Urban Area · Area profile
Busselton
1,423 km²
A noticeably older population sets Busselton apart from the rest of the state and nation. The typical resident is 45, and since 2011, the number of people aged 65 and over has risen significantly to 23.4%. This growing senior presence is reflected in a community where many own their homes outright and a high number of residents volunteer. While the population grew by 34% to reach 40,544 people, the area remains mostly car-dependent with a strong preference for large, detached houses.
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The population is much older than most areas, with the typical resident aged 45 and 23.4% of people being seniors. This is a significant increase from 2011, though the proportion of children under 15 has fallen slightly to 18.7%.
About 19.4% of residents were born overseas, which is much higher than most similar areas but well below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the dominant tongue, with 89% of people using it exclusively at home. Only 5.2% of residents use another language, a figure far below both the state and national levels.
A half of the population—49.9%—report having no religion, which is far above the national figure. This represents a sharp 21 point increase since 2011.
The area is more qualified than most similar places, with 50.4% of residents completing Year 12. However, the 17.6% of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is well below the national average.
Typical weekly household income is $1,458, which is a little below the national figure. While the proportion of high earners has risen since 2011, typical personal income remains slightly under the national average at $751.
Long-term health conditions are reported by 29.6% of residents, which is a little above the national figure. However, the rate of people with a mental health condition is much lower than in most areas.
Busselton has a very high rate of volunteering at 21.1%, well above the national figure. Unpaid housework and childcare are also much more common here than in most similar areas.
Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.5 people per household. Families with children make up 53.6% of households, while one-parent families are among the lowest for this level.
Detached houses are very common, making up 88.3% of dwellings. Home ownership is strong, with 36.2% of homes owned outright, and only 23.5% of households rent.
Car use is essential here, as only 1.2% of people commute by public transport. Very few homes lack a motor vehicle, and 40.9% of households have two cars.
Around 41.3% of the population moved in the last five years. The arrival of new residents from overseas has fallen significantly since 2011, now sitting at 7.0%.
The unemployment rate is among the lowest for its level at 3.0%. However, the share of people in full-time work is well below the national figure, with many employed in health care, hospitality, and construction.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries (30.7%) or health services (11.7%).