Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Margaret River
61 km²
A high number of new arrivals have shifted the character of Margaret River, where 44.5% of residents moved here in the last five years. This is a young and family-focused community with a typical resident aged 39 and a much higher share of children than most areas. The area is distinctive for its high proportion of people with no religion and a workforce heavily involved in accommodation and food services. It is a predominantly residential setting of detached houses, though it remains quite car-dependent.
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Families are a major part of the community, with children under 15 making up 21.7% of the population, well above the national figure. There is also a high proportion of people in de facto relationships compared to most areas.
English and Australian ancestries are most common, and 24.8% of people were born overseas, which is much higher than most similar areas.
While 10.0% of residents use a language other than English at home, this is still far below the national figure of 22.3%. Very few people speak little or no English.
The community is notably secular, with 62.9% of people reporting no religion, a figure far above both the state and national averages.
Education levels are high, with 60.6% of residents completing Year 12 and 24.5% holding a bachelor degree or higher, which is much higher than most similar areas.
Typical personal weekly income is $839, which is higher than most similar areas and about the same as the national figure.
Residents are generally healthy, with a long-term health condition rate of 21.6%, which is well below the national figure of 27.7%.
The area has a strong volunteer spirit, with 22.0% of people volunteering, well above the national rate. A high proportion of people also provide unpaid childcare.
There are 146 First Nations people in the area. This group has a Year 12 completion rate of 47.8%, which is far above the state and national figures.
Homes tend to be larger than usual, with 2.6 people per household. Couples with children make up the largest group at 58.8%.
Most people live in separate houses, and 83.2% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Typical weekly rent is $380, which is much higher than most similar areas.
The community is heavily reliant on cars, as only 1.0% of people commute via public transport. Most homes have two vehicles.
The population is quite mobile, with 44.5% of people moving into the area in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 12.3% of the population.
Many people work in accommodation and food services, though full-time employment is much lower than in most areas at 49.9%.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.8, well below the state average. Only 40.0% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of local amenities.