Mount Gambier

The typical resident is 41, and the area is older than the national average, with 21.8% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population is well above the 17.2% seen across Australia.

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 11.5% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English, Scottish, and Irish ancestries are the most common following Australian.

English is the primary language for 87.5% of the community. While 6.8% use another language at home, this is far below the 22.3% national average.

More than half the population (52.4%) report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average of 38.9%.

Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 11.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, compared to 26.3% nationally. Just 39.3% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure.

Incomes are generally lower than in most areas. The typical household earns $1,197 a week, which is well below the national figure of $1,746.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas. Long-term health conditions affect 34.8% of people, well above the national figure of 27.7%.

Volunteer rates are a little above the national average at 16.7%. About 13.1% of the community provide unpaid care, which is consistent with the state average.

The First Nations community is among the largest at this level, with a typical age of 20, which is noticeably younger than the state and national average of 24.

Living arrangements are distinctive, with 34.9% of people living alone and 18.4% in one-parent families, both of which are much higher than in most areas.

Renting is more common than usual at 32.5%. However, housing costs are much lower than elsewhere, with typical weekly rents at $220 and typical monthly mortgage payments at $1,083.

Most people rely on cars, and very few (0.4%) commute by public transport. Only 3.6% of people work from home, which is far below the national figure of 21%.

The area is relatively mobile, with 38% of residents moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 12.9% of the population.

Health care and social assistance is the largest employer at 16.7%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%, which is about the same as the national figure of 5.1%.

Recorded offences per 100,000 people are much higher than in most areas. Rates of assault, burglary, and property damage are all notably high.

The town is very walkable, with 93.7% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport and 85.2% within 15 minutes of groceries, both far above the state average.