Urban Centre · Area profile
Balingup
2 km²
A dramatic shift in age and population has seen Balingup (L) transform into a much older community since 2011. The population has shrunk to 280 people, with the typical resident now 56 years old. This is far older than the national figure of 38. It is a place where many adults hold high qualifications and a large number of people have retired, creating a quiet, residential atmosphere in the Western Australian countryside.
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The community is far older than most areas, with 31.8% of people aged 65 and over. Meanwhile, children under 15 make up only 12.1%, which is well below the national figure of 18.2%.
English ancestry is the most common at 52.5%. The number of people born overseas rose significantly since 2011 to 24.6%, though this remains well below the Western Australian figure.
English is the primary language for 92.1% of the community. Those using another language at home fell to 3.6% since 2011, and no one in the area reports speaking little or no English.
A majority of residents report no religion at 55.7%, a figure that is far above the national average. This is a significant increase from 18% in 2011.
The area is well-qualified, with 51.7% of adults completing Year 12. This is much higher than most similar areas, and those with a bachelor degree or higher rose to 20.2% since 2011.
Typical weekly household income is $881, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Weekly personal income is also lower than most areas at $552.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 39.6% of people having a long-term health condition. About 14.6% of residents live with a mental health condition.
Volunteering is very high at 34.7%, far above the national figure of 14.1%. Many residents also provide unpaid care, with 16.1% doing so, which is much higher than most areas.
Homes are small, with a typical 1.9 people per dwelling. This is consistent with the high number of people living alone, who make up 41% of the population.
Most residents live in separate houses, and 45.5% own their home outright, which is far above the state average. Renting is much less common here than elsewhere, at only 15.7%.
Every single home has at least one motor vehicle. Working from home is also much more common here than in most similar areas, at 14.8%.
The area has seen some movement, with 36.9% of people moving in the last five years. However, there were no recent arrivals from overseas in the latest census.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the state, at 45.6%. Mining is the most common industry for the 50.9% who are employed full-time.
Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school, park, and health service. However, no one in the area lives within a 15-minute walk of groceries.