Urban Centre · Area profile
Northam
27 km²
A significant rise in the number of seniors has shifted the character of Northam, where 21.1% of residents are now aged 65 and over. This community has grown by 22% since 2011, though the typical resident is now noticeably older at 42. It is a place where detached houses dominate the landscape and a large proportion of people identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. While the population is increasing, the area faces challenges with lower typical incomes and higher unemployment compared to the rest of the state.
Explore Northam by topic
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is 8.3%, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%. While children under 15 make up 19.2% of the community, the number of seniors has jumped by 20 percentage points since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 14.8% of the population, which is far below the Western Australian average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries reported.
English is the primary language for 82.3% of the community. Only 7.0% of people use another language at home, a figure that is far below the national average of 22.3%.
About 40.4% of people report having no religion, a figure that has risen by 15 percentage points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 45.0%.
Educational attainment is lower than in most similar areas, with only 9.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the state average of 23.8%.
Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with the usual household earning $1,246 a week. This represents a sharp decline since 2011, when the typical household earned $2,851.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 32.5% of people living with a long-term health condition. Those needing help with daily activities rose to 7.2% by 2021.
Volunteering is a bit more common here than across the state, with 18.0% of people pitching in. Meanwhile, 11.4% of residents provide some form of unpaid care.
One-parent families are much more common than in most areas, making up 21.8% of households. People living alone also represent a higher proportion than usual at 32.0%.
Separate houses make up 92.5% of the market, far above the national figure. While typical weekly rents are well below the national average at $250, the proportion of homes owned outright has risen significantly to 34.8%.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.6% of people commute using public transport. Very few people work from home, with only 3.9% doing so.
The community has become more stable over time, with the share of people who moved in the last five years falling to 35.4%. Recent arrivals from overseas also fell to 7.6% since 2011.
Working or looking for work is less common here than in the rest of the state, at 52.7%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%, which is a little above the national figure.
Northam is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Only 18.0% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.