile in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +7 higher in Port Hedland

1 0th pct 8 71st pct

IER decile in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +4 higher in Port Hedland

1 0th pct 5 43rd pct

IEO decile in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +3 higher in Port Hedland

2 14th pct 5 43rd pct

IRSAD score in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +126 higher in Port Hedland

871 12th pct 997 75th pct

ERP in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +16,451 higher in Port Hedland

1,292 15th pct 17,743 55th pct

Growth in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +6.1 pts higher in Port Hedland

0.4% 17th pct 6.5% 73rd pct

Businesses in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +837 higher in Port Hedland

52 5th pct 889 41st pct

Approvals in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +45 higher in Port Hedland

0 0th pct 45 47th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +153 higher in Port Hedland

188 1st pct 341 17th pct

Max temp in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +2.7 higher in Port Hedland

32.3 92nd pct 35.0 100th pct

Min temp in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +3.9 higher in Port Hedland

16.6 87th pct 20.5 95th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +0.9 higher in Port Hedland

3.2 34th pct 4.1 60th pct

Types ≤15 min in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +0.1 more in Port Hedland

3.9 47th pct 4.0 50th pct

15-min city in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +17.2 pts higher in Meekatharra

52.5% 57th pct 35.3% 27th pct

Walk to shops in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +50.8 pts higher in Meekatharra

77.0% 82nd pct 26.2% 15th pct

Walk to transit in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +54.5 pts higher in Port Hedland

37.6% 45th pct 92.0% 83rd pct

Walk to school in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +7.2 pts higher in Port Hedland

52.7% 46th pct 59.9% 59th pct

Walk to a park in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +19.1 pts higher in Port Hedland

72.1% 54th pct 91.1% 76th pct

Walk to health in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +48.1 pts higher in Meekatharra

52.4% 73rd pct 4.3% 4th pct

Amenities/1k in Meekatharra in Port Hedland +0.5 more in Meekatharra

26.7 69th pct 26.2 68th pct

Intersections/km² in Meekatharra in Port Hedland even

0 0th pct 0 21st pct

Mean slope in Meekatharra in Port Hedland even

3.0% 17th pct 3.0% 15th pct

Compare Meekatharra with nearby areas

Cue Upper Gascoyne Murchison Wiluna Mount Magnet Sandstone Ashburton Leonora

Compare Port Hedland with nearby areas

Karratha Ashburton Meekatharra Broome Upper Gascoyne East Pilbara Exmouth Carnarvon

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Meekatharra vs Port Hedland [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA55250/meekatharra/vs/LGA57280/port-hedland