Gingin - Dandaragan

The area is far older than the state and national figures, with 27% of people aged 65 and over, a figure that has risen 8.8 points since 2011. This trend is reflected in the low number of children, as those under 15 make up just 14.1% of the population.

Most residents were born in Australia, though 21.5% were born overseas, a figure that has risen slightly since 2011. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Scottish and Irish.

English is the primary language for 84% of the community. Only 7.4% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

A large number of residents report having no religion, accounting for 46.2% of the population. This is well above the national figure and has risen by 20 points since 2011.

The community has lower levels of formal qualifications than most areas, with only 10.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national average at 39.3%.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national figure, with the usual family earning $1,654 per week. Only 12.6% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this has risen 8.3 points since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 29.7% of residents. Arthritis is the most frequently reported condition at 11.1%.

Volunteering is much more common here than across Australia, with 21.3% of people pitching in. This high level of community spirit is seen alongside a higher rate of people doing 15 or more hours of unpaid housework.

First Nations people in the area are noticeably older than those in the rest of the state, with a typical age of 30. The unemployment rate for this group is 7.4%, which is well below the national figure.

Homes are generally smaller in size, with 2.3 people per home. About 27.5% of residents live alone, and the number of people living alone has risen slightly since 2011.

Housing is dominated by separate detached houses, making up 93.4% of all dwellings. Home ownership is very high, with 44.3% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure.

Most people rely on cars, with 51.9% of workers driving to their jobs and only 1.7% of homes having no motor vehicle. Public transport is very limited, with a typical walk to the nearest stop taking 75 minutes.

The community is relatively stable, as fewer people moved in the last five years compared to most other areas. However, recent arrivals from overseas are much more common here than in the rest of the state.

The local economy is driven by agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which employ 25.5% of the workforce. Only 55% of adults are working or looking for work, which is well below the national average.

While the area has a fair amount of businesses, it ranks low for education and job skills. Population growth has been strong recently, rising by 15.7% since 2021.

The area is relatively dry, with annual rainfall of 460mm, which is among the lowest for similar areas. Average maximum temperatures are typically around 26 degrees.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.4. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or schools.