Clare

The community is aging, with the typical age rising to 45 and the proportion of seniors over 65 climbing to 24.9%. This is well above the national figure of 17.2%.

The area is far less diverse than the rest of the state, with only 8.6% of people born overseas. Most residents claim English or Australian ancestry.

English is the primary language for 90.9% of the population. Only 3.5% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national average of 22.3%.

Religious affiliation is shifting, with the number of people reporting no religion rising 18 points since 2011 to 42.6%.

Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 44.7% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 58.8%.

Typical household incomes are $1,368 a week, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 9.1 points since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in similar areas, with 33.6% of people living with a long-term condition and 11.0% reporting a mental health condition.

Residents are highly active in their community, with 27.9% volunteering—a figure far above the national average of 14.1%.

There are 77 First Nations people in the area. Notably, the unemployment rate for this group is 0.0%, which is far below the national figure of 12.3%.

Homes are smaller and more likely to be occupied by single people, with 31.5% of residents living alone, which is well above the national average.

The town is dominated by separate houses, making up 92.3% of dwellings. Rent is much lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly rent of $250.

Cars are essential here, as only 0.4% of people commute by public transport. It is a long way from the city, with a typical drive time of 99 minutes.

The population is relatively stable, though recent arrivals from overseas rose 5.4 points since 2011 to reach 13.1%.

The unemployment rate is very low at 3.3%. Many locals work in health care and social assistance, which is the most common industry at 13.4%.

The area has a lower overall advantage score of 970 compared to the national average of 1,000, and population growth since 2021 has been very slow at 0.2%.

The local climate is cooler than the state average, with an average minimum temperature of 8.7 degrees and annual rainfall of 522mm.

The town is somewhat walkable, and while it is far from public transport, 56.6% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.