Council (LGA) · Area profile
Loxton Waikerie
7,764 km²
Most people in Loxton Waikerie rely on their own cars to get around a landscape where separate houses dominate the scene. This is a noticeably older community, with a typical resident aged 48 and over a quarter of the population aged 65 or more. While the area has grown slightly since 2011, it remains a quiet regional hub where nearly a quarter of the workforce is employed in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. The town's character is shaped by this rural connection and a strong tradition of local volunteering.
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The area is far older than the national figure, with 26.8% of residents aged 65 and over, a figure that has risen by 7.9 points since 2011. The total population is 11,666, having grown by 3.4% over the last decade.
A high proportion of residents were born in Australia (84.0%), leaving the percentage of overseas-born people at 8.4%, which is far below the national figure.
English is the primary tongue for 88.5% of the community. Only 4.9% of people use another language at home, which is far below the state and national figures.
Religious views are shifting, with the number of people reporting no religion rising 19 points since 2011 to reach 41.8%.
Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 9.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion rose 7.2 points since 2011 to 36.3%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,169, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Despite this, typical personal incomes rose by $202 since 2011.
Health needs are higher here than in most areas, with 33.0% of people living with a long-term health condition and 7.4% requiring help with daily activities.
Local spirit is strong, as 24.3% of residents volunteer, a figure far above the national average. This is consistent with a higher than usual proportion of people providing unpaid care.
The First Nations community is notably young, with a typical age of 20. While unemployment for this group is 9.7%—lower than the state average—typical household income is much lower than in most areas.
Living arrangements vary, with 30.5% of people living alone, a figure well above the national average. Couples without children make up 37.1% of families.
Housing is overwhelmingly detached, with 89.4% of homes being separate houses. The area is more affordable than most, with a typical weekly rent of $204 and home ownership without a mortgage at 40.6%.
Car dependency is very high, as 69.3% of people drive to work and only 0.3% use public transport. Very few homes lack a motor vehicle.
The community is relatively stable, with 30.0% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure. However, recent arrivals from overseas rose slightly since 2011.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are major employers, making up 23.8% of jobs. The unemployment rate is a low 3.3%, which is a little below the national figure.
The area ranks lower than most for overall advantage, with a score of 925 compared to the national average of 1,000. Population growth has been much lower than the state average since 2021.
The climate is dry and temperate, with average annual rainfall of 277mm, which is far above the state average.
The area is mostly car-dependent, as only 34.4% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a variety of amenities. This is far below the state figure of 67.0%.