# Cockatoo Valley

Suburb / Locality · Area profile

Located in: South Australia › Rest of SA › Barossa › 5351, SA

Area: 15 km²

A high proportion of children and large family homes define the character of Cockatoo Valley. This Barossa region community is notably affluent, with typical household incomes far above the national figure. It is a place where a high number of residents are without any religious affiliation and most people live in detached houses. The area is heavily car-dependent, with almost every home owning multiple vehicles to navigate the rural landscape.

## Demographics & Identity

This is a young-leaning community where 21.7% of people are children under 15, a figure well above the national average. While the typical resident is 42, the area has far fewer seniors than most similar places.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 714 | +38.1% since 2011 |
| Median age | 42 yrs | +0.0% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 0.8% | — |
| People aged 65 and over | 14.1% | +35.7% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 21.7% | +1.3% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 11.8% | +104.5% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Older adults (45–64) 30.8%, Young adults (25–44) 23.0%, Children (0–14) 21.7%, Seniors (65+) 14.1%, Youth (15–24) 11.5%

**Marital status** — Married 63.6%, Never married 26.2%, Divorced 5.5%, Widowed 3.7%, Separated 1.6%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

English and Australian ancestries are most common here. While 15% of the population was born overseas, this is well below the South Australian and national figures.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 15.0% | -27.6% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 81.7%, England 8.4%, New Zealand 0.7%

**Ancestry** — English 45.7%, Australian 43.3%, German 13.6%, Scottish 8.8%, Irish 7.8%, Italian 3.4%, Dutch 2.4%, Indian 0.8%, Greek 0.4%

## Language

English is the dominant language, with 95.4% of people using it at home. Very few residents use another language, which is far below the state and national levels.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 2.1% | +262.0% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.0% | — |

**Language used at home** — English only 95.4%

## Religion

The community is largely secular, as 55.3% of people report no religion. This is far above the national figure of 38.9%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 55.3% | +72.6% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — No religion 55.3%, Christianity 37.8%, Not stated 5.0%, Islam 0.7%

## Education & Qualifications

Qualification levels are higher than in most similar areas, with 18.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Local primary schools are more common here than in many other areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 53.0% | +23.9% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 18.9% | +40.7% since 2011 |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 6.45 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 3 | — |
| Average school size | 103 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 1,015 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 53.0%, Year 11 18.7%, Year 10 17.4%, Year 9 or below 5.9%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 41.7%, Bachelor degree 20.3%, Advanced diploma / diploma 16.1%, Postgraduate degree 5.3%, Graduate diploma / certificate 3.9%, Certificate I / II 0.8%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 21.9%, Management & commerce 19.7%, Education 10.0%, Health 9.4%, Architecture & building 8.6%, Society & culture 7.5%, Food, hospitality & personal services 5.0%, Natural & physical sciences 2.8%, Information technology 2.8%, Agriculture & environment 2.2%, Creative arts 2.2%

## Income

Household wealth is very high, with typical weekly incomes far above the state and national averages. Over 31% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is much higher than most areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $886 | +39.5% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $2,489 | +75.8% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $2,454 | +76.8% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 15.3% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 31.7% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $1,500–$2,999 33.9%, $650–$1,499 18.8%, $4,000 or more 17.9%, $3,000–$3,999 13.8%, Under $650 7.1%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 36.2%, $650–$1,499 33.5%, $1,500–$2,999 21.4%, $3,000 or more 4.1%

## Health & Disability

Residents are generally healthier than the national average, with far fewer people reporting long-term health conditions or needing help with daily activities.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 24.5% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 5.6% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 3.2% | +85.4% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 9.2%, Asthma 7.3%, Other condition 6.7%, Mental health 5.6%, Cancer 4.3%, Heart disease 3.4%, Diabetes 2.5%, Lung condition 2.0%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 69.3%, One condition 16.5%, Two conditions 5.3%, Three or more 3.4%

## Community Participation

Family life is a focus here, with much higher rates of people providing unpaid childcare and housework compared to the rest of the state. There is also a notably high number of former Defence Force members.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 19.8% | -8.7% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 13.9% | +4.5% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 33.2% | +14.8% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 4.5% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 31.7% | +7.3% since 2011 |

## First Nations

First Nations people make up 0.8% of the population. This small group is far younger than the state average, with a typical age of 14, and earns a typical personal income far above the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 6 | — |
| First Nations median age | 14 yrs | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $1,375 | — |
| First Nations household income | $4,249 | — |

