Urban Centre · Area profile
Geraldton
65 km²
A car-reliant lifestyle defines daily life in Geraldton, where nearly 70% of workers drive to their jobs. This growing regional hub has seen its population rise by 28% since 2011, reaching 32,717 people. It is a diverse community with a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, which is well above the state average. While the area is becoming older, it remains a primary centre for families and young professionals in the region.
Explore Geraldton by topic
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen sharply to 9.9%, which is much higher than most similar areas. While the typical resident is now 40, the community has a high proportion of children under 15 compared to the national figure.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 14.5% of the population, a figure that has fallen far below the state and national levels since 2011.
English is the dominant language, though 8.1% of people use another language at home. This is much higher than most similar areas, despite being far below the state and national averages.
About 40.9% of residents report having no religion, which is a little above the national figure and has risen by 13 points since 2011.
The area has a lower level of formal qualifications than the state and nation, with only 12.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Completion of Year 12 has also fallen since 2011.
Typical weekly household income is $1,485, which is a little below the state and national figures. However, the number of people earning $2,000 or more a week is much higher than in most similar areas.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most similar areas, affecting 29.7% of residents. This is well above the Western Australian average.
Volunteer rates are about the same as the state average at 15.9%. Meanwhile, the number of people providing unpaid care has risen slightly since 2011.
One-parent families are well more common here than in the state and nation. There has also been a large increase in people living alone, now making up 29.2% of households.
Rental properties are well above the state average at 31.2%, and detached houses are far more common than across Australia. Typical weekly rent is $250, which is well below the national figure.
Very few people use public transport to commute, and working from home is far less common here than across the rest of Australia.
The community has become more stable over the last decade, as the proportion of people who moved in the last five years fell by 25 points since 2011.
Working or looking for work is more common here than in most similar areas, though the unemployment rate has risen slightly since 2011 to 5.5%. Health care and retail are the biggest industries.
The area is considered somewhat walkable, with a high proportion of homes within a short walk of parks and public transport, though access to groceries and schools is lower than the state average.