Urban Centre · Area profile
Kalgoorlie - Boulder
62 km²
Situated in the heart of the Goldfields, Kalgoorlie - Boulder is a high-earning hub for mining and industry. It is a noticeably young community where the typical resident is just 34, well below the national figure of 38. The area is defined by a transient, working-age population with high weekly incomes and a significant number of recent overseas arrivals. This creates a dynamic environment where a large proportion of residents are in de facto relationships and many families are raising children in spacious homes.
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The area is much younger than most, with children under 15 making up 22.3% of the population. This is consistent with a small senior population of just 9.1%, which is well below the national figure. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 7.7% of the community, a figure well above the state and national averages.
Overseas birth rates have risen significantly to 24.0% since 2011, although this remains well below the state average. While Australian and English are the most common ancestries, there is a notable presence of people born in New Zealand and the Philippines.
The proportion of people using another language at home rose 6.8 points since 2011 to 12.8%. Despite this increase, the figure is still well below the national average, and only 1.0% of residents speak little or no English.
People with no religion now make up 44.7% of the community, a rise of 22 points since 2011. This figure is well above the national average of 38.9%.
Qualifications have risen, with 44.8% of residents completing Year 12 and 13.8% holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is higher than most similar areas, though still far below the state and national figures. Engineering is the most common field of study at 26.8%.
Incomes are very high, with the typical family earning $2,825 a week, which is well above the national figure of $2,120. This is one of the highest-earning areas at this level, and 21.7% of people earn $2,000 or more per week.
Residents generally report better health than those in most other areas. Only 21.1% have a long-term health condition, and 6.5% have a mental health condition, both of which are well below the national figures.
Community participation is lower than in many other areas, with only 12.5% of people volunteering. Similarly, the 7.1% of people providing unpaid care is among the lowest for this level.
Families tend to be larger here, with 2.6 people per home. Couples with children make up 61.4% of households, and 13.4% are one-parent families, which is about the same as the state average.
Renters are common, with 36.8% of households renting, which is well above the national average. While 81.4% of homes have three or more bedrooms, only 18.3% are owned outright, a figure far below the national average.
Most people drive to work, with 70.3% as the driver. Very few people work from home at 2.5%, a figure far below the national average of 21.0%.
The population is quite mobile, with 42.6% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 17.7% of the community, which is well above the national figure.
Employment is very strong, with 71.8% of people working full-time—far above the national figure. The mining industry is the primary employer at 26.6%, and the unemployment rate of 3.4% is lower than the state average.
The area is somewhat walkable, with a score of 5.4. Most homes are within a short walk of public transport, parks, and groceries, though only 38.8% are within 15 minutes of health services.