Murray-Wellington (South West)

The area is noticeably older than most, with a typical resident aged 43 and 21.3% of the population aged 65 and over, a figure well above the national average. Children under 15 make up 18.8% of the community, though this has fallen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 18.8% of the population, which is far below the Western Australian figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

Language diversity is much lower than in most areas, with only 5.6% of people using a language other than English at home. Consequently, the proportion of people who speak little or no English is very low at 0.6%.

A large number of residents report no religion, at 47.8%, which is well above the national figure and represents a 21 point increase since 2011.

Education levels are among the lowest for similar areas, with only 9.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The proportion of people who completed Year 12 is also far below the state average at 39.3%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,500, which is a little below the national figure. While typical personal income is also much lower than most areas, the share of people earning $2,000 or more a week has risen since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.1% of people. Arthritis is the most reported condition, followed by mental health.

The area has a high rate of volunteering at 17.2% and a much higher share of former Defence Force members than the state average. Many residents also spend significant time on unpaid housework.

Families tend to be larger than usual, with 2.6 people per home. Over half of all households are couples with children.

Detached houses dominate the landscape at 93.8%, and 85.2% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Home ownership is strong, with 35.8% of homes owned outright, which is well above the national average.

The community is heavily reliant on cars, with 63.5% of workers driving to work and only 2.1% using public transport. Very few homes, just 2.5%, have no motor vehicle.

The population is relatively stable, as the share of people who moved in the last five years is well below the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas have also fallen significantly since 2011.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the state average, at 56.7%. The local workforce is concentrated in manufacturing, mining, and health care.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Only 18.9% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of basic amenities.