Strathalbyn Surrounds

The population is noticeably older than the state and national figures, with a typical age of 47 and a senior population that has risen to 21.3% since 2011. In contrast, children under 15 make up 16.6% of the community, which is a little below the national average.

English and Australian ancestries are the most common, and 78.4% of residents were born in Australia. The proportion of people born overseas is far below the national figure at 14.6%.

English is the dominant language, used by 90.9% of the community. Only 2.8% of people use another language at home, which is far below the state and national averages.

A majority of residents—55.3%—report having no religion, a figure far above the national average. This trend has grown significantly, rising 20 percentage points since 2011.

Education levels are lower than in most similar areas, with only 14.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion stands at 47.0%, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,479, which is a little below the national figure. While this is lower than in many other areas, the number of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 11 percentage points since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are reported by 30.1% of people, which is a little above the national average. Arthritis is the most common condition, affecting 10.2% of residents.

Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, with 21.5% of people pitching in. Unpaid care is also high, with 14.2% of residents providing support to others.

First Nations people make up 1.6% of the population. This community shows strong outcomes, with a 0.0% unemployment rate and a Year 12 completion rate that is far above the national figure.

Most homes are occupied by couples, with 57.9% having children and 32.9% without. People living alone make up 22.2% of households, which is well below the state average.

The area is almost entirely made up of separate houses, with 98.1% of dwellings being detached. Home ownership is strong, as 40.4% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure.

Car dependence is very high, with 98.9% of homes owning at least one motor vehicle. Only 0.5% of people use public transport to get to work, and the typical drive to the city takes 61 minutes.

The community is relatively stable, with 30.3% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas are also very rare at 2.9%.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is a key industry, employing 15.5% of the workforce. The unemployment rate is 3.4%, which is a little below the national figure.

The area has a strong level of access to money and resources, ranking higher than 80% of similar areas. However, it ranks lower in education and job skills.

The climate is cooler than the state average, with a typical maximum temperature of 21.8 degrees. Annual rainfall is 448mm, which is far above the South Australian average.

The area is strictly car-dependent, with a very low walkability score of 1.1. Only 16.7% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of basic amenities, and just 5.1% are near public transport.