Lake Heights

The community is noticeably younger than the state and national average, with a high number of children and a typical age of 36. About 4.2% of residents are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, which is higher than in most similar areas.

Nearly 30% of the population was born overseas, a figure slightly above the national average. While Australian and English are the most common ancestries, Italian heritage is also prominent at 9.4%.

Language diversity is a standout feature, as 31.4% of people use a language other than English at home—well above the national figure of 22.3%. This is reflected in the 5.9% of residents who speak little or no English, one of the highest rates for this level.

Religious affiliation is more common here than in most areas, with 54.8% identifying as Christian. Conversely, the 28.5% of people with no religion is far below the national figure of 38.9%.

Education levels are far below the state and national averages, with only 13.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 44.1% of residents completed Year 12, which is significantly lower than the 58.8% seen across Australia.

Incomes are generally lower than in most areas, with a typical weekly household income of $1,356, well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 13.6% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

A higher proportion of the community faces health challenges, with 8.7% needing help with daily activities and 30.6% living with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are also more common here than in most areas.

More people provide unpaid care (14.7%) compared to most areas. However, volunteering is among the lowest at this level, with only 7.8% of people volunteering, well below the national average of 14.1%.

The First Nations community is notably young, with a typical age of just 17. While unemployment is higher than average at 13.3%, Year 12 completion is far above the state average at 45.5%.

Families tend to be larger here, with 2.6 people per home and a high number of one-parent families (17.4%). Couples with children make up the majority of households at 57.3%.

Detached houses are very common, making up 82.5% of dwellings, and most homes have three or more bedrooms. While 37.5% of homes are owned outright, 28.8% of the community rents, with a typical weekly rent of $400.

The area has an impressive number of public transport stops and a short walk to the nearest one, though only 1.6% of people use it to commute. Most residents rely on cars, with 8.1% of homes having no vehicle.

The population is relatively mobile, with 34.4% of people moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas (6.2%) are well below the national figure of 14.5%.

Job numbers are lower than usual, with only 54.2% of adults working or looking for work. The unemployment rate of 6.4% is higher than the national average, and full-time employment is much lower than in most areas.

Every home is within a short walk of a park, school, and public transport. However, the area is poorly served by other amenities, with no homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services.