Council (LGA) · Area profile
Northampton
12,544 km²
A typical resident in Northampton is far older than the national average, with a median age of 53 years. This rural community in Western Australia is defined by its aging population, as those over 65 now make up nearly 30% of the area. It is a stable, traditional place where most people were born in Australia and many own their homes outright. While the population is small, there is a strong culture of volunteering and a notable presence of First Nations people.
Plenty of schools here relative to how few children live in the area.
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Northampton is far older than most areas, with the typical resident aged 53 and a high proportion of seniors. Children under 15 make up only 14.8% of the population, which is well below the national figure.
The community is predominantly Australian born, and those born overseas make up 13.1% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language here, with only 2.4% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure and is consistent with the low number of overseas-born residents.
About 39.7% of residents report having no religion, which is about the same as the national figure. This represents a significant increase of 15 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 8.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 34.5% of residents have completed Year 12, which is far below the national average.
Incomes are much lower than in most areas; the typical household earns $1,110 a week, well below the national figure of $1,746. However, weekly family and personal incomes have all risen since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in the state, affecting 29.3% of people. Arthritis is the most reported condition at 11.4%.
Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, with 23.8% of people pitching in. A high proportion of residents also spend significant time on unpaid housework.
First Nations people make up 5.7% of the population, slightly above the state average. This group faces significant challenges, with a very high unemployment rate of 28.6%.
Homes tend to be smaller, with a typical size of 2.2 people. There is a high rate of people living alone, at 31.2%, which is well above the national figure.
Home ownership is very high, with 49.5% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. Most residents live in separate houses, and rental rates are much lower than usual.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, as only 2.3% of homes have no motor vehicle. Public transport use is low, and there are very few stops available.
The population is very stable, with only 26.9% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas have also fallen since 2011.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing are major employers, and 22.7% of the workforce is in these industries. Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas.
The area has low overall advantage and very low levels of education and job skills. However, the community has a moderate level of access to money and resources.
Northampton experiences higher temperatures than the state average, and its annual rainfall of 253mm is among the lowest for similar areas.
The town is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.5. Many residents live far from health services and public transport, though nearly 70% are within a 15-minute walk of a park.