Westonia

The community is notably older than most areas, and the proportion of seniors has risen by 16 points since 2011. While children under 15 make up a lower share of the population than average, there are more people in de facto relationships than usual.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas birthplaces are far fewer than in the state or nation. English and Australian ancestries are the most common, making up 48.4% and 36.3% respectively.

English is the dominant language, with only 3.6% of people using another tongue at home, which is far below the national figure. Consequently, no one in the area reports speaking little or no English.

A large proportion of the community identifies as having no religion, a figure that has risen by 18 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 48.8%.

The area has one of the lowest rates of bachelor degrees at 6.9%, which is far below the national average. However, about 42.6% of residents have completed Year 12.

Typical family incomes are well below the national figure, and very few households earn $3,000 or more a week. Interestingly, personal incomes are higher than in most similar areas, with a typical weekly pay of $817.

Mental health conditions are more common here than in most areas. On the other hand, those needing help with daily activities are much lower than the national average, and this figure fell since 2011.

Volunteering is very high, with 30.5% of people pitching in—far above the national average. There is also a strong tendency to provide unpaid care and perform housework compared to other areas.

The First Nations community is very small, consisting of just 4 people. This group is far older and earns more than the state and national figures for First Nations people.

Many people live alone—33.7% of households—which is well above the state average. This helps explain why there are much fewer people per home than usual.

Home ownership is very high, with 52.5% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. Most are separate houses, and typical rents and mortgage payments are among the lowest in the country.

Car use is the main way to get to work, but 18.3% of people work from home, which is far above the state average. Some residents lack a vehicle, and 3.5% use public transport, despite very few available services.

The population is very stable, as far fewer people have moved in the last five years compared to the rest of the state. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.

Full-time employment is very high at 72.2%, and the unemployment rate is 0.0%. Most of the workforce is employed in agriculture, forestry, and fishing.

Despite low typical incomes, the area is considered advantaged in terms of job skills and overall status compared to 80% of other areas. However, the population has shrunk by 2% since 2021.

Westonia receives more annual rainfall than the state average. Its average maximum temperature is slightly lower than the Western Australian figure.

The area is heavily car-dependent, with no residents living within a 15-minute walk of groceries, schools, or health services. Only about half of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park.