Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Pinjarra
19 km²
A typical resident in Pinjarra is noticeably older than the national figure, with the average age being 43. This community of nearly 5,000 people is defined by a significant gap in income and education compared to the rest of Western Australia. It is a place where detached houses dominate the landscape and many residents experience long-term health challenges. While the area has strong ties to the land and a higher-than-average proportion of veterans, it faces greater economic hurdles than most similar regions.
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The community is older than the state average, with 23.6% of people aged 65 and over, which is well above the national figure. About 18.9% of the population are children under 15, a rate higher than most similar areas.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 17.2% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 87.2% of the community. Only 4.1% of people use another language at home, a figure far below both the state and national averages.
Nearly half of the population (46.8%) report having no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 41.8%.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 7.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 33.3% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%.
Incomes are significantly lower than the state average, with typical weekly household earnings of $1,144. Only 12.1% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the national figure.
Health challenges are common here; 36.1% of people have a long-term health condition, which is far above the state average. This includes a higher-than-usual rate of mental health conditions at 12.5%.
The area has a strong history of service, with 4.4% of people having served in the Defence Force, which is much higher than most similar areas. About 16.5% of residents also regularly volunteer.
The First Nations community is among the largest for its level, though it faces significant hardship. The unemployment rate for First Nations people is 23.1%, which is far above the national figure.
One-parent families make up 19.5% of the community, a rate well above the national average. Around 28% of people live alone, which is higher than most similar areas.
Separate houses are very common, making up 86.3% of all homes. While 32.7% of homes are owned outright, 25.1% of households are renting, which is higher than in most similar areas.
Public transport access is high with 43 stops and 5 routes, yet only 2% of people use it to commute. Most residents rely on cars, and only 4% work from home, which is far below the national average.
The population is relatively stable, with 33.5% moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas are also far fewer than in most other areas.
Job numbers are low, with only 49.3% of adults working or looking for work, which is far below the state average. The local unemployment rate of 8.1% is well above the national figure.
The area is somewhat walkable, and 90.8% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport. However, just over half of homes are within a 15-minute walk of grocery stores.