Wakefield - Barunga West

The area is noticeably older than the rest of the state, with 26.1% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population has grown by 6.1 percentage points since 2011. Children under 15 make up 17.7% of the community.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those from overseas make up just 9.6% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. Australian and English are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for 90.9% of the community. Only 3.2% of people use another language at home, a figure far below both the state and national averages.

A large number of residents report no religion, at 45.2%, which is well above the national figure. This group has grown by 20 percentage points since 2011.

The area has among the lowest levels of higher education, with only 9.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national average at 36.2%.

Typical incomes are much lower than in most other areas, with a typical weekly household income of $1,092. Only 8.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is well below the state average.

Health challenges are common here, as 37.5% of people have a long-term health condition. About 9% of residents need help with daily activities, a rate that is among the highest for similar areas.

Volunteering is very common, with 27.5% of people pitching in, far above the national figure of 14.1%. There is also a higher rate of unpaid caregivers and former Defence Force members than in most areas.

First Nations people make up 2.7% of the population. This group faces significant challenges, with a Year 12 completion rate of 25.7%, which is far below the national average.

About 31.9% of people live alone, which is well above the national figure. This contributes to a lower average number of people per home, at 2.3.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 92.9% of dwellings. A huge 44.4% of homes are owned outright, and typical weekly rents are much lower than average at $220.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.2% of people commuting by public transport. Public transport options are very limited, with only 14 stops serving the entire population.

The community is very stable, as only 31.4% of people moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are also few, at 6.7%, which is well below the national average.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing is the main industry, employing 25.6% of the workforce. The rate of adults working or looking for work is well below the national figure.

The region faces significant disadvantage, ranking in the bottom 20% for overall advantage and job skills. Population growth has been very slow since 2021 compared to the rest of the state.

The climate is characterized by low average minimum temperatures of 9.6 degrees and annual rainfall of 324mm, which is far above the South Australian average.

The area is highly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.7. Most homes are far from basic services, with only 16.6% within a 15-minute walk of groceries.