Urban Area · Area profile
Geraldton
272 km²
Daily life in Geraldton centres on a spacious, family-oriented way of living where most people reside in detached houses. The community is notably diverse, with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population that is well above the national figure. It is a place where the population is growing and the typical resident is now 40 years old. While it remains a regional hub, the town's character is shaped by a mix of established families and a rising number of people living alone.
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The area has a strong Indigenous presence at 9.7%, which is much higher than most similar areas. Children under 15 make up 20.0% of the population, and there is a higher rate of de facto relationships than the national average.
Most residents were born in Australia, and English and Australian are the most common ancestries. While the share of people born overseas is higher than in most similar areas, it remains far below the Western Australian and national figures.
English is the main language, though 7.6% of people use another language at home, a figure that has risen since 2011. Very few people speak little or no English, which is a little below the national figure.
About 41.5% of the population report no religion, a figure that has risen by 18 points since 2011. This is slightly below the state average but a little above the national figure.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most similar areas, with only 12.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, more people have completed Year 12 than in 2011.
Typical weekly household income is $1,553, which is higher than in most similar areas but a little below the state and national figures. High earners are more common here than in similar areas, with 11.7% of people earning $2,000 or more a week.
Residents are generally healthier than those in most similar areas, with a much lower percentage of people needing help with daily activities. Long-term health conditions are slightly more common here than the national average.
Volunteering is more common here than in most similar areas, though it has fallen since 2011. The rate of people providing unpaid care is much lower than in most similar areas.
One-parent families are well above the national average at 17.4%. About 27.8% of people live alone, which is a little above the state and national figures.
The area is dominated by separate houses, with 86.0% of homes being detached. This is far above the national figure, and typical weekly rents are well below both the state and national averages.
Most people rely on cars, with 69.7% driving to work. Very few people work from home, a figure that is far below the national average.
The community is relatively stable, as the number of people who moved in the last five years is much lower than in most similar areas. Recent overseas arrivals have also fallen sharply since 2011.
Adults working or looking for work make up 60.1% of the population, which is higher than in most similar areas. Health care, retail, and education are the primary industries for local workers.
The area is considered somewhat walkable, though many homes are far from groceries and schools. Most residents live within a short walk of a park or public transport.