Collie (WA)

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Following an examination of ABS demographic data updates for the wider region alongside newly verified addresses from Districts since the Census, the suburb of Collie (WA) is calculated to have approximately 8,235 residents in May 2026. This represents an expansion of 636 residents (8.4%) from the 2021 Census, which registered 7,599 people. The figure is derived from an estimated local population of 8,229 calculated by Districts using the latest ABS ERP release from June 2025 and 41 newly confirmed addresses since the Census date. This population size results in a density of 156 residents per square kilometer, indicating low density and capacity for future housing expansion. The 8.4% expansion rate in the suburb of Collie (WA) since the census is only 0.9 percentage points lower than the nationwide figure of 9.3%, showing solid growth metrics. Demographic expansion was mostly driven by arrivals from other states, which accounted for roughly 49.0% of the population increase, although natural increase and overseas arrivals also made positive contributions.

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The local labor market displays a mix of manual and professional roles, with a notable presence of industrial and manufacturing activities, an unemployment rate of 6.5%, and an annual employment growth rate of 0.6%. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 3,626, while the jobless rate was 3.0% higher than the Regional WA figure of 3.5%, indicating potential for labor market improvement. Workforce participation is low at 56.7%, compared to 65.6% across Regional WA. According to census records, a modest 2.5% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure was likely influenced by pandemic restrictions.

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ATO records for the 2023 financial year show that personal earnings in Collie are below national averages, with a median income of $48,368 and an average income of $63,591. In comparison, Regional WA recorded a median income of $59,973 and an average of $74,392. Adjusting for a 10.93% rise in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to a median income of approximately $53,655 and an average of $70,541 in March 2026. The 2021 Census confirms that household, family, and individual incomes in the area sit between the 9th and 11th percentiles nationally. A significant 27.3% of earners (2,248 individuals) fall into the weekly salary range of $400 - 799, whereas in metropolitan areas, of individuals earn within the - range. Discretionary income remaining after housing costs stands at , placing the area in the th percentile nationally.

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The local housing stock at the time of the latest Census consisted of 92.3% separate houses and 7.7% alternative housing styles like townhouses, apartments, or other structures, compared to 88.5% separate houses and 11.6% other dwellings across Regional WA. Outright home ownership stood at 41.8%, higher than the Regional WA average, with mortgaged homes making up 36.2% and rented properties accounting for 22.0% of the market. Typical monthly mortgage payments were $1,263, and median weekly rent was $250, both below the Regional WA benchmarks of $1,560 and $265. Nationally, these figures are also lower than the Australian mortgage median of $1,863 and the median weekly rent of $375.

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Families comprise the majority of households at 65.1%, which includes couples with children at 23.5%, couples without children at 29.1%, and single-parent homes at 11.7%. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.9%, consisting of single-person households at 32.5% and group share houses at 2.2%. The typical household size of 2.3 residents is slightly below the Regional WA average of 2.5.

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The region shows low levels of tertiary education, with university graduation rates of 7.0% sitting well below the national level of 30.4%. This highlights a clear opportunity for targeted educational support. Bachelor degrees are held by 5.3% of residents, graduate diplomas by 1.1%, and postgraduate degrees by 0.6%. Conversely, vocational and technical training is highly prevalent, with 44.2% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 6.4% and certificates at 37.8%.

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There is a single active public transit stop in the area, which is serviced by bus connections. This stop is connected to 3 distinct routes that provide a total of 13 weekly passenger journeys. Transport options are considered restricted, with residents living an average of 1439 meters from their closest stop. The area is predominantly residential, leading most workers to commute elsewhere, and cars are the primary mode of transport for 91% of workers. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.6 cars per home. Only 2.5% of the workforce worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which was likely affected by pandemic conditions.

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Analysis of mortality rates and chronic illnesses reveals notable health challenges in the community across various age brackets, while private health insurance coverage is slightly higher than the typical SA2 average at approximately 52% of the population (~4,319 people). This is below the 56.4% rate observed across Regional WA.

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Cultural diversity metrics are below average, with citizenship at 88.6%, Australian-born residents at 88.0%, and English-only speakers at home at 97.2%. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 41.2% of the population. The most pronounced demographic divergence is in Judaism, which is practiced by none of the residents, matching the regional average of none.

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The median age of 43 in the community is slightly higher than the Regional WA average of 40 and higher than the national median of 38. The 65 - 74 age group is overrepresented at 13.6% compared to the regional average, while the 35 - 44 bracket is underrepresented at 11.2%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has risen from 6.9% to 7.9%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 12.2% to 11.4%. Future projections to 2041 indicate demographic shifts, with the 25 to 34 age bracket expected to grow by 344 people (), rising from to while the to group is projected to decrease by residents.

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Collie currently has an estimated 461 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 257 children aged 0-2 and 172 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 6% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 25% by 2041 (to approximately 578 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 787. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 11.0 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area within the middle tier nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.