Urban Area · Area profile
Port Hedland
116 km²
High weekly incomes and a strong mining industry define Port Hedland, where the typical family earns $3,278 a week. This is a young, fast-moving community with a typical resident aged 32 and more than half the population arriving within the last five years. It is a diverse hub with a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence and a high proportion of families with children. The town's character is shaped by a transient, working-age population and a high reliance on rental housing.
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Port Hedland is noticeably younger than the national figure, with 24.7% of people under 15 and very few seniors. It has a strong Indigenous presence, with 18.0% of residents identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a figure far above the state average.
People born overseas make up 20.9% of the population, which is much higher than most similar areas but well below the Western Australian average. The most common ancestries are Australian and English.
About 14.5% of residents use a language other than English at home, a figure that has risen since 2011. Despite this, very few people—just 1.1%—speak little or no English.
A large number of residents report no religion, accounting for 44.0% of the population. This is well above the national figure and has grown by 19 percentage points since 2011.
The community has a lower rate of university degrees than most areas, with 12.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Many residents hold trade qualifications, and 24.6% of qualifications are in engineering.
Incomes are far above the national figure, with 42.8% of households earning $3,000 or more per week. The typical personal weekly income is $1,542, which is much higher than the typical Australian resident.
Residents are generally healthier than those in most similar areas, with only 16.4% reporting a long-term health condition. Only 2.1% of people need help with daily activities, which is well below the national average.
Unpaid care for children is common here, with 29.3% of people providing this support. However, volunteering is low at 12.3%, which is below the national figure.
Families with children are common, making up 64.1% of households. This helps explain why the typical home has 2.7 people, which is slightly higher than the national figure.
Rental properties dominate the market, with 67.3% of households renting, far above the national figure. Outright home ownership is very low at 7.3%, though typical weekly rents are much lower than in most other areas.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with 72.2% of people driving to work. Very few residents work from home (2.4%), which is far below the national average.
The population is highly mobile, with 57.6% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals also make up a significant 17.4% of the community.
Mining is the biggest employer, accounting for 26.1% of jobs. The area has a high rate of full-time work (72.8%) and a low unemployment rate of 3.5%.
While most homes are within 10 minutes of public transport, the area is generally not very walkable. Only 26.8% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, and very few are near health services.