State Electorate · Area profile
Vasse (South West)
2,647 km²
Vasse has aged significantly over the last decade, with the typical resident now 44 and the number of seniors rising sharply. This community is defined by a preference for large, detached homes and a high proportion of residents who do not identify with any religion. While the population grew by 12% to reach 44,333 people, the area remains largely car-dependent and sparsely developed. It is a place where many people own their homes outright and engage deeply in local volunteering.
Families are well catered for: 15 schools serve Vasse (South West).
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The community is noticeably older than the state and national average, with 22.7% of people aged 65 and over. While 19.2% of residents are children under 15, this figure has fallen slightly since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (19.2%) compared to Western Australia. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the dominant language, with only 5.1% of people using another language at home, a figure far below the national average. Very few residents speak little or no English.
A majority of the population (50.6%) reports having no religion, which is far above the national figure. This trend has grown significantly, rising 19 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than the state average, with 51% of residents completing Year 12. However, the proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher rose to 18.2% since 2011.
Typical weekly incomes for households ($1,478) and families ($1,882) are a little below the state and national figures. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more per week rose 10 points since 2011.
About 28.9% of residents have a long-term health condition, which is a little above the national average. Arthritis is the most common reported condition at 9.9%.
Volunteering is very common here, with 21.3% of people helping out, well above the national figure. A high proportion of residents also perform unpaid housework and child care.
Families with children make up 54.3% of households. About a quarter of the population lives alone, which is consistent with the state average.
The area is dominated by large, separate houses, with 85.8% of homes having three or more bedrooms. Home ownership is strong, as 36% of residents own their homes outright.
Cars are essential here, as only 1.2% of people commute by public transport and just 3% of homes have no motor vehicle. Most households own two or more vehicles.
The community is relatively mobile, with 41.2% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals have fallen sharply since 2011, now making up 7% of the population.
The unemployment rate is very low at 3.0%, though the proportion of people working full-time (52.1%) is well below the state average. Common industries include health care and construction.
Vasse is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Many residents live far from groceries, schools, and health services.