State Electorate · Area profile
Broadwater
134 km²
Life in Broadwater is largely defined by a significant population of seniors, with a typical resident aged 50. This is a mature community where nearly 30% of people are 65 or older, which is far above the national figure. The area has become increasingly international, with over 31% of residents born overseas. Because it attracts so many retirees and older adults, there are very few children and a much lower proportion of people working or looking for work compared to other areas.
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Broadwater is far older than the state and national average, with the typical age rising by 10 years since 2011 to reach 50. Children under 15 make up only 13.4% of the population, which is among the lowest for its level.
The community is notably international, as the share of people born overseas rose 16 points since 2011 to 31.4%, well above the national figure of 27.7%. English, Australian, Irish, and Scottish are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 82.9% of residents, though the use of other languages at home rose to 11.0% since 2011. This is still far below the national figure of 22.3%.
More than half of the population (52.1%) identifies as Christian. Those with no religion make up 36.7%, a figure that is lower than both the state and national averages.
The share of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher rose 9.1 points since 2011 to 19.8%, though this remains well below the national figure. Most residents who finished school have a Year 12 qualification.
Typical weekly household income is $1,601, which is a little below the national figure. However, high earners are more common here than in most areas, with 13.0% of people earning $2,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, and 31.3% of residents have such a condition. This is consistent with the older population, as 6.6% of people need help with daily activities.
Volunteering fell 11 points since 2011 to 10.3%, which is well below the national figure. Similarly, the proportion of people caring for children unpaid is much lower than in most areas.
Homes are smaller than usual, with 2.3 people per home. This is partly because 24.5% of people live alone, a figure that rose 5.3 points since 2011.
Home ownership is very strong, with 41.1% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. Rent is high, with a typical weekly rent of $480, and there has been a sharp drop in the number of separate houses since 2011.
The area is very car-dependent, with only 0.9% of people commuting by public transport. Many residents work from home (18.7%), a figure that rose 10 points since 2011.
Broadwater is a high-turnover area, with 48.3% of residents having moved in the last five years, which is well above the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 8.5% of the population.
The proportion of adults working or looking for work is much lower than in most areas at 53.9%. The most common industries for those employed are health care, construction, and retail.
While almost everyone lives within a 15-minute walk of a park, the area is far below the state average for walking to groceries, health services, and schools.