Federal Electorate · Area profile
Fowler
60 km²
A dramatic shift in cultural makeup has seen Fowler transform since 2011, with the proportion of people born overseas climbing from 7.4% to 54.7%. This change has created a diverse community where more than half the population now speaks a language other than English at home. The area has grown significantly, adding over 38,000 people in the last decade. While it remains a very walkable place with a young typical age of 38, it is marked by lower typical incomes compared to the rest of the state.
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The population has grown 29% since 2011 to reach 173,523 people. It is a relatively young area, though the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents has fallen to 0.9%, which is much lower than most similar areas.
Fowler is far more diverse than the national average, with 54.7% of residents born overseas. Vietnamese and Chinese ancestries are the most common, and 16% of the population was born in Vietnam.
Language diversity is very high here, with 67.7% of people using another language at home—far above the national figure of 22.3%. About 21% of residents speak little or no English, which is among the highest rates for its level.
The community is more religious than most similar areas; those with no religion make up 15.8%, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity and Buddhism are the most common faiths.
Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 15.6%, which is far below the state average. However, the proportion of people who completed Year 12 rose 22 points since 2011 to 54.2%.
Typical incomes are among the lowest for its level, with the typical weekly household income at $1,403, well below the state figure of $1,829. Only 4.5% of people earn $2,000 or more per week.
A higher than usual 8.4% of people need help with daily activities. Conversely, the rates of mental health conditions (5.1%) and long-term health conditions (21.8%) are well below the national figures.
Volunteer rates are among the lowest at this level at 5.6%, a steep drop from 23.8% in 2011. Fewer people provide unpaid childcare or housework compared to most other areas.
Homes are larger than usual, with 3.0 people per home. This is consistent with a high rate of one-parent families (20.2%), which is well above the national average.
Renters make up 42.1% of the area, far above the national figure of 30.6%. Detached houses have fallen as a share of the total, and the proportion of homes owned outright is lower than most areas.
The area is well served by public transport, though 11.9% of homes have no motor vehicle. Working from home has become much more common, rising from 2.2% in 2016 to 23.8% in 2021.
The population is more stable than other areas, with 32.7% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average of 40.7%.
Working or looking for work is far less common here than in the rest of the state, at 43.6%. The unemployment rate is 8.6%, which is well above the national figure of 5.1%.
Fowler is very walkable, with a score of 7.6. Nearly every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park, a school, and public transport.