6640, WA

Seniors make up 34.4% of the population, a figure far above the national average. This older profile is reflected in the very low number of children, who make up just 1.4% of the area. About 6.5% of residents are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, which is well above the state and national figures, though this has fallen since 2011.

People born overseas make up 27.9% of the community, which is about the same as the national figure and has risen since 2011. The most common ancestries are English at 41.4% and Australian at 27.4%.

English is the main language for 80.9% of residents. While 7.9% use another language at home—a higher rate than most similar areas—this is still far below the Western Australian average. No one in the area speaks little or no English.

A large portion of the community, 44.2%, reports having no religion, which is well above the national figure. This is a trend that has grown by 16 points since 2011.

Education levels are generally lower than most areas, with only 10% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure of 26.3%, although the number of people who completed Year 12 has risen to 38.3% since 2011.

The area has a split income profile; while typical household incomes are among the lowest in the region at $682 a week, a striking 24.4% of people earn $2,000 or more weekly. This is far above the national average and has risen significantly since 2011.

About 30.7% of residents have a long-term health condition, which is a little above the national figure. Mental health conditions are also slightly more common here than in most other areas, affecting 10.2% of the population.

Participation in unpaid care and housework is among the lowest for its level. However, 5.6% of residents served in the Defence Force, which is a little above the national average.

Living alone is very common here, with 58.6% of people in one-person households—far above the national figure of 25.6%. This helps explain why the typical home has only 1.5 people, among the lowest in the country.

Home ownership is high, with 48.6% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. Rents are very low, with a typical weekly rent of just $100, and typical monthly mortgage payments are also among the lowest in the country at $725.

Public transport use is unusually high at 19.8%, far above the national figure. While every home has a motor vehicle, 15.3% of people walk to work, and the area has a high number of public transport stops per person.

The community is relatively mobile, with 40.7% of people moving in the last five years. However, there have been no recent arrivals from overseas since 2016.

Full-time employment is very high at 80.2%, far above the national figure. The workforce is heavily concentrated in mining, which accounts for 45% of jobs, with many people working as machinery operators and drivers.

The area ranks very low for overall advantage, scoring a 1 out of 10. This puts it among the most disadvantaged 10% of similar areas in terms of access to money and resources.

The area is heavily car-dependent with a very low walkability score of 1.3. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services, although nearly half of residents live within a short walk of a park.