Ridgley

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 8.1% of the population, which is much higher than most similar areas and well above the national average. The typical resident is 41, making the area a little younger than the state average but noticeably older than the national figure.

The community is very homogenous, with 90.4% of residents born in Australia. This means the proportion of overseas-born residents is far below both the state and national figures.

English is the only language used at home by 96.1% of residents. Consequently, the number of people using another language at home is far below the national figure.

A majority of residents, 52.9%, report having no religion. This is much higher than most similar areas and far above the national average of 38.9%.

Educational attainment is much lower than most areas, with only 6.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and only 28.3% completing Year 12, both of which are far below the national figures.

Typical weekly household income is $1,558, which is a little above the state figure but below the national average. Weekly personal income is also lower than most areas at $646.

Health challenges are more common here than in most similar areas, with 33.3% of people living with a long-term health condition and 12.6% reporting a mental health condition.

Unpaid work is a strong feature of the community, as the proportions of people caring for children (30.5%) and doing significant housework (27.4%) are well above the national figures.

The First Nations community is larger than in about 80% of similar areas. Household income for First Nations residents is $1,875, which is well above the state average.

Families are larger than usual, with 2.7 people per home. This is consistent with the high proportion of couples with children, who make up 61.3% of households.

Every home in Ridgley is a separate house, and 92.4% have three or more bedrooms. Renting is very uncommon at just 9.3%, far below the national average.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 76.6% of workers driving to work. Public transport use is almost non-existent, and the drive time to the city is among the highest for its level.

The population is relatively stable, with 31.5% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.

About 60.7% of adults are working or looking for work, with 56.9% in full-time roles. The most common industries are retail trade and health care, while technicians and trades are the most common jobs.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 2.6, far below the state average. While many residents can walk to a school or grocery store, there are no health services within a 15-minute walk.