Council (LGA) · Area profile
Laverton
179,994 km²
Daily life in Laverton is shaped by a small, working population where mining is the dominant industry. This remote community has a very high proportion of First Nations people and a notably young profile, with few seniors and children. While personal incomes for workers are far above the national figure, the typical family income remains among the lowest in the region. It is a place of contrasts, where high-earning professional roles exist alongside significant social and economic disadvantage.
Laverton is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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First Nations people make up 24.4% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 3.2%. The community is relatively young, with a typical age of 37 and a very low proportion of seniors at 5.3%.
About 15.2% of residents were born overseas, though this is far below the state average. The most common ancestries are English, Australian, and Scottish.
A variety of languages are spoken, with 16.9% of people using a language other than English at home. This is much higher than most similar areas, despite being a little below the state average.
About 36.9% of people report having no religion, a figure that has risen 13 points since 2011. This remains lower than the national figure of 38.9%.
Education levels are among the lowest for its level, with only 27.2% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 58.8%.
Typical personal weekly incomes are far above the national figure at $1,569, which helps explain why 21.1% of people earn over $2,000 a week. However, typical family incomes are among the lowest at $988 per week.
Residents are generally healthier than the national average, with only 16.7% of people reporting a long-term health condition. Only 1.9% of the population need help with daily activities.
Community participation is low, with only 6.6% of people volunteering. This is well below the national figure of 14.1% and has fallen since 2011.
First Nations people in Laverton strongly maintain their culture, with 52.3% speaking a traditional language. However, they face significant challenges, with an unemployment rate of 23.8% and typical personal incomes far below the national figure.
One-parent families are very common at 25.5%, which is far above the national average. A high proportion of people also live alone, accounting for 35.0% of households.
Renting is very common here, with 59.0% of households renting, compared to just 30.6% nationally. Typical weekly rents are very low at $80, and home loan payments are also among the lowest at $413 a month.
Public transport use is far above the national figure at 14.9%, which is striking given that there are no official public transport stops or routes in the area. Around 19.2% of homes have no motor vehicle.
The population is relatively stable, with 31.2% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%.
Mining is the powerhouse of the local economy, employing 60.0% of the workforce. Full-time employment is very high at 75.5%, far above the national figure of 58.9%.
Laverton is ranked among the most disadvantaged areas in the country, with an overall advantage score of 1. This is consistent with the low level of access to money and resources.
The area is hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 29.8 degrees. Annual rainfall is well below the state average at 139mm.
Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries and health services, but the area is still mostly car-dependent. There is no public transport within walking distance of any home.