Urban Centre · Area profile
Coleraine
5 km²
A far older population than the state average defines Coleraine, where the typical resident is 58. This community has seen a significant shift, with the total population shrinking by 37% since 2011. It is a place where seniors make up over a third of the residents, which helps explain the high need for daily health support. Despite these challenges, it remains a highly walkable hub with most homes within easy reach of health services and groceries.
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The community is ageing rapidly, with 37.3% of people aged 65 and over—far above the national figure of 17.2%. Children under 15 make up only 11.9% of the population, which is well below the Australian average.
Most residents were born in Australia, and 82.4% of the population shares this birthplace. English and Australian ancestries are the most common, while the proportion of people born overseas has fallen to 9.9%.
English is the primary language for 90.2% of the community. Only 2.4% of residents use another language at home, which is far below the state and national figures.
Over half the population identifies as Christian, while those with no religion make up 40.4%. This lack of religious affiliation has risen by 12 points since 2011.
Educational qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 24.9% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the state average of 61.8%.
Incomes are significantly lower than the national average, with a typical household earning $790 a week. Only 4.8% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, far below the state figure of 22.7%.
Health needs are very high here, with 42.6% of people living with a long-term condition. About 13.7% of residents need help with daily activities, which is well above the national average of 5.8%.
Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 19.3% of people giving their time. However, the proportion of people caring for children unpaid is far below the national average.
Many people live alone—46.5% of households are single person—which is far above the national figure of 25.6%. This contributes to a small typical household size of 1.9 people.
Home ownership is very high, with 57.6% of homes owned outright. This is far above the national figure, and as a result, the typical monthly mortgage payment of $641 is among the lowest in the region.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with 66.8% of workers driving to work. No one in the community used public transport for their commute in the latest census.
While few people have moved in the last five years compared to the state average, there has been a sharp rise in recent arrivals from overseas, reaching 16.3%.
Fewer people are working or looking for work compared to most areas, at 41.5%. Those who are employed often work in health care and social assistance or agriculture.
The town is very walkable, with 94% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services and 95.5% near groceries. This is far above the state average for access to essential amenities.