Compare

East Pilbara vs West Pilbara

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

Sub-region (SA3) comparison ≈ 662 km apart · East Pilbara profile · West Pilbara profile

East Pilbara West Pilbara

West Pilbara and East Pilbara are two remote regions in Western Australia. They differ most in their transport and local services; East Pilbara has far more public transport stops (5.93 per 1,000 people) and more homes within a short walk of transport. In contrast, West Pilbara is more walkable for health services, with 41.3% of homes within a 15-minute walk compared to just 17.0% in East Pilbara. West Pilbara also has a higher share of high-earning households, with 47.2% earning $3,000 or more a week.

Since 2016, the gap in high-income households has widened. The two areas remain very similar in other ways, such as having the same typical resident age of 33 and almost identical typical weekly incomes of around $1,600. Both regions have First Nations populations that are well above the national figure, though this is more pronounced in East Pilbara, where 18.3% of residents are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

Open map →

Where they differ most

No car: 3.2 pts higher in East Pilbara One-parent: 4.4 pts higher in East Pilbara Mortgage: $520 higher in West Pilbara Volunteering: 4.3 pts higher in West Pilbara 3+ bedrooms: 6.5 pts higher in West Pilbara

Demographics & Identity

Population in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +4,151 larger in West Pilbara gap narrowing

25,443 18th pct 29,594 21st pct

Median age in East Pilbara in West Pilbara even gap narrowing

33 yrs 7th pct 33 yrs 7th pct

Age structure

40.3% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +1.5 pts 38.8%

21.4% Children (0–14) +3.5 pts ▸ 24.9%

24.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.3 pts 22.9%

10.6% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.4 pts 10.1%

3.6% Seniors (65+) ◂ +0.3 pts 3.3%

Marital status

48.2% Never married ◂ +4.8 pts 43.4%

38.3% Married +6.5 pts ▸ 44.8%

7.8% Divorced ◂ +0.9 pts 6.9%

4.0% Separated ◂ +0.4 pts 3.7%

1.6% Widowed ◂ +0.4 pts 1.2%

Age & sex structure

East Pilbara West Pilbara

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

60.8% Australia +3.8 pts ▸ 64.6%

5.6% New Zealand ◂ +1.2 pts 4.4%

2.6% Philippines ◂ +0.7 pts 1.9%

2.2% England +0.3 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.2% South Africa ◂ +0.2 pts 1.0%

1.1% India ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%

0.4% China even 0.4%

0.2% Vietnam even 0.2%

0.0% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.1% Italy even 0.1%

Ancestry

25.5% Australian +7.2 pts ▸ 32.7%

26.6% English +4.0 pts ▸ 30.6%

6.9% Irish +0.7 pts ▸ 7.6%

6.5% Scottish +0.7 pts ▸ 7.2%

2.7% German +0.5 pts ▸ 3.1%

3.1% Filipino ◂ +0.6 pts 2.5%

2.1% Italian +0.5 pts ▸ 2.6%

1.4% Dutch +0.2 pts ▸ 1.6%

1.3% Indian +0.1 pts ▸ 1.4%

1.4% Chinese ◂ +0.1 pts 1.3%

0.3% Greek even 0.3%

0.2% Vietnamese even 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

64.0% English only +6.1 pts ▸ 70.1%

1.3% Tagalog ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%

0.5% Mandarin +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.2% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Vietnamese even 0.2%

0.2% Punjabi even 0.2%

0.2% Arabic even 0.1%

0.1% Italian even 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese even 0.1%

0.1% Greek even 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

42.1% No religion +4.9 pts ▸ 47.0%

31.6% Christianity ◂ +2.8 pts 28.8%

20.4% Not stated ◂ +0.8 pts 19.7%

2.3% Islam ◂ +1.3 pts 1.0%

1.3% Buddhism +0.2 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.2% Other religions ◂ +0.3 pts 0.9%

1.1% Hinduism +0.1 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.0% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +1 more in East Pilbara

18 31st pct 17 29th pct

Schools/1k kids in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +1.00 more in East Pilbara

3.30 73rd pct 2.31 54th pct

Students in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +2,082 more in West Pilbara

4,487 17th pct 6,569 28th pct

Avg size in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +137 larger in West Pilbara

249 24th pct 386 42nd pct

ICSEA in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +48 higher in West Pilbara

