Northam

The typical resident is 43, making the area noticeably older than both Western Australia and Australia. This trend is seen in the senior population, which rose 5.7 points since 2011 to reach 21.0%, well above the national figure.

Most of the community was born in Australia, and only 18.0% were born overseas, which is far below the state average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, accounting for 40.7% and 38.9% respectively.

English is the dominant language, with 82.2% of people using it exclusively at home. Only 5.4% use another language, a figure far below the national and state averages.

About 42.1% of people report having no religion, which is well above the national figure. This represents a significant shift in the community, as the number rose 17 points since 2011.

Educational attainment is among the lowest for similar areas, with only 9.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also much lower than the national average at 35.8%, though this has risen 4.1 points since 2011.

Typical weekly household income is $1,316, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 13.1% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, though this has risen 8.0 points since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.7% of residents. This includes higher rates of arthritis and mental health conditions compared to the state average.

The area has a strong volunteering spirit, with 16.8% of people volunteering, which is a little above the national figure. However, the number of people caring for children unpaid is well below the state average.

First Nations people make up a significant part of the community, totaling 715 people. This group is younger than the general population, with a typical age of 22, but faces a much higher unemployment rate of 18.8%.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 18.3% of households. Additionally, 29.0% of people live alone, which is well above the national average.

Separate houses are very common, accounting for 94.8% of all homes. Housing is relatively affordable, with typical weekly rent at $250 and typical monthly mortgage payments at $1,393, both of which are well below national figures.

The community is heavily reliant on cars, with 66.1% of people driving to work and only 1.0% using public transport. Very few people work from home at 6.7%, which is far below the national average.

The population is relatively stable, with 31.6% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas have also fallen sharply to 4.7% since 2011.

While 61.0% of the workforce is employed full-time, the overall proportion of adults working or looking for work is far below the state average. Common industries include health care, retail, and public administration.

The area ranks low for overall advantage and job skills compared to other regions. However, the population has grown by 8.1% since 2021, which is much higher than most similar areas.

The area is quite dry, with annual rainfall among the lowest for its level. Average maximum temperatures are much higher than most similar areas, though they remain a little below the state average.

Northam is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.3, far below the state average. Only 14.4% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport.