Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Dowerin
292 km²
A far older population than the state average defines Dowerin, where 30.5% of residents are seniors. This small community of 436 people is marked by a strong spirit of service, with 32.5% of residents volunteering. It is a place of modest incomes and affordable housing, sitting roughly two hours from the city. While many residents are older, the area still maintains a family presence with a decent number of children under 15.
Explore Dowerin by topic
The community is notably older than the national figure, with a typical resident aged 46. It also has a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at 6.0%, which is a little above the state and national rates.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the town has a very low proportion of overseas-born people (10.8%) compared to the state. Australian and English are the most common ancestries.
English is almost exclusively spoken here, with only 0.9% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national and state figures.
A little more than four in ten people (45.9%) report having no religion, which is well above the national figure. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 42.4%.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 33.5% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the state and national figures.
Incomes are generally low, with a typical household earning $1,103 a week, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 7.0% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.
Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 37.2% of the population. Arthritis and asthma are the most reported conditions.
Dowerin is a highly active community, with 32.5% of people volunteering, which is far above the national figure of 14.1%.
There are 26 First Nations people in the area, and their median personal income of $1,042 is far above the state and national figures.
Living arrangements are quite distinct, with 39.2% of people living alone—far above the state average. One-parent families are also much more common here than in most areas.
Housing is very affordable, with a typical weekly rent of $170, which is far below the national figure. Most residents live in separate houses, and 43.0% own their home outright.
The town is car-dependent, with no one commuting by public transport and no public transport stops available. The drive to the city takes nearly two hours.
The population is relatively stable, as far fewer people have moved in the last five years compared to the state and national averages. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the main industries for 26.7% of workers. However, fewer adults are working or looking for work (53.3%) compared to most other areas.
While the town is somewhat walkable for groceries and schools, it lacks nearby health services and public transport. Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school or shop.