Urban Centre · Area profile
Karratha
119 km²
High-earning workers and young families make up the heart of Karratha. This community is noticeably younger than the national average, with a typical resident aged just 32. It is a place of significant movement and wealth, where nearly half of all households earn $3,000 or more per week. The area is largely defined by its connection to the mining industry and a high proportion of young children.
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Karratha is a young community where 26.5% of residents are children under 15, a figure well above the national average. Seniors are very rare here, with only 2.8% aged 65 or over. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has also grown, reaching 9.0% in 2021.
While 64.9% of residents were born in Australia, the area has a high proportion of overseas-born residents at 20.2%. English, Irish and Scottish are the most common ancestries after Australian.
English is the main language for 72.3% of people, though the use of other languages at home rose to 12.3% by 2021. Very few residents speak little or no English, at just 0.9%.
Nearly half of the population (47.8%) now report having no religion, a figure that has risen by 22 points since 2011 and is well above the national average.
The workforce is well-qualified, with 16.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Many residents have a trade background, as 35.1% hold a Certificate III or IV, and 24.1% of qualifications are in engineering.
Incomes are exceptionally high, with the typical household earning $3,194 a week, far above the national figure of $1,746. Nearly 30% of individuals earn $2,000 or more each week.
Residents are generally healthier than those in most other areas, with only 14.7% having a long-term health condition. Only 1.4% of people need help with daily activities.
Unpaid childcare is common here, with 32.8% of people caring for children, well above the national figure. Conversely, only 5.8% of residents provide other forms of unpaid care.
Families with children are the norm, making up 70.6% of households. This helps explain why homes are larger than usual, with an average of 2.8 people per dwelling.
Renting is very common, with 60% of households renting, which is far above the state average. Outright home ownership is among the lowest in the region at just 6.2%.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 70.4% of people driving to work. Very few people work from home (2.5%) or use public transport to commute (2.1%).
Karratha is a highly transient place, as 55.1% of residents moved in the last five years. This is far above the national average and is consistent with the high number of recent overseas arrivals.
The job market is strong and dominated by mining, which employs 20.4% of the workforce. Full-time employment is very high at 71.6%, and the unemployment rate is a low 2.8%.
While most homes are within a short walk of a school or park, the area is not very walkable overall. Many residents lack easy walking access to groceries (40.1%) or health services (36.9%).