6603, WA

The area has a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (5.9%) than the state average. While the population has shrunk slightly since 2011, it has aged significantly, with the number of seniors rising by 11 points.

Most residents were born in Australia (77.9%), which is far below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, while the share of people born overseas has risen slightly to 12.6%.

English is the primary language for 87.6% of the community. The proportion of people using another language at home is far below the national average and has barely changed since 2011.

A large number of residents report having no religion (43.2%), a figure that has risen by 19 points since 2011. This is well above the national figure, while Christianity remains common at 42.1%.

The area has far fewer people with a bachelor degree (9.2%) or Year 12 completion (43.8%) than the national average. Most residents hold a Certificate III or IV, and all local schools are government-run.

Typical weekly household income is $1,320, which is well below the national figure. While incomes have risen since 2011, a significant 20.2% of households still earn under $650 a week.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in the rest of the state, affecting 30.2% of people. Arthritis and asthma are the most frequent conditions reported.

Volunteering is very common, with 33.9% of people helping out, far above the national average. However, the number of people caring for children unpaid has fallen since 2011.

A high number of people live alone (32.5%), which is well above the national average. This contributes to smaller households, with a typical size of 2.3 people per home.

Separate houses make up 93% of the market, and 39.8% are owned outright. Rents are much lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly rent of $180.

The area is heavily car-dependent, with 60.1% of workers driving to work and very few using public transport. It is a long commute to the city, taking about 110 minutes.

About 35% of residents moved in the last five years, which is lower than the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 12.9% of the population, down from 22.3% in 2011.

Full-time employment is much higher than the national average at 63.6%, and the unemployment rate is very low at 2.5%. Many residents work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing.

The area ranks lower than most similar places for overall advantage, with a score of 928. This is consistent with the lower levels of higher education and typical household incomes found here.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 3.4. While most residents can walk to health services or groceries, very few are within walking distance of public transport.