Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Rutherglen
125 km²
A far older population than most similar areas marks Rutherglen as a mature community. The typical resident is 48, and over a quarter of the population are seniors. This older demographic is reflected in the town's housing, where many homes are owned outright and households are generally smaller. It is a predominantly Australian-born community with a strong volunteering spirit and a high proportion of detached houses.
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Rutherglen is far older than the state and national average, with 27.0% of people aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up 16.4% of the population, which is a little below the national figure of 18.2%.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 88.4% born here. Only 7.2% of residents were born overseas, a figure far below the 27.7% national average.
English is the primary language for 94.0% of the population. Only 2.0% of residents use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
About 43.1% of residents report having no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. Another 50.4% of the community identify with a Christian faith.
The area has a lower rate of higher education than the state average, with 17.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 42.1% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,306, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 10.2% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, a rate much lower than most similar areas.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 36.4% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure of 27.7%, and 7.6% of residents need help with daily activities.
Rutherglen has a high rate of community spirit, with 23.0% of people volunteering, well above the national figure of 14.1%. This is alongside a higher-than-average 15.0% of people providing unpaid care.
First Nations people make up 2.2% of the population. The community is noticeably younger than the state average, with a typical age of 21, and 6.9% speak a First Nations language.
Homes here are smaller than usual, with 2.3 people per home. A higher-than-average 30.7% of people live alone, while one-parent families make up 15.8% of households.
Detached houses are very common, making up 92.5% of all dwellings. Home ownership is strong, with 42.6% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%.
Cars are essential for most, as 67.2% of people drive to work and 0.0% use public transport for their commute. It takes an average of 53 minutes to walk to the nearest stop.
The area has seen a fair bit of movement, with 35.2% of residents moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 5.9% of the population, which is well below the national figure.
Manufacturing is a key industry here, employing 20.9% of the workforce. While the unemployment rate is a modest 3.2%, the proportion of adults working or looking for work is well below the national figure.
The town is very walkable, with a score of 6.1 and many amenities within a 15-minute walk. This includes health services for 74.3% of homes, which is far above the state average.