Urban Centre · Area profile
Collie
19 km²
A noticeably older population defines Collie, where the typical resident is 43 and seniors now make up 23% of the community. This is a predominantly Australian-born town with a strong preference for detached housing and a significant shift toward having no religion. The area is largely car-dependent and has seen its population grow slightly to 7,184 people. Overall, it is a stable, residential community where many people own their homes outright and live in larger households.
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Residents are noticeably older than the state and national averages, with the proportion of people aged 65 and over rising 8.1 points since 2011. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 5% of the population, which is a little above the national figure.
The town is far less diverse than the rest of the state, with 81% of people born in Australia and only 11.1% born overseas. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, while the proportion of overseas-born residents has fallen since 2011.
English is the primary language for 89% of the community. Those using another language at home make up only 2.5% of the population, a figure far below the national average.
The community has seen a large shift away from organised religion, with the proportion of people reporting no religion rising 22 points since 2011 to reach 52.5%.
Qualifications are much lower than in most other areas, with only 5.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The most common qualification is a Certificate III or IV, held by 48.8% of residents.
Typical incomes are well below state and national figures, with the typical weekly household income sitting at $1,148. However, 9.7% of people earn $2,000 or more a week, which is much higher than in most similar areas.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 34.7% of people living with a long-term condition. About 7.2% of residents need help with daily activities, which is higher than the state average.
Volunteer rates are about the same as the state average at 16.4%. A slightly higher proportion of people do 15 or more hours of unpaid housework compared to the rest of Australia.
Living arrangements are distinct, with 33.2% of people living alone and one-parent families making up 18.1% of households—both figures are well above the state average.
Detached houses are very common, making up 91.8% of homes, and 39.8% are owned outright. This high rate of ownership helps explain why typical monthly mortgage payments are well below the national figure.
The town is heavily reliant on cars, with 66.8% of workers driving to work. Very few people work from home, at just 2%, which is far below the national average.
The population is relatively stable, as fewer people moved in the last five years compared to most other areas. Recent arrivals from overseas have also fallen sharply since 2011.
The workforce is heavily concentrated in mining (17.8%) and trades, though the unemployment rate is 9.0%, which is well above the state and national figures.
The town is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score well below the state average. While most people live within a short walk of a school, far fewer have easy walking access to groceries or public transport.