Federal Electorate · Area profile
Cook
64 km²
Higher incomes than the national figure mark the community of Cook, where a typical family earns $2,664 a week. This is a noticeably older area where the typical resident is 42, and the number of seniors has risen sharply since 2011. While the population has shrunk by 10% over the last decade, the area remains affluent and well-educated. It is a highly walkable suburb where most residents live within a short stroll of parks, schools, and shops.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
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The area has aged significantly, with the typical resident now 10 years older than in 2011. Seniors make up 20.2% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 17.2%.
People born overseas make up 23.4% of the community, a figure that has fallen by 15 points since 2011. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
About 21.8% of residents use a language other than English at home, though this is down 17 points since 2011. English remains the dominant language for 73.9% of the population.
Christianity is the most common faith at 60.1%. Those reporting no religion make up 30.1%, which is well below the national figure of 38.9%.
Cook is well-qualified, with 63.3% of residents completing Year 12 and 28% holding a bachelor degree or higher. Both figures are above the national averages.
Household incomes are much higher than in most other areas, with 32.6% of homes earning $3,000 or more per week. Typical weekly personal income is $991, which is a little above the national figure.
Residents generally report better health than the national average, with a lower rate of long-term health conditions and mental health conditions.
About 11.9% of the community are volunteers, which is a little below the national figure. Roughly 21.8% of people spend 15 or more hours a week on unpaid housework.
Most households are couples with children, though the number of people living alone has risen since 2011. One-parent families are much less common here than in most other areas.
Homes are often owned outright—well above the national figure at 36.6%—but typical mortgage payments of $2,750 are among the highest at this level. Detached houses are far less common here than across Australia.
Working from home is very common at 36%, far above the national figure. While 40.4% of workers drive to work, others benefit from a very short one-minute walk to the nearest transport stop.
The area has seen a decline in recent overseas arrivals, who now make up 7.3% of the population. This is well below the national figure of 14.5%.
Unemployment is very low at 3.4%, and the area has a strong presence of professionals and managers. Health care and construction are the most common industries for local workers.
The suburb is very walkable, with 99% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Most residents can also reach groceries and health services within 15 minutes.