# Katanning

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile

Located in: Western Australia › Rest of WA › Katanning › 6317, WA

Area: 2,647 km²

A shrinking population has seen Katanning lose about 86 people since 2011. This regional town is defined by a strong First Nations presence and a high rate of volunteering, though it faces significant economic challenges. It is a place of modest incomes and low educational qualifications, where the typical resident is 40 years old. Despite these hurdles, the community remains active, with a distinct character shaped by its agricultural roots and a growing number of people from overseas.

## Demographics & Identity

First Nations people make up 8.1% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%. The community is slightly older than the state average, and while children under 15 make up 19.5% of residents, this figure has fallen by 5.2 percentage points since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 4,512 | -1.9% since 2011 |
| Median age | 40 yrs | +8.1% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 8.1% | -4.4% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 18.7% | +38.2% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 19.5% | -21.0% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 12.2% | +22.5% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Older adults (45–64) 25.1%, Young adults (25–44) 24.5%, Children (0–14) 19.5%, Seniors (65+) 18.7%, Youth (15–24) 11.9%

**Marital status** — Married 47.5%, Never married 36.1%, Divorced 7.4%, Widowed 5.7%, Separated 3.2%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

Australian and English are the most common ancestries, with 34.6% and 33.9% respectively. While 20.5% of people were born overseas—far below the Western Australian average—this figure has risen slightly since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 20.5% | +8.1% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 68.5%, England 3.1%, New Zealand 3.0%, South Africa 1.0%, Philippines 0.8%, China 0.4%, Italy 0.4%, India 0.2%, Vietnam 0.1%

**Ancestry** — Australian 34.6%, English 33.9%, Scottish 6.4%, Irish 5.7%, German 3.5%, Italian 3.2%, Dutch 1.7%, Filipino 1.0%, Chinese 1.0%, Indian 0.5%, Greek 0.1%, Vietnamese 0.1%

## Language

About 17.8% of residents use a language other than English at home. This helps explain why the proportion of people who speak little or no English is 6.1%, which is much higher than in most similar areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 17.8% | +7.0% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 6.1% | -18.5% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 71.5%, Mandarin 0.7%, Italian 0.5%, Tagalog 0.2%, Vietnamese 0.1%, Arabic 0.1%, Cantonese 0.1%, Hindi 0.1%

## Religion

Christianity is the most common faith at 42.3%. Those reporting no religion make up 35.8% of the town, a figure that has risen by 14 percentage points since 2011, though it remains well below the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 35.8% | +65.0% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Christianity 42.3%, No religion 35.8%, Not stated 12.1%, Islam 7.6%, Buddhism 1.6%, Hinduism 0.3%, Other religions 0.2%

## Education & Qualifications

Educational attainment is quite low, with only 9% of adults holding a bachelor degree and 37.7% completing Year 12, both far below national figures. However, there are many schools for the number of children, with 5.69 schools per 1,000 children.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 37.7% | +13.9% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 9.0% | +8.5% since 2011 |
| Schools | 5 | — |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 5.69 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 5 | — |
| School enrolments | 837 | — |
| Average school size | 167 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 895 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 37.7%, Year 10 23.3%, Year 9 or below 15.5%, Year 11 10.5%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 33.7%, Bachelor degree 14.1%, Advanced diploma / diploma 10.8%, Certificate I / II 5.3%, Graduate diploma / certificate 2.5%, Postgraduate degree 1.9%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 14.4%, Management & commerce 10.5%, Education 9.5%, Health 8.9%, Agriculture & environment 8.5%, Society & culture 7.6%, Food, hospitality & personal services 5.0%, Architecture & building 3.3%, Creative arts 1.6%, Natural & physical sciences 1.2%, Information technology 0.7%

## Income

Typical weekly household income is $1,347, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. While incomes have risen since 2011, the town remains much lower than most areas, with only 10.8% of households earning $3,000 or more per week.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $714 | +35.0% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,347 | +42.8% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $1,649 | +42.2% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 6.5% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 10.8% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $650–$1,499 31.4%, $1,500–$2,999 29.5%, Under $650 18.2%, $3,000–$3,999 6.1%, $4,000 or more 4.7%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 40.5%, $650–$1,499 33.3%, $1,500–$2,999 12.6%, $3,000 or more 2.1%

## Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions are reported by 28.1% of residents, which is about the same as the national figure. Arthritis is the most common condition, affecting 10.6% of the population.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 28.1% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 8.4% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 5.0% | +10.8% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 10.6%, Mental health 8.4%, Asthma 7.3%, Other condition 6.7%, Diabetes 6.1%, Heart disease 4.1%, Cancer 2.8%, Lung condition 1.6%, Stroke 1.0%, Dementia 0.8%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 59.6%, One condition 18.0%, Two conditions 6.5%, Three or more 3.6%

## Community Participation

Volunteering is very high here, with 21.6% of people helping out, well above the national rate of 14.1%. This high level of community spirit sits alongside a lower rate of unpaid childcare compared to the state.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 21.6% | -18.0% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 11.5% | +8.5% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 22.4% | -25.1% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 2.5% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 21.0% | -19.1% since 2011 |

## First Nations

The First Nations community is large, with 366 people, but faces significant hardship. This is seen in an unemployment rate of 21.7% and a typical weekly personal income of $454, which is much lower than in most areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 366 | — |
| First Nations median age | 24 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 23.5% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 21.7% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $454 | — |
| First Nations household income | $980 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 4.1% | — |

