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Busselton vs Margaret River

Urban Centre comparison ≈ 38 km apart · Busselton profile · Margaret River profile

Busselton Margaret River

Busselton and Margaret River are nearby Western Australian centres with very different demographics. Busselton is much older, with a typical resident aged 45 and a far higher share of seniors (25.0% compared to 13.3% in Margaret River). Margaret River is more highly qualified, with a far higher share of people completing Year 12 (60.1% vs 46.4%) and a higher proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher (23.2% vs 14.6%). The two areas also differ in accessibility; Busselton is far better for public transport, while Margaret River is far more walkable for groceries, schools and health services.

The gap in typical age has widened since 2011, as Busselton has grown older than Margaret River. Despite this, the two areas share similar economic profiles, including almost identical shares of households earning $3,000 or more a week. Both areas are very similar in their rates of volunteering and unemployment, and they are nearly identical in the share of homes within walking distance of a park.

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Where they differ most

Population: 19,803 larger in Busselton No religion: 14.4 pts higher in Margaret River Year 12: 13.7 pts higher in Margaret River Median age: 7 yrs older in Busselton Aged 65+: 11.7 pts higher in Busselton

Demographics & Identity

Population in Busseltonin Margaret River +19,803 larger in Busselton gap widening
27,233 86th pct 7,430 86th pct
Median age in Busseltonin Margaret River +7 yrs older in Busselton gap widening
45 yrs 50th pct 38 yrs 25th pct
First Nations in Busseltonin Margaret River +0.7 pts higher in Busselton gap steady
2.4% 29th pct 1.8% 20th pct
Aged 65+ in Busseltonin Margaret River +11.7 pts higher in Busselton gap widening
25.0% 59th pct 13.3% 20th pct
Under 15 in Busseltonin Margaret River +4.2 pts higher in Margaret River gap widening
18.0% 53rd pct 22.2% 81st pct
De facto in Busseltonin Margaret River +5.1 pts higher in Margaret River gap narrowing
12.3% 41st pct 17.4% 84th pct

Age structure

21.6% Young adults (25–44) +9.1 pts ▸ 30.8%
25.9% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.0 pts 24.9%
25.0% Seniors (65+) ◂ +11.7 pts 13.3%
18.0% Children (0–14) +4.2 pts ▸ 22.2%
9.5% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.5 pts 9.0%

Marital status

50.0% Married ◂ +8.2 pts 41.8%
29.3% Never married +11.1 pts ▸ 40.4%
10.7% Divorced ◂ +0.2 pts 10.5%
6.5% Widowed ◂ +3.2 pts 3.4%
3.4% Separated +0.4 pts ▸ 3.8%

Age & sex structure

Busselton Margaret River

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Busseltonin Margaret River +6.2 pts higher in Margaret River gap widening
19.0% 88th pct 25.2% 97th pct

Country of birth

75.9% Australia ◂ +8.5 pts 67.3%
7.8% England ◂ +0.3 pts 7.5%
2.3% New Zealand +0.7 pts ▸ 3.0%
1.1% South Africa even 1.1%
0.5% Philippines +0.4 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.2% Italy +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%
0.4% India ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%
0.2% Vietnam even 0.2%
0.1% China +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%
0.1% Nepal ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Ancestry

48.9% English ◂ +4.3 pts 44.6%
39.6% Australian ◂ +5.1 pts 34.5%
10.6% Irish +0.4 pts ▸ 11.0%
10.6% Scottish ◂ +0.1 pts 10.6%
3.9% Italian +0.9 pts ▸ 4.7%
3.4% German +1.0 pts ▸ 4.5%
2.3% Dutch +0.2 pts ▸ 2.5%
0.6% Filipino +0.6 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.7% Chinese +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%
0.5% Indian even 0.5%
0.4% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.2% Vietnamese even 0.2%

Language

Other language in Busseltonin Margaret River +5.5 pts higher in Margaret River gap widening
5.3% 70th pct 10.8% 86th pct
Limited English in Busseltonin Margaret River +1.0 pts higher in Margaret River gap steady
0.6% 72nd pct 1.7% 86th pct

Language used at home

89.5% English only ◂ +7.3 pts 82.2%
0.3% Italian +0.8 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.2% Mandarin +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%
0.2% Tagalog +0.3 pts ▸ 0.5%
0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%
0.2% Punjabi ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%
0.1% Cantonese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%
0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%
0.0% Greek even 0.1%
0.0% Hindi even 0.0%

Religion

No religion in Busseltonin Margaret River +14.4 pts higher in Margaret River gap widening
48.8% 73rd pct 63.2% 100th pct

