Urban Centre · Area profile
Wagin
10 km²
A far older population than the state average marks the character of Wagin, where the typical resident is now 52. The community has shrunk by 17% since 2016, with a sharp rise in seniors and people living alone. This shift is reflected in a high number of small households and a workforce with a lower rate of employment than the national figure. Despite these changes, it remains a place with a strong spirit of service and an accessible town centre.
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Wagin is much older than most areas, with 29.2% of people aged 65 and over, a figure far above the national average. The population has shrunk to 1,311 people, and the proportion of children under 15 has fallen significantly since 2016.
English and Australian ancestries are most common, and 17.5% of residents were born overseas, which is much higher than in similar areas. However, this is still far below the state and national figures.
English is the main language for 84% of residents. While 4.9% of people use another language at home, which is higher than in similar areas, this is still far below the national figure.
People with no religion make up 45.5% of the community, a figure well above the national average. This group has grown by 11 percentage points since 2016.
Educational qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 9.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below both the state and national figures.
Typical weekly household income is $1,052, which is far below the national figure. High earners are rare, with only 7.8% of households earning $3,000 or more per week, a steep drop since 2016.
Long-term health conditions affect 35.7% of the population, which is well above the national average. This is consistent with the high number of seniors in the area.
Volunteering is very common here, with 22.6% of people pitching in, a figure well above the national average. However, the number of people caring for children unpaid has fallen since 2016.
The area is defined by small households, with 39.3% of people living alone and just 2.0 people per home. This is much lower than the national average and reflects the aging population.
Most residents live in separate houses, and 41.3% own their home outright, which is far above the national figure. Typical weekly rent is $196, much lower than the national average.
Most people drive to work, though 7.5% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is a little above the state average. Only 2.7% of the workforce works from home.
The community is relatively stable, as the 28.5% of people who moved in the last five years is far below the national figure. Interestingly, recent overseas arrivals make up 13.9% of the population.
Fewer people are working or looking for work compared to most areas, at 48.9%. Local jobs are mainly in agriculture, health care, and retail, with an unemployment rate of 6.2%.
The town centre is quite accessible, with 77.2% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services, far above the state average. The overall walkability score is 5.5, which is about the same as the state average.