Urban Centre · Area profile
Pemberton
3 km²
Tucked away in the forest region of Western Australia, Pemberton is a small town that has aged significantly over the last decade. The typical resident is now 48, far older than the national figure of 38. This shift is clear in the demographics, with a sharp rise in seniors and a steep drop in children since 2011. It is a place of contrasting trends, where a shrinking total population of 617 people lives alongside a sudden surge in recent overseas arrivals.
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The community is notably older, with 23.3% of people aged 65 and over, which is well above the state average. This shift is stark, as the number of children under 15 fell by 10 percentage points since 2011.
English and Australian ancestries are the most common, though 20.3% of residents were born overseas. This is far below the Western Australian average of 32.2%.
English is the main language for 84.1% of people, but those using another language at home rose to 8.8% since 2011. This figure remains far below the national average.
A large portion of the population reports no religion at 45.9%, which is well above the national figure of 38.9% and has risen since 2011.
Education levels are lower than the state and national figures, with only 11.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the number of people who completed Year 12 rose slightly since 2011.
Incomes are generally lower than most areas, with a typical weekly household income of $1,022, which is far below the national figure of $1,746.
People needing help with daily activities make up 7.1% of the population, which is a little above the national average and has risen since 2011.
Volunteering is very common here at 21.7%, well above the national figure. There is also a high proportion of former Defence Force members compared to most areas.
The area has a high number of people living alone at 36.0%, far above the national average. One-parent families are also more common than in most other areas.
Almost every home is a separate house, at 97.9%, and 38.8% are owned outright. This is well above the national figure of 31.0%.
Most people drive to work, but 8.3% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well above the state average.
The town has seen a massive increase in recent overseas arrivals, which rose 32 percentage points since 2011 to reach 32.8%.
Working or looking for work is lower than the national figure at 56.3%. Many residents work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, or in accommodation and food services.
The town is very walkable, with a score of 6.0. Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, and a school.