Religious affiliation

48.8% No religion +14.4 pts ▸ 63.2%
41.8% Christianity ◂ +17.4 pts 24.4%
7.0% Not stated +2.9 pts ▸ 9.9%
1.0% Buddhism +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%
0.6% Islam ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%
0.4% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.3% Hinduism ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%
0.0% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Busseltonin Margaret River +13.7 pts higher in Margaret River gap steady
46.4% 72nd pct 60.1% 93rd pct
Bachelor+ in Busseltonin Margaret River +8.6 pts higher in Margaret River gap widening
14.6% 66th pct 23.2% 87th pct

Highest year of school

46.4% Year 12 +13.7 pts ▸ 60.1%
27.4% Year 10 ◂ +10.3 pts 17.1%
11.1% Year 11 ◂ +1.3 pts 9.8%
8.2% Year 9 or below ◂ +3.6 pts 4.6%

Highest qualification level

38.2% Certificate III / IV ◂ +8.3 pts 29.9%
18.1% Bachelor degree +7.2 pts ▸ 25.3%
15.5% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.2 pts ▸ 15.7%
3.3% Postgraduate degree +1.9 pts ▸ 5.2%
3.5% Graduate diploma / certificate +0.2 pts ▸ 3.7%
3.3% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.8 pts 2.5%

Field of qualification

15.3% Engineering & related ◂ +4.0 pts 11.3%
15.1% Management & commerce ◂ +1.6 pts 13.5%
11.5% Health ◂ +2.0 pts 9.5%
10.5% Education ◂ +0.4 pts 10.1%
9.8% Society & culture +0.2 pts ▸ 10.0%
7.1% Food, hospitality & personal services +1.4 pts ▸ 8.5%
7.2% Architecture & building ◂ +0.2 pts 7.0%
2.7% Creative arts +2.1 pts ▸ 4.8%
3.3% Agriculture & environment +1.1 pts ▸ 4.4%
2.1% Natural & physical sciences +1.8 pts ▸ 3.9%
1.2% Information technology +0.1 pts ▸ 1.2%

Income

Personal income in Busseltonin Margaret River +$141 higher in Margaret River gap widening
$703 58th pct $844 82nd pct
Household income in Busseltonin Margaret River +$288 higher in Margaret River gap widening
$1,347 57th pct $1,635 73rd pct
Family income in Busseltonin Margaret River +$225 higher in Margaret River gap widening
$1,723 60th pct $1,948 73rd pct
High earners in Busseltonin Margaret River +0.3 pts higher in Margaret River gap steady
9.7% 74th pct 10.0% 76th pct
High-income homes in Busseltonin Margaret River +0.1 pts higher in Margaret River gap steady
14.4% 65th pct 14.5% 66th pct

Household income distribution

25.5% $1,500–$2,999 +7.4 pts ▸ 32.9%
30.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +3.9 pts 26.7%
18.6% Under $650 ◂ +4.1 pts 14.4%
7.9% $3,000–$3,999 +0.5 pts ▸ 8.5%
6.5% $4,000 or more ◂ +0.5 pts 6.0%

Personal income distribution

43.6% Under $650 ◂ +7.7 pts 35.9%
31.1% $650–$1,499 +6.5 pts ▸ 37.6%
14.8% $1,500–$2,999 +0.4 pts ▸ 15.3%
3.4% $3,000 or more +0.2 pts ▸ 3.6%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Busseltonin Margaret River +10.5 pts higher in Busselton
32.3% 46th pct 21.8% 11th pct
Mental health in Busseltonin Margaret River +2.1 pts higher in Busselton
10.0% 52nd pct 7.9% 28th pct
Needs assistance in Busseltonin Margaret River +2.7 pts higher in Busselton gap steady
6.4% 51st pct 3.6% 16th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

11.4% Arthritis ◂ +5.3 pts 6.1%
10.0% Mental health ◂ +2.1 pts 7.9%
8.3% Other condition ◂ +1.9 pts 6.4%
8.2% Asthma ◂ +1.9 pts 6.3%
4.9% Diabetes ◂ +3.0 pts 2.0%
4.7% Heart disease ◂ +2.1 pts 2.5%
3.9% Cancer ◂ +1.5 pts 2.4%
2.2% Lung condition ◂ +1.1 pts 1.1%
1.2% Stroke ◂ +0.6 pts 0.6%
1.1% Dementia ◂ +0.4 pts 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

