Katanning

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 8.8% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%. The typical resident is 39, and while the number of children has fallen since 2011, seniors aged 65 and over have risen to 18.6%.

The area is quite diverse, with 21.3% of people born overseas, though this is still far below the state average of 32.2%. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.

Nearly one in five people use another language at home, a figure much higher than in most similar areas. This diversity is reflected in the fact that 6.7% of residents speak little or no English, which is well above the national average.

Religion is more common here than in most areas; only 35.3% of people report no religion, which is well below the national figure of 38.9%. Islam is a notable faith here, practiced by 8.4% of the population.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 36.8% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national figure of 58.8%. Only 8.5% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Typical incomes are well below the state and national figures, with the typical family earning $1,646 a week. However, the proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week has risen to 10.9% since 2011.

Health outcomes are around the middle for its level, with 5.1% of people needing help with daily activities. Long-term health conditions, such as arthritis and asthma, are reported by 27.6% of residents.

Volunteering is a strong point for the town, with 20.5% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure of 14.1%. In contrast, the number of people caring for children unpaid has fallen since 2011.

First Nations residents face significant challenges, with an unemployment rate of 22.5%, which is far above the national figure of 12.3%. Income is also much lower than in most similar areas.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.5 people per home and 51% of households consisting of couples with children. About 29% of people live alone, which is well above the national average.

The town is dominated by separate houses, making up 90.2% of dwellings. Rent is much lower than the national figure at just $200 a week, and mortgage payments are also far below the state average.

Cars are the main way to get around, but 3.6% of people use public transport to commute, which is higher than in most similar areas. Only 5.5% of the workforce works from home.

The community is relatively stable, with 32.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%. Recent arrivals from overseas have fallen significantly since 2011.

Full-time employment is a little above the national average at 61.6%. Many residents work in manufacturing or agriculture, and a quarter of the workforce are labourers.

The area is rated with low overall advantage, scoring 2 out of 10, which is lower than about 80% of all areas. This is consistent with the low levels of education and job skills reported.

The local climate is cooler and drier than much of the state, with an average maximum temperature of 23.4 degrees and annual rainfall of 379mm.

The town is somewhat walkable, though only 33% of homes are within a 10 minute walk of public transport. Residents have good access to health services and schools, but fewer can walk to groceries.