Charles Sturt

The population grew by 16% since 2011 to reach 118,442 people. It is an older community than the national average, and while children under 15 make up only 15.2%, the proportion of people aged 65 and over has risen to 19.7%.

Overseas birthplaces are common, with 28.4% of people born abroad, which is well above the South Australian figure. English and Australian ancestries are most frequent, followed by Italian at 13.3%.

Language diversity is a defining feature, as 27.2% of residents use a language other than English at home—well above the state average. Italian, Greek, and Vietnamese are the most common non-English languages spoken.

About 48.8% of residents identify as Christian. The number of people reporting no religion rose by 16 points since 2011 to 37.2%, though this remains well below the state average.

Education levels have risen significantly, with 60.3% of people completing Year 12, up 13 points since 2011. A quarter of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is well above the state average.

Typical weekly household income is $1,560, which is about the same as the state figure. While 19.1% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, this is well below the national average.

A higher proportion of people here need help with daily activities (7.1%) compared to most other areas. Long-term health conditions are reported by 29.2% of residents, with arthritis and mental health being the most common.

Unpaid care for others is common, with 13.3% of people providing support, which is higher than most areas. However, volunteering has fallen to 13.8%, leaving it well below the state average.

First Nations people make up 1.7% of the population. The community shows strong cultural ties, as 10.9% speak a First Nations language, which is much higher than in most similar areas.

Single living is very common, with 30% of people living alone—well above the national figure. About 14.9% of families are one-parent households, which is higher than most areas.

Detached houses are much less common here than in the rest of the state. Renting is more frequent than usual at 31.6%, and typical weekly rents are $325, which is a little above the state average.

Public transport use is much higher than in most areas, and the region is well-served by 579 stops. Despite this, 8.4% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is a little above the national figure.

The area is relatively mobile, with 38.3% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 14.8% of the population, a figure that has fallen slightly since 2011.

Most of the workforce is employed full-time (59.0%), with many working in health care, social assistance, or retail. The unemployment rate is 4.9%, which is about the same as the national figure.

The area's population has continued to grow, with an estimated increase of 6.3% since 2021. This growth is slightly higher than the South Australian average of 5.6%.

The area experiences a maximum average temperature of 22.6 degrees, which is well below the state average. Annual rainfall is 433mm, far above the state figure.

The area is very walkable, with a score of 7.5. Almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park, and 99.2% are within 10 minutes of public transport, far exceeding state averages.