6528, WA

The community is aging rapidly, with the proportion of seniors aged 65 and over rising by 12 points since 2011 to reach 23.8%. This is well above the national figure of 17.2%. De facto relationships are also much more common here than in most other areas.

While 19.0% of residents were born overseas—a figure that has risen since 2011—this is still far below the Western Australian average of 32.2%. Most people claim Australian or English ancestry.

English is the main language for 86.5% of the population. While the number of people using another language at home rose to 7.1% since 2011, this remains far below the national average of 22.3%.

Nearly half of the population is Christian, while 40.2% report having no religion. This last group has grown by 15 points since 2011, which is a little above the national figure.

Educational qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 8.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the state average of 23.8%, and the share of people who completed Year 12 is also far below the national figure.

Incomes are generally lower than the national average, with a typical household earning $1,278 a week. Only 6.3% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is among the lowest for similar areas.

Long-term health conditions are well above the national average, affecting 34.9% of residents. Arthritis and asthma are the most common issues, though the rate of mental health conditions is a little below the state figure.

Volunteerism is a standout feature, with 23.0% of people volunteering—well above the national figure of 14.1%. Residents also spend much more time on unpaid housework than those in most other areas.

Families here are slightly smaller than average, with 2.3 people per home. About 26.1% of people live alone, and one-parent families are much less common than in most other areas.

Home ownership is very high, with 45.8% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. Typical weekly rents are $235, which is well below both the state and national averages.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with every single home owning at least one motor vehicle. Working from home is common at 18.1%, which is far above the state average of 7.5%.

The population is relatively stable, as the share of people who moved in the last five years is lower than most areas and far below the national average.

About 60.1% of adults are working or looking for work, which is a little below the national figure. Jobs are concentrated in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which make up 25.3% of the workforce.

Residents generally have good access to money and resources, ranking higher than about 80% of similar areas. However, the area ranks lower for overall advantage and job skills.

The area is entirely car-dependent with a walkability score of 0.2, far below the state average. There are no grocery stores, health services, or parks within a 15-minute walk for any resident.