887 8th pct 935 13th pct

Highest year of school

43.4% Year 12 +3.2 pts ▸ 46.6%

18.2% Year 10 +0.8 pts ▸ 19.0%

11.1% Year 11 ◂ +0.1 pts 11.0%

5.7% Year 9 or below ◂ +1.2 pts 4.5%

Highest qualification level

34.5% Certificate III / IV +1.6 pts ▸ 36.1%

12.6% Bachelor degree +2.0 pts ▸ 14.6%

10.0% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.6 pts ▸ 10.6%

2.8% Postgraduate degree +0.5 pts ▸ 3.3%

3.1% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.2 pts 2.9%

1.7% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.7 pts ▸ 2.4%

Field of qualification

24.3% Engineering & related +0.1 pts ▸ 24.4%

10.3% Management & commerce +2.2 pts ▸ 12.5%

5.3% Education +1.2 pts ▸ 6.6%

5.7% Society & culture +0.7 pts ▸ 6.4%

5.9% Health +0.2 pts ▸ 6.1%

4.4% Architecture & building +0.4 pts ▸ 4.8%

3.9% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.5 pts ▸ 4.4%

1.4% Natural & physical sciences even 1.5%

1.4% Agriculture & environment +0.1 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.1% Creative arts +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.8% Information technology even 0.7%

Income

Personal income in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +$14 higher in West Pilbara gap narrowing

$1,604 100th pct $1,618 100th pct

Household income in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +$350 higher in West Pilbara gap widening

$2,764 96th pct $3,114 100th pct

Family income in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +$262 higher in West Pilbara gap widening

$3,164 95th pct $3,426 100th pct

Household income distribution

30.2% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.6 pts 28.6%

23.9% $4,000 or more +5.5 pts ▸ 29.4%

17.3% $3,000–$3,999 +0.5 pts ▸ 17.8%

11.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.9 pts 8.8%

6.0% Under $650 ◂ +1.3 pts 4.7%

Personal income distribution

29.3% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.4 pts 28.9%

19.2% Under $650 ◂ +0.7 pts 18.6%

17.3% $650–$1,499 +1.5 pts ▸ 18.8%

12.7% $3,000 or more +1.4 pts ▸ 14.2%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

5.7% Asthma ◂ +0.2 pts 5.5%

4.4% Mental health +0.4 pts ▸ 4.8%

4.0% Other condition ◂ +0.1 pts 3.9%

3.1% Diabetes ◂ +0.5 pts 2.6%

2.6% Arthritis +0.1 pts ▸ 2.8%

1.6% Heart disease ◂ +0.4 pts 1.2%

0.8% Cancer +0.2 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.6% Lung condition ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.3% Stroke ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.1% Dementia even 0.1%

Number of long-term health conditions

63.8% None +1.5 pts ▸ 65.3%

12.0% One condition ◂ +0.1 pts 12.0%

2.4% Two conditions ◂ +0.1 pts 2.3%

0.9% Three or more ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +1,292 larger in East Pilbara

4,657 86th pct 3,365 77th pct

Median age in East Pilbara in West Pilbara even

26 yrs 64th pct 26 yrs 64th pct

Median income in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +$193 higher in West Pilbara

$450 11th pct $643 60th pct

Household income in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +$268 higher in West Pilbara

$1,913 74th pct $2,181 86th pct

Family & Households

Household size in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +0.1 larger in West Pilbara gap widening

2.7 79th pct 2.8 86th pct

Family composition

64.2% Couples with children +5.4 pts ▸ 69.6%

21.2% Couples without children ◂ +0.3 pts 21.0%

13.1% One-parent families ◂ +4.4 pts 8.7%

1.4% Other families ◂ +0.6 pts 0.7%

Household size

28.7% 2 people even 28.7%

26.0% 1 person ◂ +4.0 pts 22.0%

15.8% 4 people +4.3 pts ▸ 20.1%

15.8% 3 people +0.3 pts ▸ 16.1%

8.1% 5 people +1.4 pts ▸ 9.5%

5.7% 6 or more ◂ +2.0 pts 3.6%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +$40 higher in West Pilbara gap widening

$180 3rd pct $220 10th pct

Mortgage in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +$520 higher in West Pilbara gap widening

$1,480 26th pct $2,000 65th pct

People / bedroom in East Pilbara in West Pilbara even gap steady

0.90 86th pct 0.90 86th pct

How homes are owned or rented

68.7% Rented ◂ +4.9 pts 63.8%

14.3% Owned with a mortgage +5.5 pts ▸ 19.8%

7.5% Other tenure ◂ +0.2 pts 7.2%

7.4% Owned outright ◂ +0.2 pts 7.2%

2.1% Not stated ◂ +0.1 pts 2.0%

Types of homes

75.4% Separate house +4.7 pts ▸ 80.2%

14.5% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +2.2 pts 12.3%

7.5% Flat or apartment ◂ +2.9 pts 4.6%

1.6% Other dwelling +0.4 pts ▸ 2.0%

Bedrooms per home

45.1% 3 bedrooms ◂ +1.2 pts 43.9%

26.7% 4 bedrooms +7.6 pts ▸ 34.3%

14.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +4.0 pts 10.8%

7.4% 1 bedroom ◂ +2.7 pts 4.8%

3.4% 5 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 3.5%

0.5% Studio / none +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

Weekly rent distribution

47.0% Under $200 ◂ +4.3 pts 42.6%

16.1% $200–$349 +1.6 pts ▸ 17.7%

15.4% $350–$549 ◂ +2.1 pts 13.3%

4.4% $750 or more +4.4 pts ▸ 8.8%

7.0% $550–$749 +1.8 pts ▸ 8.8%

Monthly mortgage distribution

20.6% $1,800–$2,999 +13.6 pts ▸ 34.2%

32.1% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +2.1 pts 29.9%

25.6% Under $1,000 ◂ +15.9 pts 9.7%

14.2% $3,000 or more +6.6 pts ▸ 20.8%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +131 more in East Pilbara

