Meerup

The community is far older than the state and national average, with 24.5% of residents aged 65 and over. It also has a much higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at 7.5% compared to the national figure of 3.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia (74.2%), though the proportion of people born overseas is much higher than in most similar areas. English is the most common ancestry at 49.1%.

English is the primary language for 94.3% of the population. The proportion of people using another language at home is far below both the Western Australian and national figures.

A large majority of residents report no religion (60.4%), which is far above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 35.2%.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 15.9% of the population, which is well below the state average. About 48% of residents completed Year 12, also falling well below the national figure.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national average, with a typical household earning $1,109 a week. Only 10.7% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the state figure.

More people here report long-term health conditions (32.7%) and mental health conditions (10.7%) than in most other areas. Arthritis is the most common long-term health issue.

The area has a high rate of volunteering (23.5%) and a very high percentage of people doing 15 or more hours of unpaid housework. Notably, 7% of residents served in the Defence Force, which is well above the national average.

There are 12 First Nations people in the area, who have a typical age of 16, which is far younger than the state and national figures. Their typical household income is $1,125, well below the national average.

Homes here tend to be larger than usual, with 2.6 people per home. Couples with children make up 44.9% of households, while only 16.1% of people live alone, which is much lower than most areas.

A high 55.4% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure. Almost all dwellings are separate houses (96.4%), though typical weekly rents are far below the national average at $230.

The area is entirely reliant on cars, as no one commutes by public transport and every home has at least one vehicle. However, 29.5% of people work from home, which is far above the state average.

The population is relatively stable, with only 25.3% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national figure. There were no recent arrivals from overseas.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing is the most common industry (25.6%). Full-time employment is well below the state average at 52.6%, though the unemployment rate is a little below the national figure.

The area is completely car-dependent, with a walkability score of 0.0. There are no grocery stores, health services, or schools within a 15-minute walk.