6367, WA

This is an older community where the typical resident is 50, far older than the national figure of 38. While the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is far above the national average at 15.1%, this figure has fallen 14 points since 2011.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 11.4% of people born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. Most residents claim Australian, English, or Scottish ancestry.

English is the primary language for 86.1% of residents, and the 6% who use another language at home is far below the national figure. However, the proportion of people who speak little or no English has risen slightly to 1.5%.

Nearly half the community identifies as Christian, while 38.9% of residents report no religion. This latter group has grown significantly, rising 23 points since 2011.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 9.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the proportion of people who completed Year 12 has risen 12 points since 2011 to 38.9%.

Typical household incomes are far below the national figure, with a typical weekly income of $986. While these figures are low, they have risen since 2011, including the 10.7% of households now earning $3,000 or more per week.

Long-term health conditions are very common here, affecting 39.5% of people, which is far above the national figure. This is reflected in a higher than usual need for help with daily activities, at 6.9%.

Volunteering is a standout feature of the area, with 39.6% of people volunteering, far above the national figure of 14.1%. Unpaid care is also common, with 16.1% of residents providing such support.

The area has a high number of people living alone at 37.1%, and homes are smaller than usual with just 2.1 people per household. This contributes to a lower number of children under 15 compared to most areas.

Home ownership is very strong, with 48.6% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. This helps explain why typical rents and mortgage payments are among the lowest in the country.

The community relies almost entirely on cars, with 0% of people commuting by public transport. Interestingly, 19.9% of the workforce now works from home, a significant increase since 2011.

The population is relatively stable, as 30.4% of people have moved in the last five years, which is far below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals have also fallen to 7.9%.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries for 36.3% of workers. Full-time employment is much higher than the national average at 66.7%, though the unemployment rate of 6.0% is slightly higher.

The area faces significant challenges, with overall advantage and access to resources both scoring 2 out of 10, which is lower than about 80% of similar areas.

While the area is somewhat walkable with a score of 4.4, it lacks public transport access. Residents have good access to health services and groceries within a 15-minute walk, far exceeding national trends.