Meningie

Seniors make up 33.5% of the population, a figure far above the national average of 17.2%. This contributes to the typical age of 55, which is far older than the Australian figure of 38.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas heritage predominantly list English or Australian ancestry. Only 8.2% of people were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the primary language for the vast majority of the community. Only 3.9% of people use another language at home, which is far below the South Australian figure of 17.8%.

Religious affiliation is split almost evenly, with 42.0% identifying as Christian and 41.3% reporting no religion, a figure slightly above the national average.

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 30.2% of residents completing Year 12, compared to 58.8% nationally. Only 9.2% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Incomes are well below the national average, with a typical household earning $1,022 a week. Very few households earn $3,000 or more per week, at just 5.9%.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 35.1% of people. Similarly, 7.7% of residents need help with daily activities, which is a little above the national figure.

Volunteering is very high at 30.7%, far above the national average of 14.1%. However, the proportion of people providing unpaid care for children is well below the state average.

First Nations people make up 9.3% of the population, well above the national average. This community is notably linguistic, with 23.1% speaking a First Nations language, far above the national figure.

Many people live alone here, at 36.6%, which is far above the national average of 25.6%. This helps explain why homes are smaller, with just 2.1 people per home on average.

Detached houses are the norm for 96.5% of residents. Home ownership is strong, with 45.4% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%.

Public transport is rarely used for commuting, and the drive time to the city is 108 minutes. Most people rely on cars, though 13.8% of the workforce works from home.

The population is very stable, with only 28.2% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the main industry, employing 29.4% of the workforce. Only 49.0% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national average.

Overall crime rates are much lower than in most areas, with a significant 55.1% drop in crime over the last five years. Motor vehicle theft remains a high point relative to similar areas.

The town is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Fewer than half of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services.