Peterborough

The community is far older than most areas, with 31.7% of people aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up only 12.6%, which is well below the national figure of 18.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people (9.3%) than the state average of 24.1%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the main language for nearly everyone, with only 1.7% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

About 44.8% of people report having no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 37.1%.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 5.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 22.3% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the state average of 54.6%.

Incomes are among the lowest at this level, with the typical weekly household earning $706, far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 3.3% of households earn $3,000 or more a week.

Health challenges are common here, as 40.5% of people have a long-term health condition. This is far above the national average, and 10.3% of residents need help with daily activities.

While 19.1% of people volunteer, there are far fewer people caring for children unpaid (13.6%) than in most areas. Former Defence Force members make up 5.1% of the population, which is higher than the state average.

First Nations people make up a significant part of the town, and they are generally much younger, with a typical age of 20. However, household incomes for this group are far below the national figure.

Homes are small, with only 1.8 people per home on average. Nearly half of all residents (46.7%) live alone, and one-parent families are far more common here than in most areas.

Housing is mostly separate houses, and nearly half (49.5%) are owned outright. This helps explain why typical weekly rents ($160) and mortgage payments ($569) are far below the state and national figures.

Most people rely on cars, though 11.1% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well above the national figure. While there are several bus routes, only 1.0% of people use public transport to get to work.

The population is very stable, with only 23.5% of people moving in the last five years. This is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Working life is challenging here, with an unemployment rate of 13.3%, which is well above the state average. Only 36% of adults are working or looking for work, among the lowest for similar areas.

The area has higher rates of assault, burglary, and property damage than most similar areas. However, the overall crime rate has fallen by 18.3% over the last five years.

The town is somewhat walkable, with many residents living within a 15-minute walk of health services, parks, and schools. Health services are particularly accessible, far exceeding the state average.