Penong

The community is far older than the national average, with a typical resident aged 49. About 22.1% of the population are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which is far above the South Australian and national figures.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the most common ancestries are Australian and English. Only 10% were born overseas, which is far below the state and national figures.

English is the primary language for 85.4% of the community. While 9.3% of people use another language at home—a figure higher than most similar areas—this is still well below the South Australian average.

Religion is split almost evenly, with 44.6% identifying as Christian and 43.9% reporting no religion. This lack of religious affiliation is well above the national figure.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 32.9% of residents completing Year 12. Just 5.6% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, far below the national average.

Typical weekly incomes are much lower than the national figure, with the typical household earning $1,100. Only 15.3% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Residents generally report fewer health issues than most areas. Those with long-term health conditions (22.1%) and mental health conditions (5.4%) are well below the state and national averages.

Penong has a very high rate of volunteering, at 35.9%, which is far above the national figure. A large proportion of people also spend significant time on unpaid housework.

First Nations people make up a significant part of the population, and 32.3% speak a First Nations language. However, they face challenges, with a 19% unemployment rate and a typical personal income of $433, which is a little below the national figure.

A high number of people live alone (38.1%) or in one-parent families (18.3%), both of which are well above the state average. Typical homes are small, with 2.3 people per household.

Housing is mostly separate houses, and 52.5% are owned outright, far above the national figure. Rent is very affordable, with a typical weekly rent of just $59.

Most people rely on cars, though 8.5% commute by public transport, which is well above the national figure. Despite this, there are no public transport stops or routes in the area.

The population is very stable, with only 20.8% of people moving in the last five years—far below the state and national averages. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.

The workforce is dominated by agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining. While 65.1% are employed full-time, the unemployment rate is 11.4%, which is well above the state average.

Overall crime rates for assault and property damage are much lower than in most areas. However, the theft rate is higher than usual, and the crime rate has risen sharply over five years.

The town is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.1, far below the state average. Many residents live more than 15 minutes away from health services, groceries, and parks.