Balga - Mirrabooka

The community is much younger than the national figure, with children under 15 making up 21.4% of residents. Seniors are far less common here than in most other areas, while the population has grown by 17% since 2011.

This is a highly multicultural area where 48.4% of people were born overseas, a figure far above the state and national averages. The most common ancestries are English, Australian, and Vietnamese.

Language diversity is very high, with 49.5% of people using a language other than English at home. This is far above the national figure, and 11.1% of residents speak little or no English.

Religious affiliation is more common here than elsewhere, as the 25.4% who report no religion is far below the national figure. Christianity is the most common faith at 39.1%, followed by Islam at 14.6%.

Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 16% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion rose 13 points since 2011 to reach 53.7%.

Household incomes are much lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly family income of $1,461. Only 9.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the state average.

Long-term health conditions are less common here than in most areas, affecting 22.6% of the population. About 5.4% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteer rates are much lower than the national figure at 9.3%. Similarly, fewer people provide unpaid care or do significant unpaid housework compared to other areas.

The area has a larger First Nations population than most similar places. This group faces significant hardship, with an unemployment rate of 18.3% and typical personal incomes well below the national figure.

Homes here tend to be larger, with 2.6 people per household. Single-parent families are much more common than in most areas, making up 21.7% of households.

Renters are very common, with 42.6% of households renting, far above the national figure. While 82.8% of homes have three or more bedrooms, only 18.9% are owned outright.

Public transport infrastructure is extensive, with 114 stops and a very high number of weekly departures. Despite this, only 3.5% of people work from home, which is far below the national figure.

The area is a common destination for new arrivals, with 17.3% of people arriving from overseas in the last five years—much higher than most other areas.

Unemployment is higher than the national figure at 7.9%. The workforce is concentrated in health care, social assistance, and retail trade, with many residents working as labourers or in personal services.

The area is among the most disadvantaged in the region, ranking in the lowest 10% for overall advantage. This is consistent with the low typical incomes and lower qualification levels observed across the community.

The local climate is slightly warmer than the state average, with a typical maximum temperature of 25.2 degrees and annual rainfall of 680mm.

Residents have excellent access to parks, schools, and public transport within a 15-minute walk. However, access to health services is very poor, with only 5% of homes within a short walk of such facilities.