Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Calista
2 km²
A much older population than the state average defines Calista, where the typical resident is 48. This community in the Kwinana region is marked by a high proportion of seniors and people living alone. It is a place of significant contrast, with very low typical incomes and high rates of long-term health conditions. These factors combine to create a residential area where many people require daily assistance and a large number of households are renting.
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The area is far older than the national figure, with 31.7% of residents aged 65 or over. This shift is reflected in the low number of children, who make up only 14.9% of the population, which is well below the Australian average of 18.2%.
Born overseas, 33.4% of residents come from outside Australia, a figure well above the national average. English is the most common ancestry at 49.5%, and England is the primary country of birth outside Australia.
While 8.6% of people use a language other than English at home, this is far below the national figure of 22.3%. Very few residents speak little or no English, at just 0.7%.
Nearly half the community, 46.0%, report having no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 37.2%.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 36.6% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 58.8%, and only 8.6% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.
Incomes are much lower than the state and national averages, with a typical household earning $953 a week. Only 6.9% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the national figure of 22.6%.
Health challenges are very common here, with 45.7% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is far above the national figure of 27.7%, and 15.7% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is much lower than in most areas at 10.9%. However, there is a higher presence of former Defence Force members (4.2%) compared to the state average of 2.9%.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 4.7% of the population, which is a little above the national average. The unemployment rate for First Nations residents is much higher than most areas at 20.8%.
Living arrangements are distinctive, with a very high 42.9% of people living alone. One-parent families are also far more common here (23.9%) than the national average of 14.1%.
Renting is much more common than elsewhere, with 37.1% of households renting. This is well above the national average of 30.6%, while typical weekly rents at $250 are well below the national figure.
Public transport use is higher than most areas, supported by 16 stops and 4 routes. Despite this, 11.6% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well above the national figure of 7.4%.
The area has seen significant movement, with 41.6% of people moving house in the last five years. This is a little above the Western Australian average of 39.0%.
Unemployment is very high at 13.0%, which is well above the national figure of 5.1%. Only 45.3% of adults are working or looking for work, far below the national average of 61.1%.
The area is quite walkable, with 99% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Residents also have easy access to parks and schools, with 99.9% and 98.9% of homes within a 15-minute walk respectively.