Albany

The population is noticeably older than the state and national average, with those aged 65 and over making up 23.3% of the community. This senior population has risen by 5.9 percentage points since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen by 2.5 points.

While 19.2% of residents were born overseas, this is far below the Western Australian figure. The community is predominantly of English and Australian ancestry, which together make up 86.9% of the population.

English is the primary language for 87.8% of the community. Only 6.2% of people use another language at home, a figure that is far below both the state and national averages.

A significant shift has occurred in faith, with 50.6% of people now reporting no religion. This is far above the national figure and represents a 20 percentage point increase since 2011.

Education levels have risen, with 45.9% of residents completing Year 12 and 15.5% holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, these figures remain far below the national averages.

Typical weekly household incomes sit at $1,350, which is well below the state and national figures. While typical personal incomes have risen by $188 since 2011, only 8.2% of people earn $2,000 or more per week.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 32.8% of people living with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are also more frequent, affecting 10.6% of the population.

Albany has a strong tradition of service, with 21.1% of people volunteering—a rate well above the national figure. This is alongside a higher-than-usual 3.2% of residents who have served in the Defence Force.

There are 1,476 First Nations people in the area. This community is younger than most, with a typical age of 26, though Year 12 completion at 25.7% is far below the national average.

The community has a high proportion of people living alone at 29.3%, which is well above the state average. Family homes are varied, with 51.1% consisting of couples with children.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 90.4% of all dwellings. Homes tend to be large, with 81.1% having three or more bedrooms and a typical weekly rent of $300.

Most people rely on cars, as only 0.7% of the workforce commutes via public transport. Working from home is also rare, with only 6.5% of people doing so, far below the national figure.

The area is relatively stable, though 38.2% of residents moved within the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas have fallen significantly, now making up 6.7% of the population.

The local workforce is heavily concentrated in health care, retail, and education. While the unemployment rate is low at 3.9%, full-time employment is well below the national average at 54.4%.

The area ranks as moderately advantaged, with an overall score of 6 out of 10. It is home to 3,776 businesses and has seen a population growth of 5.5% since 2021.

Albany is much cooler than the rest of the state, with an average maximum temperature of 21.5 degrees. It is also much wetter, receiving 711mm of annual rainfall compared to the state average of 185mm.

The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.1. Access to essential services on foot is limited, as only 34.2% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.