Federal Electorate · Area profile
Cowper
7,286 km²
Among the oldest communities at its level, Cowper is a large rural area where the typical resident is 47. This is a place where people are aging, with over a quarter of the population now aged 65 or over. This shift is mirrored in the health profile, as a high number of residents now need help with daily activities. While the population grew by 24% since 2011, it remains a modest-income region with a strong Indigenous presence.
Plenty of schools here relative to how few children live in the area.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 7.2% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%. The area is far older than the state average, with seniors aged 65 and over making up 26.6% of the community.
The community is predominantly Australian born, with 80.5% born here and only 12.7% born overseas, a figure far below the national average of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 87.7% of residents. Very few people speak little or no English (0.9%), and the proportion of people using another language at home has fallen since 2011.
People with no religion now make up 40.4% of the population, which is a rise of 24 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 48.2%.
Educational attainment is lower than most areas, with only 42.3% of residents completing Year 12, which is far below the state figure of 58.9%. However, the number of adults with a bachelor degree or higher rose slightly to 16.6% since 2016.
Typical incomes are among the lowest at this level, with the usual household earning $1,219 a week, well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 6.4% of people earn $2,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions are common here, affecting 35.5% of people, which is well above the national average. This is consistent with the aging population, as 8.2% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is more common than in most areas, with 15.8% of people giving their time. There is also a high rate of people providing unpaid care (13.7%) and those who served in the Defence Force (3.6%).
People living alone make up 30.3% of households, which is much higher than most areas. One-parent families are also more common here than elsewhere, accounting for 18.3% of households.
Home ownership is strong, with 40.8% of homes owned outright, well above the national figure of 31%. Detached houses are the norm for 76.1% of residents, and typical weekly rents are lower than the national average at $350.
Cars are essential here, as only 0.4% of people commute by public transport. While 11.7% of people work from home, this is far below the state average of 31%.
About 39.2% of residents moved in the last five years, which is about the same as the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 11.8% of the population.
Working or looking for work is less common here than in most areas, with only 50.8% of adults doing so. Health care and social assistance is the most common industry, employing 20.4% of the workforce.
The area has a walkability score of 4.7, which is well below the state average. Many homes are far from essentials, with only 49.9% within a 15-minute walk of groceries.