Council (LGA) · Area profile
Mount Barker
595 km²
A cooler, rainier climate sets the scene for Mount Barker, a rapidly growing community in the Greater Adelaide region. The population grew by 32% since 2011, making it a larger area than most similar places. It is a wealthy and well-qualified hub where family homes are the norm and typical incomes sit above the state figure. This shift toward a larger, more affluent population is reflected in the high number of large detached houses and a strong professional workforce.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
A family-heavy area that's short on schools per child.
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The area is a little younger than the state average, with a typical resident aged 39. Children under 15 make up 19.5% of the population, which is higher than most similar areas.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 15.1% of the community, a figure far below the national average of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 90.9% of the population. Only 5.1% of people use another language at home, which is far below the state figure of 17.8%.
A majority of residents report no religion, at 54.1%. This is among the highest figures for similar areas and is far above the national average of 38.9%.
The community is well-qualified, with 22.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also much higher than most similar areas at 58.0%.
Typical weekly family incomes are $2,114, which is a little above the state figure. This is consistent with the fact that 18.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Mental health conditions are reported by 10.6% of residents, which is much higher than most similar areas. About 30.6% of people live with a long-term health condition.
The area has a high rate of volunteers at 21.5%, well above the national figure. Unpaid care for children is also very common, involving 31.0% of the population.
First Nations residents are typically younger, with a typical age of 20. This group has a Year 12 completion rate of 51.8%, which is far above the national figure.
Households here are larger than most, with an average of 2.6 people per home. This is reflected in the fact that 58.9% of households are couples with children.
Detached houses are the standard for 94.0% of homes, far above the national average. Large homes are common, with 87.2% having three or more bedrooms.
Car travel is the primary way to get to work for 64.5% of residents. Only 3.6% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well below the national figure.
The community is quite mobile, with 40.9% of people moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas are much lower than in most other areas.
More adults are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas, at 66.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%, which is lower than the state average.
The area is highly advantaged, ranking in the top 10% for access to money and resources. Population growth since 2021 has been 13.8%, well above the state rate.
The climate is distinct for the region, with an average annual rainfall of 729mm and an average maximum temperature of 20.3°C, both of which are well below state figures.
The area is somewhat walkable with a score of 4.1, though it is far below the state average. Only 44.3% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a "15-minute-city" walkshed.