Penguin

Penguin is an older community, with a typical age of 47 and a higher proportion of seniors than most similar areas. It also has a much higher Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population at 7.9%, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%.

The community is predominantly Australian and English in ancestry. Only 10.5% of residents were born overseas, a figure far below the national average of 27.7%.

English is the primary language for 93.4% of the population. Only 2.2% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

A majority of the community—52.6%—reports having no religion. This is much higher than most similar areas and far above the national figure of 38.9%.

Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 37.3% of residents completing Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%.

Typical incomes are lower than most areas; for example, the typical weekly household income is $1,301, which is well below the national figure of $1,746.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 35.6% of people reporting a long-term health condition and 7.5% needing help with daily activities.

Local participation is high, with 19.5% of people volunteering and a higher-than-average 25.8% of residents spending 15 or more hours a week on unpaid housework.

The First Nations community is among the largest at this level. Residents are noticeably older than the national average, with a typical age of 31 and a lower unemployment rate of 5.5%.

About 29.6% of people live alone, which is well above the national figure. While couples with children make up half of the families, the typical home is smaller than usual, with 2.3 people per dwelling.

Separate houses dominate the landscape at 90.5%, and 39.4% of homes are owned outright. Renting is less common here than in most areas, with a typical weekly rent of $260.

Most people rely on cars to get to work, and only 7.1% work from home, which is far below the national figure. While there are many public transport stops, the drive time to the city is among the highest for similar areas.

The area has seen some movement, with 37.0% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 6.5% of the population, which is well below the national figure.

The local workforce is largely employed in health care, social assistance, and education. However, the proportion of adults working or looking for work is lower than in most areas.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.8. While many homes are near public transport, far fewer are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or schools compared to the state average.