Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Jamestown
176 km²
Set within a large rural expanse of 176 square kilometres, Jamestown is a mature community with a notably older population. The typical resident is 49, and over a quarter of the people here are seniors, which is far above the national figure. This older demographic is reflected in the housing and social trends, with many people living alone and a high proportion of homes owned outright. It is a quiet, predominantly Australian-born town where residents are highly active in volunteering.
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The population is far older than the state and national averages, with a typical age of 49. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 27.2% of the community, a figure well above the South Australian average of 20%.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 6.0% born overseas, which is far below the national figure. Those with ancestral roots in Australia (48.4%) and England (46.7%) make up the vast majority of residents.
English is the primary language for 94.8% of the population. Only 1.9% of people use another language at home, a figure far below both the state and national averages.
Over half of the residents (55.3%) identify as Christian. Those with no religion make up 39.1% of the population, which is about the same as the national figure.
Educational attainment is lower than in most similar areas, with only 11.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national average of 26.3%.
Typical household incomes are lower than the state and national figures, with a typical weekly income of $1,214. Just 9.9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the national average.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 36.0% of people reporting a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure of 27.7%.
Residents are exceptionally active in their community, with 35.3% volunteering, a figure far above the national average of 14.1%.
There are 37 First Nations people in the area. Their typical personal income is $416 per week, which is well below the national figure of $540.
Homes are smaller than usual, with only 2.1 people per home. This is consistent with the high number of people living alone, which at 34.9% is well above the national average.
The area is dominated by separate houses (95.4%), and 44.6% of these are owned outright, far exceeding the national figure. Rent is also much lower than usual, with a typical weekly rent of $215.
Cars are essential for most, as 72% of people drive to work and 0.0% use public transport for commuting. The nearest public transport stop is often a 63-minute walk away.
The community is relatively stable, with 30.0% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.
The local economy relies on a mix of agriculture, health care, and education. The unemployment rate is very low at 1.7%, well below both the state and national averages.
General crime rates are much lower than in most areas, particularly for theft and property damage. However, the crime rate has risen by 17.4% over the last five years.
While the area is somewhat walkable with a score of 4.6, many homes are far from public transport. On the plus side, 71.7% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services, which is far above the state average.