Urban Centre · Area profile
Horseshoe Bay
5 km²
A car-dependent lifestyle defines Horseshoe Bay, where most residents rely on vehicles for daily needs given the lack of local shops and schools. The area has aged significantly, with a typical resident now 57 and a large number of seniors. This shift is reflected in the population, which shrank by 37% since 2011. It is a predominantly older community where many people now own their homes outright and a high proportion of residents have no religious affiliation.
Explore Horseshoe Bay by topic
The population is far older than the national figure, with seniors making up 29% of the community. Children under 15 are well below the state average at 10.3%, and the total population fell to 611 people by 2021.
Born overseas residents make up 27.7% of the community, a figure that rose 28 points since 2011. English and Australian ancestries are most common, with many residents born in England or New Zealand.
English is the main language for 85.1% of people. While 9% use another language at home, this is a huge drop from 87.3% in 2011, and no one in the area speaks little or no English.
A majority of residents—55.2%—have no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%. This is a significant increase from 2011, when only 4.9% reported having no religion.
Education levels have risen since 2011, with 17.6% of adults now holding a bachelor degree or higher. Nearly half of the residents have completed Year 12, though this remains well below the national average.
Typical weekly household income is $1,067, which is far below the Australian figure of $1,746. Only 10.8% of households earn $3,000 or more a week.
Long-term health conditions are reported by 30.3% of people, with arthritis being the most common. However, those needing help with daily activities are at 4.3%, a little below the state average.
Volunteering is high here at 19.9%, well above the national figure. There is also a stronger presence of former Defence Force members compared to most other areas.
Couples without children are the most common household type at 48%. Homes are generally smaller than average, with a typical 2.1 people per dwelling.
Home ownership is very high, with 55.2% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. Most residents live in separate houses, and renting is much less common than in the rest of the state.
Most people drive to work, though 12.6% now work from home. Very few people—just 3.5%—use public transport for their commute.
The area has seen significant movement, with 42.7% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 9.5% of the population.
Unemployment is much higher than the national average at 8.9%. Many residents work in accommodation and food services or retail trade, and full-time employment is far below the state average.
The area is mostly car-dependent, as no homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school, health service, or public transport. Only 51.1% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.