Merredin

The typical resident is 43, making the area noticeably older than the state and national average of 38. Seniors make up 21.4% of the population, a figure that has risen by 6.4 points since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (10.8%) compared to the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the primary language here, with only 4.9% of people using another language at home, which is far below the national average of 22.3%.

A growing number of residents report no religion, rising 15 points since 2011 to reach 41.1%, which is slightly above the national figure.

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 40% of residents completing Year 12 and 10.3% holding a bachelor degree or higher.

Typical weekly household income is $1,387, which is well below the national figure of $1,746, though it has risen by $370 since 2011.

About 29.1% of people live with a long-term health condition, which is well above the state average of 26.1%.

Volunteerism is a standout feature, with 25.2% of people volunteering, a figure far above the national average of 14.1%.

First Nations residents make up a larger share of the population than in most areas, though they face a high unemployment rate of 21.8%.

The community has a high number of people living alone (30.2%), which is well above the national average of 25.6%.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, and 41.3% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure of 31.0%.

Car dependence is very high, as only 1% of people commute by public transport and the area has very few public transport stops.

The population is relatively stable, with 29.5% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing are major industries, and full-time employment is much higher here (63.9%) than the national average.

Overall advantage and access to resources are lower than in 60% of similar areas, reflecting a community with fewer job skills and resources.

The area is quite dry, with average annual rainfall of 300mm, though this is far above the Western Australian average of 185mm.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with only 44.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of essential services, far below the state average.