Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Murray Bridge
26 km²
One of the largest towns at its level, Murray Bridge is a community with a significant First Nations presence and a notable population of seniors. The area is defined by a stark contrast in wealth and education, with typical incomes and school completion rates falling far below national figures. This economic profile is reflected in the housing market, where renting is much more common than in other similar areas. Overall, it is a place where a large proportion of residents face challenges related to health, employment, and financial security.
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The community is noticeably older than the national average, with 23.3% of people aged 65 and over. A strong First Nations identity is present, with 6.5% of residents identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, which is well above the state figure.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 14.9% of the population, which is far below the national average of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 80.7% of the population. While 10.2% of people use another language at home—a figure higher than most similar areas—this is still far below the national average.
Nearly half of the population (47.0%) report having no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 38.7%.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 34.8% of residents completing Year 12. Just 7.8% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below both state and national figures.
Typical incomes are much lower than the national average, with a typical weekly household earning $1,005. Only 5.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, far below the national figure of 22.6%.
Health challenges are common here, as 36.1% of people have a long-term health condition and 10% need help with daily activities, both of which are much higher than in most areas.
Volunteering is slightly lower than the state average at 15.4%. Unpaid care for children and housework is also lower than in most similar areas.
The First Nations community is large, with 983 people. However, this group faces significant disadvantage, with an unemployment rate of 15.8% and a typical personal income of $476, both lower than national figures.
One-parent families (22.1%) and people living alone (34.9%) are both much more common here than in other areas. Typical home sizes are slightly smaller than the state average.
Renting is very common, with 39.8% of households renting—far above the state average of 27.6%. However, typical weekly rents are $240, which is well below the national figure of $375.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.2% of people commuting by public transport. Around 8.9% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is a little above the national average.
The population is quite mobile, with 38.7% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are also more common here than in most similar areas.
Only 47.6% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure of 61.1%. The unemployment rate is 7.7%, a little above the state and national averages.
Crime rates are much higher than in most areas, particularly for theft, property damage, and burglary. Recorded offences per 100,000 people stand at 9,619.
The area is somewhat walkable, with 83% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. However, the number of walkable amenities per 1,000 residents is far below the state average.