Council (LGA) · Area profile
Glenelg
6,219 km²
A rapidly ageing population has shifted the character of Glenelg since 2011, with the typical resident now 49 years old. This community is much older than most areas and is far older than the national average. It is a place of modest incomes and high home ownership, where nearly half of the residents own their homes outright. The area is predominantly made up of separate houses, creating a spacious but largely car-dependent environment.
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The community is far older than the state and national average, with 25.8% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population has grown by 8.1 percentage points since 2011, while the proportion of children has fallen.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people (8.7%) than the state or national figures. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 90.2% of the population. Very few people use another language at home (2.9%), which is far below the national figure.
A large proportion of the community reports having no religion, at 47.3%. This figure is well above the national average and has risen by 21 percentage points since 2011.
Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 35.8% of residents completing Year 12, which is far below the state figure. Those with a bachelor degree or higher make up 11.1% of adults.
Typical incomes are well below the state and national figures, with the typical household earning $1,214 a week. Only 11.4% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.
Health needs are higher than usual, with 34.9% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure, and 7.8% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is common here, with 20.1% of people volunteering, well above the national average. Unpaid care for others is also more frequent than in most areas.
There are 588 First Nations people in the area. Their typical personal income of $580 is about the same as the national figure, though Year 12 completion is well below the national average.
Homes tend to be smaller than average, with 2.2 people per household. This is partly because 31.6% of people live alone, a figure well above the state and national averages.
The area is dominated by separate houses (92.5%), and home ownership is very high, with 46.3% of homes owned outright. Rent is far below the national typical weekly rent of $375, sitting at just $220.
The community is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and 37% have two.
Migration patterns are steady, with 33.4% of people moving in the last five years. This is well below the national figure of 40.7%.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work (54.1%) compared to the state average. The most common industries are health care and social assistance, followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing.
The area is ranked lower than most for overall advantage, with a score of 3. Population growth since 2021 has been -0.7%, which is much lower than the state growth of 8.0%.
The area receives more rain than most, with an average annual rainfall of 758mm, well above the state average. Typical maximum temperatures are also a little lower than the state figure.
Theft, burglary and property damage rates are higher than in most areas. The crime rate has seen one of the highest increases at this level over the last five years.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.2, far below the state average. Many residents live more than 15 minutes away from groceries, health services and parks.