Walpole

Walpole is far older than most of Australia, with 36.4% of residents aged 65 and over and a typical age of 59. Conversely, children under 15 make up only 9.8% of the population, which is well below the national figure.

English and Australian ancestries are most common, and 21.7% of the population was born overseas, which is much higher than in similar areas.

English is the primary language for 90.7% of the community. Only 4.0% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the state and national averages.

A majority of residents report no religion, at 51.0%, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%.

Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 41.0% of residents completing Year 12. Around 14.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Typical personal income is much lower than most areas at $490 a week, and only 6.5% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, far below the state average.

Long-term health conditions are far more common here than across Australia, affecting 39.6% of people. This is consistent with the older population, as 7.5% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is very common, with 32.5% of people pitching in, far above the national figure. There is also a high rate of unpaid care and housework, while 5.6% of residents have served in the Defence Force.

There are 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the area. This group is noticeably younger than the general population, with a typical age of 18.

Living arrangements are quite small, with only 1.8 people per home. This is among the lowest at this level, and 41.2% of residents live alone, which is far above the national average.

Home ownership is high, with 54.3% of houses owned outright, far above the state average. Most people live in separate houses, and typical weekly rent is $221, which is well below the national figure.

The community relies heavily on cars, as 0.0% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have one or two vehicles, and the walk to the nearest transport stop can take 44 minutes.

About 36.8% of residents have moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 3.2% of the population, which is far below the national average.

Working or looking for work is less common here than in the state, at 44.8%. Those who are employed often work in accommodation and food services or public administration and safety.

The area is considered somewhat walkable, though it is far below the state average for proximity to parks and schools. Interestingly, residents are far more likely to be within a 15-minute walk of health services than those in the rest of the state.