Wallaroo

Wallaroo is far older than most areas, with 34.4% of residents aged 65 and over, a figure that rose 8.6 percentage points since 2011. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 12.9% of the population, which is well below the national figure.

The community has strong ties to the UK and Australia, with English and Australian being the most common ancestries. Only 9.4% of residents were born overseas, which is far below the national average of 27.7%.

English is the primary language here, with 90.4% of people using it exclusively at home. Very few residents speak another language, and only 0.2% speak little or no English, which is well below the national figure.

A large number of residents report having no religion, accounting for 47.9% of the population. This figure has risen significantly, increasing by 18 percentage points since 2011.

Educational qualifications are much lower than in most similar areas, with only 28.5% of residents completing Year 12. Similarly, just 7.2% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, far below the national average.

Typical incomes are among the lowest at this level, with the typical household earning $916 a week, far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 6.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Health challenges are common here, as 42.6% of people have a long-term health condition. This is far above the national average, and 9.8% of residents need help with daily activities.

The area has a strong culture of giving, with 19.8% of residents volunteering, which is well above the national average. There is also a higher than average number of former Defence Force members at 4.8%.

First Nations residents face significant challenges, with an unemployment rate of 32.4%, which is far above the national figure. Typical personal income for this group is also much lower than in most similar areas.

Living arrangements are often small, with 32.5% of people living alone and typical homes holding only 2.1 people. One-parent families are also much more common here than in most other areas.

The housing market is dominated by separate houses, making up 91.6% of dwellings. Home ownership is high, with 42.8% of homes owned outright, while typical weekly rents of $250 are well below the national average.

Cars are essential for getting around, as only 0.6% of people commute by public transport. The area has very few public transport stops and a long average drive time of 108 minutes to the city.

The population is relatively stable, with 37.9% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are rare, making up only 4.5% of the community.

Job rates are low, with only 41.4% of adults working or looking for work. The unemployment rate of 9.6% is well above the national average, and health care is the most common industry for those employed.

Wallaroo is ranked among the lowest areas for overall advantage, scoring just 1 out of 10 for access to money and resources. Despite this, the population has grown by 10.4% since 2021, well above the state average.

The area receives 337mm of annual rainfall, which is far above the South Australian average. Average minimum temperatures are also well below the state figure.

The town is somewhat walkable, though 62% of homes are more than 15 minutes away from groceries. Most residents can easily reach a park, but far fewer have a school or public transport within a 15-minute walk.