Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Ayr
28 km²
A significant number of seniors and First Nations people live in Ayr, which is one of the largest towns of its kind in the region. The typical resident is 44, noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Many people here live alone, and there is a strong presence of Italian ancestry. This creates a community that is generally older and more traditional, with a lower proportion of people reporting no religion compared to the rest of the state.
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The population is notably older than the state and national averages, with 24.2% of people aged 65 and over. First Nations people make up 8.2% of the community, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born residents than the national average. However, Italian ancestry is common, accounting for 16.1% of the population.
English is the main language, though 7.5% of people use another language at home. This is higher than most similar areas, but still well below the national figure of 22.3%.
Ayr is more religious than most of Australia, with 64.8% of people identifying as Christian. Only 23% report no religion, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%.
Educational qualifications are lower than average, with only 39.2% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national figure of 58.8%. Only 9.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.
Typical incomes are lower than the national average, with the usual household earning $1,246 a week. Only 11.6% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is well below the state figure.
Daily living needs are more common here, as 7% of people require help with daily activities, which is a little above the national average. Arthritis is the most reported long-term health condition at 12.1%.
Volunteer rates are a little above the national figure at 15.4%. However, fewer people are providing unpaid care or caring for children compared to most other areas.
There are 708 First Nations people in the area, and a higher proportion speak a First Nations language compared to similar areas. The typical personal income for this group is $589 per week.
Many residents live alone, accounting for 33.3% of households, which is well above the national figure. One-parent families are also much more common here than in most other areas.
Separate houses are very common, and 39.1% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the state average. Rents are much lower than elsewhere, with a typical weekly rent of $230.
Most people rely on cars, and only 4.1% work from home, which is far below the national figure. Very few people use public transport to commute, at just 2.8%.
The area has seen a very high number of recent overseas arrivals, with 31.8% arriving in the last five years, far above the national figure of 14.5%.
Full-time employment is well above the national average at 64.5%. The most common industries for locals are agriculture, forestry and fishing, and manufacturing.
Ayr is somewhat walkable, with most homes within a 15-minute walk of a park or school. However, no homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport.