Merredin

The typical resident is 41, making the area noticeably older than both the state and nation. Seniors make up 18.9% of the population, a figure that has risen 6.1 points since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the proportion of people born overseas is far below the national average at 11.7%. This figure has fallen 3.0 points since 2011.

English is the dominant language, with only 4.8% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure and has declined slightly since 2011.

People with no religion make up 43.5% of the community, which is well above the national average. This trend has grown significantly, rising 15 points since 2011.

Educational qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 10.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the state average at 40.1%.

Household incomes are generally low, with the typical weekly family income of $1,869 sitting a little below the national figure. However, the proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 8.0 points since 2011.

Residents are more likely to have long-term health conditions than the national average, with 29.3% reporting one. About 5.7% of people need help with daily activities, up 2.0 points since 2011.

Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, with 22.2% of people participating. This is well above the national figure, despite a small decline since 2011.

First Nations residents face significant challenges, with an unemployment rate of 28.4% which is far above the national average. Typical personal income for this group is also lower than the national figure.

The community has a high proportion of people living alone at 31.2%, which is well above the national average. Typical households are slightly smaller than those across the state.

Separate houses are very common, making up 94.9% of all homes. While typical weekly rents are far below the national figure at $210, about 28.9% of households are renting.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as only 1.0% of people commute using public transport. Working from home is also much less common here than across Australia.

The population is relatively stable, with a lower proportion of people moving in the last five years compared to most areas. Recent overseas arrivals have fallen sharply to 5.8% since 2011.

Full-time employment is slightly higher than the national average at 61.1%. The local workforce is largely employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing, as well as health and retail.

The area's overall advantage score is lower than most similar areas, reflecting a lower access to money and job skills compared to the state average.

Merredin experiences a hot climate with average maximum temperatures higher than most areas. Its average annual rainfall is far above the state average.

Most of the area is car-dependent, with a walkability score well below the state average. However, over half of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.