Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Berri
12 km²
Berri is among the most disadvantaged areas of its kind, marked by lower incomes and a higher need for health support. This community in South Australia is noticeably older than the national figure, with a growing number of seniors and a significant First Nations presence. While it faces economic challenges, it is a highly walkable town where most residents live within a short stroll of health services, groceries and schools.
Plenty of schools here relative to how few children live in the area.
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The typical resident is 42, making the area older than most similar places. It has a high proportion of seniors, with 23.8% aged 65 and over, a figure that has risen since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and only 13.8% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 83.1% of people, and only 10.7% use another language at home, which is far below the national average.
A large number of people report having no religion, accounting for 46.2% of the population. This figure has risen sharply by 19 points since 2011.
Schooling levels are much lower than most areas, with only 40.3% of residents completing Year 12. Only 11.5% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the state and national figures.
Incomes are among the lowest at this level, with a typical household earning $1,039 a week. This is far below the national typical household income of $1,746.
Health needs are high, with 36.7% of people living with a long-term health condition. About 9.9% of residents need help with daily activities, which is among the highest for similar areas.
Volunteering is much more common here than in most similar areas, at 18.8%. A high number of people also provide unpaid care, totaling 13.7%.
The First Nations community is a notable part of the town, though they face significant hardship with a typical household income of $891. The unemployment rate for First Nations people is 18.5%, which is well above the national figure.
Homes here are smaller than usual, with just 2.1 people per home. There is a high number of people living alone (36.2%) and one-parent families (24.5%).
Renting is much more common than in other areas, at 41.3%. However, the typical weekly rent of $215 is far below the national figure of $375.
Many homes have no motor vehicle (10.7%), which is well above the national figure. Public transport is limited, with very few departures per 1,000 people compared to the rest of the state.
While the number of people moving in the last five years is average, there has been a notable rise in recent arrivals from overseas, now at 21.4%.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to other areas, at 53%. The unemployment rate of 7.6% is a little above the national figure.
The area ranks among the lowest for overall advantage, with an overall score of 854. Population growth has also been negative since 2021, falling by 1.8%.
The area is quite dry, with average annual rainfall of 235mm. Minimum temperatures are much lower than those in most similar areas.
The town is very walkable, with 89.6% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a 'city' center. Most residents can easily reach health services and groceries on foot.