151 28th pct 20 6th pct

Stops/1k in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +5.26 more in East Pilbara

5.93 79th pct 0.68 5th pct

Departures/1k in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +172.0 more in East Pilbara

183.0 27th pct 11.1 3rd pct

PT routes in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +1 more in East Pilbara

3 6th pct 2 4th pct

How people get to work

58.5% Car (driver) +0.9 pts ▸ 59.4%

6.7% Bus +1.5 pts ▸ 8.2%

6.5% Car (passenger) +0.1 pts ▸ 6.6%

5.1% Walked ◂ +0.8 pts 4.3%

2.2% Worked at home +0.3 pts ▸ 2.6%

0.6% Bicycle +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.1% Train even 0.1%

Motor vehicles per home

40.4% 2 vehicles +2.7 pts ▸ 43.1%

31.4% 1 vehicle ◂ +3.2 pts 28.1%

14.6% 3 vehicles +2.2 pts ▸ 16.8%

6.7% 4 or more +1.7 pts ▸ 8.5%

6.7% No vehicle ◂ +3.2 pts 3.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

34.9% Mining ◂ +3.7 pts 31.2%

7.5% Construction +2.2 pts ▸ 9.7%

6.5% Education & training +1.2 pts ▸ 7.7%

7.4% Transport & warehousing ◂ +2.5 pts 4.9%

7.2% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.5 pts 6.6%

4.7% Public administration & safety +1.1 pts ▸ 5.8%

4.3% Accommodation & food +1.2 pts ▸ 5.5%

5.1% Retail trade +0.2 pts ▸ 5.3%

3.1% Administrative & support +1.1 pts ▸ 4.3%

3.1% Other services even 3.1%

2.8% Manufacturing ◂ +0.5 pts 2.3%

2.4% Wholesale trade ◂ +0.9 pts 1.6%

Occupations people work in

26.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.7 pts 25.5%

19.0% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +4.1 pts 14.9%

12.3% Professionals +1.2 pts ▸ 13.4%

10.6% Labourers ◂ +0.2 pts 10.4%

9.3% Clerical & administrative +1.0 pts ▸ 10.3%

8.3% Managers +1.6 pts ▸ 9.8%

7.5% Community & personal service +1.1 pts ▸ 8.7%

4.5% Sales workers +0.3 pts ▸ 4.8%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +5,358 higher in West Pilbara

28,406 15th pct 33,764 19th pct

Growth in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +3.2 pts higher in West Pilbara

5.0% 44th pct 8.2% 73rd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +58 higher in West Pilbara

311 1st pct 370 5th pct

Max temp in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +2.7 higher in East Pilbara

35.4 100th pct 32.7 97th pct

Min temp in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +2.2 higher in East Pilbara

19.8 98th pct 17.6 91st pct

Walkability

Walk score in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +0.4 higher in East Pilbara

4.1 35th pct 3.8 28th pct

Types ≤15 min in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +0.2 more in West Pilbara

4.2 36th pct 4.4 41st pct

15-min city in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +6.1 pts higher in West Pilbara

41.2% 26th pct 47.3% 36th pct

Walk to shops in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +9.1 pts higher in West Pilbara

34.5% 14th pct 43.6% 29th pct

Walk to transit in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +27.1 pts higher in East Pilbara

64.6% 37th pct 37.6% 19th pct

Walk to school in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +11.3 pts higher in West Pilbara

62.5% 46th pct 73.8% 60th pct

Walk to a park in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +6.7 pts higher in East Pilbara

91.0% 51st pct 84.3% 42nd pct

Walk to health in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +24.3 pts higher in West Pilbara

17.0% 9th pct 41.3% 48th pct

Amenities/1k in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +17.6 more in West Pilbara

21.7 79th pct 39.2 94th pct

Intersections/km² in East Pilbara in West Pilbara even

0 0th pct 0 1st pct

Mean slope in East Pilbara in West Pilbara +0.0 pts higher in West Pilbara

2.8% 3rd pct 2.9% 3rd pct

Compare East Pilbara with nearby areas

Mid West Kimberley West Pilbara Goldfields Alice Springs Gascoyne Wheat Belt - North Daly - Tiwi - West Arnhem

Compare West Pilbara with nearby areas

Gascoyne Mid West East Pilbara Wheat Belt - North Wanneroo Swan Joondalup Stirling

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). East Pilbara vs West Pilbara [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa3/51002/east-pilbara/vs/51003/west-pilbara