Urban Centre · Area profile
Walpole
5 km²
Tucked away in the south west of Western Australia, Walpole (L) is a small, quiet town with a strongly senior population. The community has aged significantly since 2011, with the typical resident now 62 and 40.2% of people aged 65 or over. This shift explains why children are now rare here and why many residents live alone or in small households. It is a place where many people own their homes outright and spend a great deal of time volunteering.
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The population is far older than the national figure, with a typical age of 62. This is a sharp change since 2011, when the typical resident was only 36. Children under 15 now make up just 9.5% of the community, which is well below the state average.
People born overseas make up 21.7% of the population, which is among the highest for similar areas. English, Australian, and Scottish are the most common ancestries.
English is the dominant language, with 91.7% of people using it only. The proportion of people using another language at home has fallen to 2.4%, which is far below the national figure.
Half of the residents report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and has risen 23 points since 2011.
The proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is 13.6%, which is higher than most similar areas but far below the state average. Since 2011, the number of people with a degree has risen by 10 points.
Typical incomes are among the lowest for similar areas, with the typical household earning $728 a week, far below the national figure of $1,746. These figures have all fallen since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are very common here, affecting 43.5% of people, which is far above the national average. Arthritis is the most reported condition, and 7.1% of residents need help with daily activities.
This is a highly active community, with 32.5% of people volunteering—far above the national figure. There is also a strong presence of veterans, with 6.5% having served in the Defence Force.
Living alone is very common, with 45.3% of people in one-person households, far above the state average. This is consistent with the aging population, as there are only 1.8 people per home on average.
Home ownership is high, with 53.4% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. Most residents live in separate houses, and typical weekly rents are $222, which is far below the national average.
The town is almost entirely dependent on cars, as 0% of people commute using public transport. About half of all homes have only one motor vehicle.
The area has seen a fair amount of movement, with 38.2% of people moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas have fallen sharply since 2011.
Working life is low here, as only 41.6% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national average. The unemployment rate is 7.8%, slightly above the state and national figures.
The area is somewhat walkable, with many residents within a 15-minute walk of health services and groceries. However, it is far below the state average for access to parks and public transport.