Spalding

The community is older than the state and national figures, with 21.5% of people aged 65 or over. It also has a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at 5.4%, compared to 2.4% across South Australia.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people at 5.8% compared to the national figure of 27.7%. Those with ancestral roots mostly identify as Australian, English, or German.

English is the primary language here, with only 1.2% of people using another language at home, which is far below the state and national averages.

Over half the population (50.8%) reports having no religion, a figure far above the national average of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 41.2%.

Qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 5.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the area has a high number of schools per 1,000 children.

Typical incomes are well below the state and national figures, with the typical household earning $969 a week. Only 3.7% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the national rate of 22.6%.

Health challenges are more common here, with 36.2% of people living with a long-term condition. Mental health conditions are particularly prevalent at 15.0%, which is among the highest for similar areas.

Volunteering is very common in Spalding, with 28.5% of people volunteering, far above the national figure of 14.1%. There is also a much higher rate of people providing unpaid care and those who served in the Defence Force.

There are 14 First Nations people in the area, who are noticeably younger and earn much lower personal incomes than the state or national averages.

About 30.3% of people live alone, which is well above the national figure of 25.6%. Typical homes are small, with 2.2 people per household.

The area is dominated by separate houses (96.3%), and 45% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national average. Rents are much lower than typical, at just $155 a week.

Commuting depends almost entirely on cars, as 0.0% of people use public transport to get to work. It is a remote setting, with a 121-minute drive time to the city.

The population is very stable, with only 23.2% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Jobs are concentrated in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, though unemployment is higher than most areas at 8.2%. Working or looking for work is also less common here than in the rest of the state.

Rates of property damage and burglary are higher than most areas, though theft is much lower than the usual rate.

The area is somewhat walkable, but residents are far less likely to be within 15 minutes of health services compared to the state average.