Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Northam
27 km²
A significant gap in income and education separates Northam from the rest of the state and nation. This community is noticeably older than most, with a typical resident aged 42 and a large population of seniors. It is a place where a strong First Nations presence and a high number of one-parent families are common. While many residents own their homes outright, the area faces challenges with health and lower typical earnings compared to the national figure.
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Northam has a much higher Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population than most areas, at 8.3%. The community is older than the state and national average, with 21.1% of people aged 65 and over.
English and Australian ancestries are most common here. While 14.8% of people were born overseas, this is far below the state and national figures.
English is the main language for 82.3% of residents. Only 7.0% use another language at home, which is far below the figures for Western Australia and Australia.
About 40.4% of the community report having no religion, a figure slightly below the state average. Christianity remains the most common religious affiliation at 45.0%.
Education levels are far below the state and national averages, with only 36.6% of people completing Year 12. Just 9.8% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.
Earnings in Northam are well below the national figure, with a typical household income of $1,246 per week. Only 11.2% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the state average.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 32.5% of people living with a long-term health condition. Additionally, 7.2% of residents need help with daily activities, which is a little above the national figure.
Volunteering is more common here than across Australia, with 18.0% of people volunteering. About 3.3% of residents have served in the Defence Force, which is higher than most areas.
The First Nations community is quite large here, though it faces significant hardship with an unemployment rate of 20.5%. Typical personal income for First Nations people is $455, which is a little below the national figure.
Family structures vary, with a much higher rate of one-parent families (21.8%) and people living alone (32.0%) compared to most areas. Typical homes are smaller, with 2.3 people per household.
Most people live in separate houses, and 34.8% own their home outright, which is well above the state average. However, 30.0% of households are renting, a figure much higher than most areas.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.6% of people using public transport to commute. Only 3.9% of people work from home, among the lowest rates at this level.
Movement into the area is higher than most, with 35.4% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 7.6% of the population.
While full-time employment is a little above the national figure at 61.5%, the unemployment rate is higher than most areas at 6.3%. Many people work in health care, social assistance, or retail.
Northam is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.3, far below the state average. Only 13.4% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport.