Council (LGA) · Area profile
Northern Areas
2,986 km²
Far more people in Northern Areas are over 65 than in most other regions, with 26.3% of the population in this age group. This is a predominantly older and stable community where the typical resident is 49. Many people here own their homes outright and have lived here for a long time, resulting in a population that is far less mobile than the national average. It is a quiet, residential area where high rates of volunteering and home ownership create a distinct local character.
Modest local incomes, but the area's schools serve a more advantaged intake.
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The community is significantly older than the state and national average, with a typical age of 49. This trend has grown, as the number of seniors aged 65 and over rose 5.9 points since 2011 to reach 26.3%.
The area is much less diverse than the rest of the country, with only 6.5% of people born overseas. This is far below the national figure of 27.7%, and the proportion of overseas-born residents actually fell slightly since 2011.
English is the primary language for almost everyone here, with only 2.0% of people using another language at home. This is far below the South Australian average of 17.8%.
Nearly half the population (41.1%) reports having no religion, a figure that rose 16 points since 2011. This is a little above the national average, though it remains well below the state figure.
Education levels are far below the national average, with only 12.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion rose 7.8 points since 2011 to reach 40.2%.
Typical incomes are much lower than in most areas, with the typical household earning $1,147 a week. This is well below the national figure of $1,746.
Residents struggle more with health than in other areas, as 35.5% have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average, and 7.0% of people need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is very common here, with 34.5% of people helping out, which is far above the national figure of 14.1%. This high level of participation is seen alongside a high rate of people providing unpaid care.
There are 135 First Nations people in the area, who have a much lower unemployment rate (7.1%) than the national average. However, household incomes for this group are among the lowest for similar areas.
Homes here are smaller and more likely to be occupied by single people, with 32.7% of residents living alone. This is well above the national average of 25.6%.
The area is dominated by separate houses (96.8%) and high rates of stability, with 49.3% of homes owned outright. Typical weekly rents are much lower than the national figure, at just $192.
Most people rely on cars, and only 0.3% of residents commute by public transport. This is well below the national average, and very few homes (3.6%) are without a motor vehicle.
The population is very stable, as only 27.1% of people moved in the last five years. This is far below the national figure of 40.7%.
Jobs are heavily concentrated in agriculture, forestry and fishing (26.2%), with managers making up the most common occupation at 27.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, which is lower than the national average.
The area has a moderate level of overall advantage and has seen very slow population growth recently, rising only 0.6% since 2021.
The climate is cooler and wetter than the state average, with an average annual rainfall of 505mm and an average maximum temperature of 22.4 degrees.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.0. This is far below the state average, and only 40% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.