Waroona

The community is aging rapidly, with the proportion of seniors aged 65 and over rising 8.3 points since 2011 to reach 24.4%. This is well above the national figure of 17.2%. Meanwhile, children under 15 make up 16.4% of the population, which is a little below the Australian average.

The area is predominantly Australian and English in ancestry, with 74% of residents born in Australia. This makes it far less diverse than the state average, as only 18% of the population was born overseas.

English is the primary language for 86.1% of residents. Only 5.9% use another language at home, a figure that is far below both the state and national averages.

A large number of residents now report having no religion, which rose 19 points since 2011 to reach 43.5%. This is well above the national figure of 38.9%.

Educational attainment is among the lowest for similar areas, with only 7.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 32.7% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national average of 58.8%.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national figure, with the usual household earning $1,312 a week. Only 15.3% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is well below the state average.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.6% of the population. Arthritis is the most reported condition at 12.4%.

Community spirit is evident in the high number of volunteers, which is well above the national average at 19.4%. Residents are also much more likely to do 15 or more hours of unpaid housework than people in other similar areas.

First Nations people make up 3.8% of the population. While the unemployment rate for this group is among the highest for similar areas at 21.3%, Year 12 completion is well above the national average at 41.4%.

People living alone make up 28% of households, which is a little above the state average. Most families are couples, with 53.1% having children and 34.5% without.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, making up 92.1% of all homes. Home ownership is very strong, with 41% of residents owning their home outright, far above the national figure of 31%.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as 62.2% of workers drive to work and only 2.4% use public transport. Public transport is sparse, with a typical 40-minute walk to the nearest stop.

The population is quite stable, with 31.4% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%. Recent arrivals from overseas are also much lower than in most areas.

Working or looking for work is much less common here than in most areas, at 53.2%. The local workforce is concentrated in mining, construction, and manufacturing.

The area has a low overall advantage score of 2, placing it among the bottom 20% of similar areas. This is linked to very low rankings for education and job skills.

The local climate is milder than much of the state, with an average maximum temperature of 24.2 degrees and annual rainfall far above the Western Australian average.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 2.0. Very few residents can access health services or groceries within a 15-minute walk.