Whalan

Whalan is noticeably younger than the state and national averages, with a typical age of 34. Children under 15 make up 24.3% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 18.2%.

About 27.5% of residents were born overseas, a figure about the same as the national average. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, Filipino, Scottish, and Irish.

Language diversity is high, with 27.5% of people using another language at home, which is well above the Australian figure. Around 5.0% of residents speak little or no English.

The community is more religious than most areas, with 48.1% identifying as Christian. Those with no religion make up 27.3%, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 7.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Far fewer people completed Year 12 compared to the national figure, at 38.4%.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national average, with a typical weekly household income of $1,160. Only 8.0% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, which is far below the state figure.

Health challenges are more common here, as 31.6% of people have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure, and 10.0% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteer rates are among the lowest at this level at 6.3%, well below the national figure. Unpaid care for children (21.7%) and housework (17.4%) are also lower than in most areas.

Whalan has one of the largest First Nations populations at this level, with 652 people. This group is noticeably younger than the state average, with a typical age of 18.

Homes are larger than usual, with 2.8 people per home. One-parent families are very common, making up 33.2% of households, which is far above the national figure of 14.1%.

Renting is very common, with 52.6% of households renting, far above the national average. While many homes are large—85.4% have three or more bedrooms—outright home ownership is much lower than most areas.

Public transport access is a highlight, with 43 stops and a typical 2-minute walk to the nearest one. However, 15.9% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well above the national figure.

The community is relatively stable, with 27.7% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals make up 8.8% of the population.

Working or looking for work is much less common here than elsewhere, at 39.9%. The unemployment rate is 9.5%, which is well above the national figure of 5.1%.

The area is very walkable, with 100% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park, school, and public transport. Almost all residents (97.4%) can walk to groceries within 15 minutes.