## Family & Households

Homes are typically large, averaging 3.1 people, which is well above the national figure. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children and very few people living alone.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 3.1 | +3.3% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 5.9% | -10.4% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 9.8% | -23.3% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 67.0%, Couples without children 28.8%, One-parent families 5.9%

**Household size** — 2 people 36.6%, 4 people 25.9%, 3 people 16.5%, 5 people 11.2%, 1 person 9.8%, 6 or more 3.6%

## Housing & Dwellings

Every single home is a separate detached house, and 92.4% have three or more bedrooms. Most are owned with a mortgage, while renting is very rare at just 4.5%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $383 | -6.6% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,963 | +13.3% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.80 | -20.0% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 4.5% | +5.2% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 29.9% | -16.4% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 100.0% | +0.0% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 92.4% | +6.0% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned with a mortgage 65.2%, Owned outright 29.9%, Rented 4.5%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 100.9%

**Bedrooms per home** — 4 bedrooms 48.7%, 3 bedrooms 27.2%, 5 or more 16.5%, 2 bedrooms 4.9%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $350–$549 60.0%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,800–$2,999 42.5%, $1,000–$1,799 25.3%, $3,000 or more 13.0%, Under $1,000 8.9%

## Transport & Vehicles

Car ownership is essential, as 100% of homes have a motor vehicle and most have two or more. There are no public transport stops in the area, making it highly dependent on cars.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 0.0% | — |
| People working from home | 11.4% | +116.2% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 1.8% | -32.7% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 0 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 0.00 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 0.0 | — |
| Public transport routes | 0 | — |
| Walk to nearest stop (min) | 41 | — |
| Drive time to the city (min) | 47 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 66.0%, Worked at home 11.4%, Car (passenger) 3.3%, Bus 1.8%, Walked 1.0%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 39.6%, 3 vehicles 27.0%, 4 or more 25.7%, 1 vehicle 9.9%

## Migration & Movement

About 35.3% of residents have moved in the last five years. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 35.3% | -3.2% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 0.0% | -100.0% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

The workforce is very active, with a much higher rate of people working or looking for work than the national average. Unemployment is very low at 1.7%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 1.7% | -69.5% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 71.7% | +2.9% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 60.9% | -0.7% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Construction 16.8%, Manufacturing 10.4%, Retail trade 10.4%, Education & training 10.4%, Health care & social assistance 8.9%, Public administration & safety 7.1%, Professional & technical 6.9%, Accommodation & food 5.8%, Other services 3.3%, Wholesale trade 2.5%, Transport & warehousing 2.5%, Administrative & support 2.3%, Electricity, gas & water 2.0%, Rental & real estate 1.8%, Mining 1.5%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 1.3%, Finance & insurance 1.3%, Media & telecommunications 0.8%

**Occupations people work in** — Managers 17.5%, Technicians & trades 17.3%, Clerical & administrative 16.2%, Professionals 16.0%, Sales workers 8.9%, Labourers 8.6%, Community & personal service 7.9%, Machinery operators & drivers 5.6%

## Crime & Safety

Recorded offences are among the lowest for areas of this size, though the crime rate has seen a significant increase over the last five years.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recorded offences per 100,000 | 980 | — |
| Assault & related rate | 140 | — |
| Burglary (unlawful entry) rate | 140 | — |
| Motor vehicle theft rate | 140 | — |
| Property damage rate | 140 | — |
| Crime rate change (5 yr) | 133.3% | — |

## Walkability

The area is almost entirely car-dependent. While most people live within a short walk of a park, there are no grocery stores or health services within a 15-minute walk.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 1.1 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 1.1 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 0.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 0.0% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 1.4% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 15.3% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 82.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 0.0% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 30.8 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 15 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 6.9% | — |

## Schools serving Cockatoo Valley

3 schools, 309 students, average ICSEA 1,015.

By sector: Government 2, Independent 1

By type: Primary 3

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandy Creek Primary School | Government | Primary | 1.7 km | 93 |
| Lyndoch Primary School | Government | Primary | 5.3 km | 68 |
| St Jakobi Lutheran School | Independent | Primary | 5.5 km | 148 |

## Nearby areas

[Sandy Creek](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL41305/sandy-creek) · [Barossa Goldfields](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL40077/barossa-goldfields) · [Kalbeeba](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL40651/kalbeeba) · [Concordia](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL40292/concordia) · [Bibaringa](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL40103/bibaringa) · [Yattalunga](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL41682/yattalunga) · [Gawler East](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL40476/gawler-east) · [Lyndoch](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL40794/lyndoch)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL40276/cockatoo-valley