Suburb / Locality · Area profile

Esk

60 km²

Tucked away in the Somerset region, Esk is a small town with a notably older population. The typical resident is 58, making it far older than the national figure. This age profile is reflected in the community's character, where more than a third of residents are seniors and many live alone. While the town is largely residential, it maintains a strong connection to its roots with a high proportion of people who have served in the Defence Force.

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The community is far older than the state and national averages, with 36.8% of people aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up only 10.5% of the population, which is well below the national figure of 18.2%.

English and Australian ancestries are the most common, with English at 44.9% and Australian at 40.5%. About 17.2% of residents were born overseas, which is higher than most similar areas but far below the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the primary language for 93.2% of the population. Only 2.4% of people use another language at home, a figure that is far below both the state and national levels.

More than half of the community identifies as Christian at 50.9%. Those with no religion make up 38.8%, which is about the same as the national figure.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 36.3% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national figure of 58.8%. Just 9.8% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Incomes are much lower than in most areas; the typical household earns $910 a week, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 6.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Health challenges are prevalent, with 47.6% of people reporting a long-term health condition, far above the national average of 27.7%. Consequently, 11.2% of residents need help with daily activities.

Unpaid care and housework are common, with 29.1% of people doing over 15 hours of housework weekly. Volunteer rates are at 19.7%, which is well above the national figure of 14.1%.

The First Nations community is relatively small, with 57 people. This group is far older than the national average, with a typical age of 45, and has a very low unemployment rate of 0.0%.

Homes are smaller than usual, with 2.1 people per household. A high 33.1% of people live alone, and couples without children make up the largest group at 48.7%.

Home ownership is very strong, with 49.9% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. The vast majority of dwellings are separate houses, accounting for 92.2% of the stock.

The town is highly car-dependent, as 63.9% of people drive to work and 0.0% use public transport for commuting. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and only 3.7% have none.

Movement into the area is moderate, with 37.3% of people moving in the last five years. This is well below the national figure of 40.7%.

The working population is among the lowest for its level, with only 38.5% of adults working or looking for work. The most common industry is health care and social assistance at 16.9%.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.8. While many people live within a 15-minute walk of groceries, very few (23.2%) are within a 15-minute walk of a school.

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