Council (LGA) · Area profile
Meander Valley
3,331 km²
Noticeably older than the rest of the state, Meander Valley is a growing community where the typical resident is 46. This is a place of detached homes and a strong sense of stability, with many more people owning their houses outright than the national figure. The population has grown by nearly 10% since 2011, adding about 1,821 people to the region. It is a largely English-speaking area with a modest number of overseas arrivals.
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The community is aging, with seniors aged 65 and over making up 23.7% of the population, which is well above the national figure. At the same time, the number of children under 15 has fallen to 16.5% since 2011.
English and Australian ancestries are the most common, and 82.9% of residents were born in Australia. The proportion of people born overseas is 11.8%, which is far below the national figure.
English is the dominant language for 91.5% of the population. Only 4.1% of residents use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
A large number of residents report no religion at 45.5%, a figure that has risen 21 points since 2011. This is well above the national figure, though it remains well below the state average.
Educational attainment has risen, with 39.0% of people completing Year 12. However, the 15.0% of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is far below the national figure.
Typical weekly household income is $1,290, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. There has been a trend of growth, with the number of households earning over $3,000 a week rising 8.3 points since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 34.9% of people living with a long-term health condition. People needing help with daily activities are also more numerous than in the rest of the country.
Community involvement is high, and volunteers make up 18.3% of the population, which is well above the national figure. Unpaid care is also more common here than in most other areas.
The First Nations community is younger than the general population, with a typical age of 25. Notably, the unemployment rate for First Nations people is 7.7%, which is well below the national figure.
Household sizes are typical for the state, with 2.4 people per home. About 28.2% of people live alone, a figure that has risen slightly since 2011.
The area is dominated by separate houses, and 42.8% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Renting is less common here than in the rest of the state.
Car dependence is high, with 69.1% of people driving to work and only 1.5% using public transport. Only 3.8% of homes have no motor vehicle.
Movement into the area is steady, with 33.6% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals have increased, rising 6.4 points since 2011.
Health care and agriculture are key industries, and 56.3% of the workforce is employed full-time. The unemployment rate is 4.7%, which is slightly lower than the national figure.
The area has a moderate level of overall advantage, though its job skills and education score is lower than for about 60% of other areas.
The region experiences an average annual rainfall of 829mm, which is higher than most areas. Temperatures are among the lowest at this level, with a typical minimum of 7.4 degrees.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score that is well below the state average. Many homes are far from essential services, especially health services.