Council (LGA) · Area profile
Dardanup
526 km²
Steady growth has seen Dardanup add about 2,281 people since 2011, making it a larger community than over half the similar areas in the state. It is a family-oriented place where a high proportion of homes are large, detached houses and many more children live here than the national figure. The area is notably more secular than the rest of the country, with nearly half of residents claiming no religion. Overall, it is a well-off community with a strong preference for home ownership.
Dardanup has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
A fast-growing area where schools haven't kept pace per child.
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The typical resident is 40, slightly older than the national figure, and the population has aged by five years since 2011. Children under 15 make up 20.4% of the community, which is much higher than most similar areas.
Most residents were born in Australia, though 16.9% were born overseas, a figure that is higher than most similar areas but far below the state and national averages. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 88.1% of the community. Only 6.3% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
A significant 48.7% of people have no religion, a figure that is well above the national average and has risen by 20 percentage points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than in most similar areas, with only 11.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure of 26.3%, though Year 12 completion has risen since 2011.
Typical family income is $2,089 a week, which is higher than most similar areas and about the same as the national figure. Higher earners are well represented, with 12.9% of people earning $2,000 or more weekly.
Long-term health conditions affect 30.3% of people, which is well above the state average. Mental health conditions are also more common here than in most similar areas.
Unpaid care is very common, with 30.5% of people caring for children and 23.8% doing significant housework, both figures being well above the national average.
First Nations residents are noticeably younger than those in the rest of the state, with a typical age of 19. Household income for this group is much higher than most similar areas.
Homes are larger here, with 2.6 people per household, which is much higher than most similar areas. Consequently, far fewer people live alone compared to the state and national figures.
Detached houses are the norm for 92.2% of homes, and 88.6% of dwellings have three or more bedrooms, far above the national figure. Renting is much less common here than in most areas.
Cars are essential for the 68.3% who drive to work, especially since the drive to the city takes a much longer time than in most areas. Only 4.7% of people work from home, far below the national average.
The community is relatively stable, with 34.5% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas have fallen sharply since 2011.
Adults working or looking for work make up 62.9% of the population, which is higher than most similar areas. The most common industries are health care and construction.
The area is highly advantaged in terms of money and resources, ranking higher than 90% of similar areas. It has also seen a population growth of 7.1% since 2021, which is much higher than most areas.
The local climate is cooler and wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall far above the Western Australian figure and lower average temperatures.
The area is only somewhat walkable, and far fewer homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or schools compared to the state average.