59.5% None +9.0 pts ▸ 68.5%
21.4% One condition ◂ +5.6 pts 15.8%
7.2% Two conditions ◂ +2.9 pts 4.3%
3.7% Three or more ◂ +2.1 pts 1.7%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Busseltonin Margaret River +1.0 pts higher in Margaret River gap steady
20.0% 69th pct 21.0% 74th pct
Unpaid carers in Busseltonin Margaret River +2.2 pts higher in Busselton gap steady
11.7% 29th pct 9.4% 14th pct
Unpaid child care in Busseltonin Margaret River +6.9 pts higher in Margaret River gap widening
26.1% 59th pct 33.0% 85th pct
Defence service in Busseltonin Margaret River +2.0 pts higher in Busselton
3.7% 54th pct 1.7% 12th pct
Housework 15h+ in Busseltonin Margaret River +1.6 pts higher in Busselton gap narrowing
23.8% 47th pct 22.1% 33rd pct

Family & Households

Household size in Busseltonin Margaret River +0.2 larger in Margaret River gap widening
2.4 57th pct 2.6 71st pct
One-parent in Busseltonin Margaret River +1.4 pts higher in Margaret River gap steady
14.4% 46th pct 15.9% 55th pct
Living alone in Busseltonin Margaret River +3.5 pts higher in Busselton gap widening
27.2% 43rd pct 23.8% 33rd pct

Family composition

51.2% Couples with children +7.8 pts ▸ 59.0%
33.7% Couples without children ◂ +9.2 pts 24.5%
14.4% One-parent families +1.4 pts ▸ 15.9%
0.7% Other families even 0.6%

Household size

38.5% 2 people ◂ +5.6 pts 32.9%
27.2% 1 person ◂ +3.5 pts 23.8%
13.4% 3 people +4.2 pts ▸ 17.6%
13.4% 4 people +4.0 pts ▸ 17.4%
5.4% 5 people +1.1 pts ▸ 6.5%
2.0% 6 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 1.8%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Busseltonin Margaret River +$25 higher in Margaret River gap widening
$360 78th pct $385 84th pct
Mortgage in Busseltonin Margaret River +$84 higher in Busselton gap widening
$1,733 77th pct $1,649 73rd pct
People / bedroom in Busseltonin Margaret River +0.10 higher in Margaret River gap steady
0.70 14th pct 0.80 57th pct
Renting in Busseltonin Margaret River +2.8 pts higher in Margaret River gap narrowing
25.8% 63rd pct 28.6% 70th pct
Owned outright in Busseltonin Margaret River +9.4 pts higher in Busselton gap narrowing
35.1% 37th pct 25.8% 17th pct
Separate houses in Busseltonin Margaret River +3.3 pts higher in Margaret River gap narrowing
87.2% 24th pct 90.6% 36th pct
3+ bedrooms in Busseltonin Margaret River +1.5 pts higher in Busselton gap steady
85.7% 77th pct 84.2% 73rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

34.7% Owned with a mortgage +7.4 pts ▸ 42.1%
35.1% Owned outright ◂ +9.4 pts 25.8%
25.8% Rented +2.8 pts ▸ 28.6%
2.8% Other tenure ◂ +1.0 pts 1.7%
1.6% Not stated +0.2 pts ▸ 1.8%

Types of homes

87.2% Separate house +3.3 pts ▸ 90.6%
10.6% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +2.7 pts 8.0%
1.5% Other dwelling ◂ +0.8 pts 0.6%
0.4% Flat or apartment ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

Bedrooms per home

44.4% 4 bedrooms ◂ +4.7 pts 39.7%
36.8% 3 bedrooms +4.0 pts ▸ 40.8%
10.2% 2 bedrooms +1.3 pts ▸ 11.4%
4.5% 5 or more ◂ +0.8 pts 3.7%
2.5% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.4 pts 2.1%
0.2% Studio / none +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Weekly rent distribution

51.4% $350–$549 +7.0 pts ▸ 58.4%
26.9% $200–$349 ◂ +4.3 pts 22.6%
15.4% Under $200 ◂ +5.3 pts 10.1%
2.8% $550–$749 +2.6 pts ▸ 5.4%
0.1% $750 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

Monthly mortgage distribution

37.0% $1,000–$1,799 +7.2 pts ▸ 44.3%
33.8% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +3.4 pts 30.4%
15.4% Under $1,000 ◂ +2.2 pts 13.2%
8.5% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.3 pts 7.2%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Busseltonin Margaret River +0.6 pts higher in Busselton gap steady
4.0% 50th pct 3.4% 45th pct
Work from home in Busseltonin Margaret River +2.7 pts higher in Margaret River gap widening
5.9% 35th pct 8.6% 55th pct
PT commute in Busseltonin Margaret River +0.4 pts higher in Busselton gap steady
1.4% 81st pct 0.9% 75th pct

