Urban Centre · Area profile
Narrogin
9 km²
Situated in the heart of the Wheatbelt, Narrogin is a growing regional hub that has seen its population climb by 35% since 2011. It is a community with a strong connection to its land, marked by a significantly higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents compared to the rest of the state. While it serves as a local centre for health and education, the town has a distinct character defined by a large number of seniors and a growing number of overseas arrivals.
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The typical resident is 42, making the area noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 6.7% of the population, a figure that rose 4.3 points since 2011 and is well above the state average.
People born overseas account for 17.7% of residents, which is much higher than in similar areas, though still far below the Western Australian average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, with Filipino heritage also appearing in the top five.
Language diversity has grown quickly, with those using another language at home rising from 1.8% in 2011 to 10.2% in 2021. Despite this, the percentage of people who speak little or no English is very low at 0.8%.
Christianity is the most common religion at 45.7%, while 39.3% of residents report having no religion. This last group has grown by 11 points since 2011, though the figure remains lower than in most similar areas.
Education levels are lower than the state and national averages, with only 12.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, there has been a positive trend, with the share of people completing Year 12 rising by 9 points since 2011.
Typical weekly household income is $1,218, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. While most households earn under $1,500 a week, personal incomes have risen by $197 since 2011.
Health needs are higher here than in most areas, with 7.2% of people needing help with daily activities. Long-term health conditions, particularly arthritis and mental health, are more common than the state average.
Volunteering is a standout feature, with 21.2% of residents pitching in, a figure well above the national average. Conversely, fewer people provide unpaid care or do housework compared to similar areas.
Living arrangements are distinct, with a high number of people living alone (38.4%) and a much higher share of one-parent families (20.8%) than the national average. This helps explain why the typical home holds only 2.2 people.
Separate houses make up 89.9% of the market, far above the national figure. Renting is more common here than in most similar areas, but the typical weekly rent of $240 is well below the national average.
Most people rely on cars, and 7.9% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is higher than in most areas. Working from home is very rare here, with only 2.3% of the workforce doing so.
The area has seen a notable influx of new residents, with recent arrivals from overseas making up 18.7% of the population. This is well above the state and national figures.
Health care and education are the primary employers, and full-time work is more common here than in most similar areas. However, the unemployment rate of 6.1% is slightly higher than the national average.
Narrogin is reasonably walkable, with a high number of residents living within 15 minutes of parks, schools, and groceries. However, it is far below the state average for access to public transport.