Council (LGA) · Area profile
Yalgoo
27,949 km²
A small population of just 340 people makes Yalgoo one of the least populated areas of its kind. This community is notably younger than the national average, with a typical age of 34 and a high proportion of young adults. The town is heavily influenced by the mining industry, which employs nearly half of its workforce. It is a place of contrasts, where a high number of people live alone or in one-parent families, yet homes remain larger than usual.
Yalgoo is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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First Nations people make up 19.4% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 3.2%. The community has seen a decline in children under 15, who now make up only 7.1% of residents, while the proportion of seniors has risen to 10.3% since 2011.
Australian and English are the most common ancestries. People born overseas make up 11.8% of the population, which is far below the 27.7% seen across Australia.
English is the dominant language, and only 4.7% of residents use another language at home. This is far below the national figure, and there are no residents who speak little or no English.
Religious affiliation is lower than typical, with 27.9% of people reporting no religion. This is far below the 38.9% national average.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 23.7% of residents completing Year 12. Only 5.8% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national figure of 26.3%.
Typical personal income is $1,397 a week, which is far above the national figure of $805. However, typical family income of $1,583 is well below the national average of $2,120.
Residents report far fewer long-term health issues than most areas, with only 11.5% having a chronic condition compared to 27.7% nationally. Similarly, only 0.9% of people need help with daily activities.
Community participation is very low, with only 7% of people volunteering, well below the national figure of 14.1%. Unpaid care and housework are also much less common here than in other areas.
First Nations residents have a typical personal income of $599, which is a little above the national figure of $540. The unemployment rate for this group is 10.7%, which is a little below the national average.
Living arrangements are unusual, with 45.5% of people living alone and 36.4% in one-parent families, both far above national levels. Despite this, homes are larger than usual, averaging 2.6 people per dwelling.
Rentals are much more common here than elsewhere, making up 36.4% of homes. Rent is very affordable at a typical $150 a week, and the usual monthly mortgage payment is just $223, far below the national figure.
Car use is common, though 14.3% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well above the national figure. A small number of people use public transport, with 6.7% commuting by bus.
The population is quite stable, as only 21.2% of people moved in the last five years, far below the 40.7% national average. Recent overseas arrivals have also fallen since 2011.
Mining is the primary industry, employing 45% of the workforce. Full-time employment is very high at 84.2%, far above the national figure of 58.9%, and unemployment is very low at 2.4%.
The area is ranked as very disadvantaged, with a score of 1 for overall advantage. Population growth has been negative, falling by 2.2% since 2021.
The area is hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 30.0 degrees. Annual rainfall is around 197mm, which is about the same as the state average.
The town is highly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.9. Residents cannot walk to groceries or health services within 15 minutes, as these amenities are not available within that distance.