How people get to work

66.1% Car (driver) ◂ +6.4 pts 59.7%
5.9% Worked at home +2.7 pts ▸ 8.6%
5.5% Car (passenger) +0.2 pts ▸ 5.7%
1.9% Walked +1.8 pts ▸ 3.7%
1.4% Bicycle +0.4 pts ▸ 1.8%
1.3% Bus ◂ +0.4 pts 0.9%
0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

39.4% 2 vehicles +3.8 pts ▸ 43.1%
37.6% 1 vehicle ◂ +1.5 pts 36.0%
12.9% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.5 pts 12.4%
6.1% 4 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 5.0%
4.0% No vehicle ◂ +0.6 pts 3.4%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Busseltonin Margaret River +4.1 pts higher in Margaret River gap widening
42.1% 80th pct 46.1% 89th pct
Recent arrivals in Busseltonin Margaret River +6.2 pts higher in Margaret River gap narrowing
6.1% 56th pct 12.3% 76th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Busseltonin Margaret River +0.5 pts higher in Busselton gap steady
3.6% 32nd pct 3.1% 24th pct
Participation in Busseltonin Margaret River +11.2 pts higher in Margaret River gap widening
56.9% 62nd pct 68.1% 90th pct
Full-time in Busseltonin Margaret River +2.8 pts higher in Busselton gap widening
53.6% 37th pct 50.9% 24th pct

Industries people work in

14.0% Health care & social assistance ◂ +4.7 pts 9.3%
11.4% Accommodation & food +2.4 pts ▸ 13.8%
12.0% Retail trade ◂ +1.4 pts 10.6%
10.6% Construction ◂ +1.2 pts 9.4%
5.0% Manufacturing +4.6 pts ▸ 9.6%
8.5% Education & training +0.2 pts ▸ 8.7%
6.9% Mining ◂ +0.4 pts 6.5%
2.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +2.0 pts ▸ 4.6%
4.2% Administrative & support +0.3 pts ▸ 4.5%
4.3% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.1 pts 3.1%
4.0% Other services ◂ +0.5 pts 3.4%
3.6% Professional & technical even 3.7%

Occupations people work in

17.8% Technicians & trades +0.4 pts ▸ 18.2%
15.5% Professionals +1.6 pts ▸ 17.1%
12.9% Labourers +1.9 pts ▸ 14.8%
13.4% Community & personal service even 13.4%
10.6% Managers +2.0 pts ▸ 12.6%
10.3% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.6 pts 7.7%
10.2% Sales workers ◂ +1.4 pts 8.8%
7.7% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +1.4 pts 6.4%

Walkability

Walk score in Busseltonin Margaret River +0.8 higher in Margaret River
3.9 44th pct 4.7 57th pct
Types ≤15 min in Busseltonin Margaret River +1.2 more in Margaret River
3.6 36th pct 4.8 53rd pct
15-min city in Busseltonin Margaret River +22.4 pts higher in Margaret River
28.0% 37th pct 50.4% 43rd pct
Walk to shops in Busseltonin Margaret River +19.3 pts higher in Margaret River
36.7% 39th pct 56.0% 48th pct
Walk to transit in Busseltonin Margaret River +56.4 pts higher in Busselton
82.1% 73rd pct 25.6% 39th pct
Walk to school in Busseltonin Margaret River +41.0 pts higher in Margaret River
35.9% 29th pct 76.9% 58th pct
Walk to a park in Busseltonin Margaret River +0.9 pts higher in Busselton
93.4% 53rd pct 92.5% 50th pct
Walk to health in Busseltonin Margaret River +27.6 pts higher in Margaret River
19.7% 49th pct 47.3% 60th pct
Amenities/1k in Busseltonin Margaret River +2.3 more in Busselton
13.4 34th pct 11.0 26th pct
Intersections/km² in Busseltonin Margaret River +7 higher in Margaret River
64 82nd pct 71 86th pct
Mean slope in Busseltonin Margaret River +3.2 pts higher in Margaret River
2.7% 14th pct 5.9% 67th pct

Compare Busselton with nearby areas

Dunsborough Peppermint Grove Beach Cowaramup Capel Margaret River Gnarabup - Prevelly Boyanup Bunbury

Compare Margaret River with nearby areas

Gnarabup - Prevelly Cowaramup Dunsborough Busselton Augusta Peppermint Grove Beach Capel Nannup

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Busselton vs Margaret River [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/ucl/UCL512002/busselton/vs/UCL514003/margaret-river