Ravensthorpe

The typical resident is 42, which is noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Seniors make up 18.4% of the community, a figure that has risen 5.5 points since 2011, while people in de facto relationships are much more common here than in most similar areas.

About 19.1% of residents were born overseas, which is higher than most similar areas, though still well below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, with a small number of residents hailing from England, New Zealand, and South Africa.

English is the primary language for 84% of the community, and the proportion of people using another language at home is far below the national figure. Very few people speak little or no English, at just 0.4%.

More than half of the population (51.1%) report no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and among the highest for its level. This represents a significant increase of 22 points since 2011.

Qualifications are lower than the state and national figures, with only 13% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, this has risen 3.0 points since 2011, and the area has a very high number of schools per 1,000 children.

Personal incomes are much higher than in most similar areas, with a typical weekly pay of $926. This relative wealth is reflected in the fact that 18% of people earn $2,000 or more per week, which is well above the national figure.

Residents report fewer long-term health conditions and a lower need for help with daily activities than most similar areas. Arthritis is the most commonly reported long-term health condition at 9.1%.

Volunteering is very common here, with 25.9% of people pitching in—a rate far above the national figure. However, the proportion of people providing unpaid care is much lower than in most similar areas.

First Nations people in the area earn a typical personal income of $762, which is well above the state and national figures. The unemployment rate for this group is also much lower than most similar areas at 8.8%.

Homes here are smaller than usual, with just 2.2 people per household. A high number of residents live alone (33.7%), which is well above the national figure, while one-parent families are much less common than in most similar areas.

The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 94.1% of all dwellings. Rent is well below the national figure at a typical $250 per week, and mortgage payments are also much lower than in most similar areas.

Public transport use is among the highest for its level, with 9.2% of people commuting by bus. Despite this, the area remains car-dependent, with 50.8% of workers driving to their jobs.

The community is quite mobile, as 45.4% of residents moved in the last five years, which is well above the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals also make up a higher share of the population than in most similar areas.

Full-time employment is much higher here than in most similar areas, with 64.6% of the workforce in full-time roles. Most people work in mining (27.2%) or agriculture and forestry (22.4%).

The area is generally more advantaged than 70% of similar regions, scoring a 7 out of 10 for overall advantage. Population growth since 2021 has been much higher than most similar areas at 7%.

The local climate is quite distinct, with average annual rainfall of 358mm, which is far above the state average. Temperatures are notably cooler than the state average, with a typical maximum of 23.5°C.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 3.7. Many residents live far from basic services, with only 48% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a 'city' amenity.