## Family & Households

More people live alone here (28.6%) than in the typical Australian area. Family sizes are standard, with an average of 2.5 people per home, though one-parent families are slightly more common than elsewhere.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.5 | -3.8% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 14.6% | -0.6% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 28.6% | +4.8% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 52.1%, Couples without children 31.5%, One-parent families 14.6%, Other families 1.6%

**Household size** — 2 people 35.4%, 1 person 28.6%, 3 people 14.3%, 4 people 11.9%, 6 or more 5.4%, 5 people 4.8%

## Housing & Dwellings

Most people live in separate houses (91.5%), and 35% own their home outright. Rent is very affordable, with a typical weekly rent of $200, which is far below the national figure of $375.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $200 | +44.9% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,076 | -8.0% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.80 | -27.3% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 28.4% | -12.8% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 35.0% | +3.2% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 91.5% | -1.2% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 78.6% | +0.5% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned outright 35.0%, Owned with a mortgage 30.2%, Rented 28.4%, Other tenure 4.1%, Not stated 2.4%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 91.5%, Townhouse / semi-detached 7.8%, Flat or apartment 0.3%, Other dwelling 0.3%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 45.8%, 4 bedrooms 26.8%, 2 bedrooms 16.3%, 5 or more 5.9%, 1 bedroom 2.5%, Studio / none 0.7%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $200–$349 44.7%, Under $200 44.4%, $350–$549 4.4%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — Under $1,000 44.8%, $1,000–$1,799 32.4%, $1,800–$2,999 12.7%, $3,000 or more 4.1%

## Transport & Vehicles

The town is heavily reliant on cars, with 65.2% of people driving to work. This is reflected in the low number of public transport stops and a very small percentage of people who work from home.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 6.6% | -20.2% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 7.9% | -1.0% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 3.2% | +113.2% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 6 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 1.33 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 15.3 | — |
| Public transport routes | 3 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 65.2%, Worked at home 7.9%, Car (passenger) 7.5%, Walked 5.0%, Bus 3.2%, Bicycle 0.1%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 34.9%, 1 vehicle 31.9%, 3 vehicles 14.9%, 4 or more 11.7%, No vehicle 6.6%

## Migration & Movement

The community is relatively stable, as only 31.6% of people moved in the last five years—well below the national figure of 40.7%. However, recent arrivals from overseas are much more common here than in most similar areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 31.6% | -18.7% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 17.9% | -43.6% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

Many residents work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing (18%) or manufacturing (13.9%). While the unemployment rate is 5%, which is typical for the state, fewer adults are working or looking for work overall compared to most areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | -12.6% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 58.8% | -3.5% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 61.8% | +6.9% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Agriculture, forestry & fishing 18.0%, Manufacturing 13.9%, Health care & social assistance 10.4%, Education & training 8.7%, Retail trade 8.6%, Public administration & safety 5.4%, Accommodation & food 4.9%, Wholesale trade 4.6%, Construction 4.5%, Other services 4.0%, Transport & warehousing 3.4%, Administrative & support 2.4%, Professional & technical 1.8%, Electricity, gas & water 1.3%, Mining 1.1%, Finance & insurance 1.0%, Rental & real estate 0.6%, Arts & recreation 0.3%, Media & telecommunications 0.3%

**Occupations people work in** — Labourers 23.2%, Managers 16.1%, Technicians & trades 14.4%, Professionals 11.1%, Clerical & administrative 9.9%, Community & personal service 9.6%, Sales workers 7.7%, Machinery operators & drivers 6.6%

## Economy & Advantage

The town is ranked as having low overall advantage, with an overall advantage score of 907. This is consistent with its low ranking for education and job skills, which are among the lowest for its level.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile) | 2 | — |
| Socio-economic disadvantage (IRSD decile) | 2 | — |
| Economic resources (IER decile) | 3 | — |
| Education & occupation (IEO decile) | 1 | — |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD score) | 907 | — |
| Population estimate | 4,840 | — |
| Population growth since 2021 | 3.1% | — |
| Businesses | 442 | — |

## Environment & Climate

The area receives 405mm of annual rainfall, far above the state average of 185mm. It is also cooler than the rest of the state, with a much lower typical minimum temperature of 9.6 degrees.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average annual rainfall | 405 | — |
| Average maximum temperature | 23.1 | — |
| Average minimum temperature | 9.6 | — |

## Walkability

The town is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.8. While 71.3% of homes are near a park, only 39.4% are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, far below the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 3.8 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 4.4 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 46.8% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 39.4% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 31.5% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 70.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 71.3% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 54.1% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 19.1 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 0 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 3.6% | — |

## Schools serving Katanning

5 schools, 837 students, average ICSEA 895.

By sector: Government 4, Catholic 1

By type: Primary 4, Secondary 1

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Woodanilling Primary School | Government | Primary | 4.0 km | 6 |
| Braeside Primary School | Government | Primary | 13.6 km | 126 |
| St Patrick's School | Catholic | Primary | 13.8 km | 116 |
| Katanning Senior High School | Government | Secondary | 14.3 km | 355 |
| Katanning Primary School | Government | Primary | 14.6 km | 234 |

## Nearby areas

[Kojonup](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/509011231/kojonup) · [Narrogin](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/509031249/narrogin) · [Wagin](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/509031250/wagin) · [Stirling Range National Park](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/509011235/stirling-range-national-park) · [Plantagenet](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/509011234/plantagenet) · [Bridgetown - Boyup Brook](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/501031017/bridgetown-boyup-brook) · [Gnowangerup](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/509011229/gnowangerup) · [Brookton](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/509031246/brookton)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/509011230/katanning