Brookton

Residents are far older than the national average, and the proportion of seniors has risen to 27.9%. First Nations people make up 9.6% of the population, which is well above the Western Australian figure of 3.3%.

Most people were born in Australia, and only 10.1% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. Australian and English are the most common ancestries.

English is the main language for 84.5% of people, though the number of people using another language at home rose to 5.0% since 2011. This is still far below the state average.

About 40.3% of people report no religion, a figure that rose 15 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 46.1%.

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 9.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 36.5%.

Typical incomes are well below the national average, with the usual household earning $1,284 a week. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose to 11.1% since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 35.8% of people living with a long-term health condition. About 9.8% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is far more common here than across the country, with 27.5% of people pitching in. More people also provide unpaid care compared to the state average.

First Nations people face significant challenges, with an unemployment rate of 33.3% and a typical personal income of $309, both far below national figures. About 12.4% speak a First Nations language.

About 30% of people live alone, and the typical home has 2.3 people. Nearly half of households consist of couples with children.

The area is dominated by separate houses, and 51.5% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the state average. Rent is also much lower than usual at $200 a week.

Public transport is almost non-existent, with 0% of people commuting by it and most relying on cars. Only 16.7% of people work from home.

The community is very stable, as fewer people have moved in the last five years compared to most Australian areas. Recent overseas arrivals are also much less common.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the main industry, employing 39.7% of the workforce. About 54% of adults are working or looking for work, which is well below the state average.

Overall advantage is lower than in most areas, and population growth since 2021 has been much slower than the state average.

The area is drier than most of Western Australia, with an average annual rainfall of 413mm. Minimum temperatures are also well below the state figure.

The town is mostly car-dependent, with a low walkability score of 3.4. No one lives within a 15-minute walk of health services.