6229, WA

This is a senior-heavy community where 43.1% of residents are 65 or older, a figure far above the national average. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 5.7% of the population, which is far below the rest of Australia.

About 21.8% of residents were born overseas, which is higher than most similar areas, though still well below the Western Australian average. The most common ancestries are English, Australian, and German.

English is the dominant language, with only 1.7% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure and reflects a population where no one speaks little or no English.

Those with no religion make up 43.1% of the community, which is about the same as the state average. This figure has risen by 18 points since 2011.

Qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 7.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national average of 26.3%.

Incomes are very low here; the typical household earns $741 a week, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Weekly personal income has also fallen since 2011 to $581.

Long-term health conditions are much more common than in most areas, affecting 34.5% of residents. This includes high rates of arthritis and diabetes, alongside a mental health rate that is well above the state average.

Unpaid care for others is common at 15.0%, which is well above the national average. However, volunteering has fallen since 2011 to 12.0%, a figure well below the state average.

Half of all residents live alone, which is far above the national average. This trend helps explain why the typical home only holds 1.7 people.

Homes are mostly small, with only 28.3% having three or more bedrooms. While typical weekly rent is very low at $200, a higher than usual 42.4% of homes are owned outright.

The area is entirely car-dependent, with every single home owning a motor vehicle. Public transport is non-existent, with no stops or routes serving the community.

Movement into the area has slowed, with the share of people who moved in the last five years falling by 10 points since 2011. There were no recent arrivals from overseas in 2021.

The workforce is much smaller than in most areas, with only 46.1% of adults working or looking for work. The unemployment rate is 9.1%, which is well above the state average.

The area ranks lower than about 60% of similar areas across measures of overall advantage, job skills, and access to resources.

Walking is difficult here, as the area is rated as car-dependent. Most homes are far from basic needs, with none within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services.