State Electorate · Area profile
Croydon
20 km²
Almost half of the people in Croydon use a language other than English at home, making it one of the most linguistically diverse areas in the region. This multicultural character is driven by a large overseas-born population and a significant Vietnamese community. The area is noticeably younger than the state average, with a typical resident aged 36. This creates a dynamic, shifting community where high numbers of renters and recent arrivals live in a highly walkable urban setting.
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The typical resident is 36, which is noticeably younger than the South Australian average of 41. This younger profile is reflected in the age structure, with young adults aged 25 to 44 making up the largest group at 33.5%.
Overseas birth is very common here, with 41.8% of people born abroad, a figure far above the national average of 27.7%. Vietnamese is the most common non-English ancestry and birthplace.
Language diversity is very high, as 46.2% of residents speak another language at home, far exceeding the national figure of 22.3%. About 10.4% of the community speak little or no English, which is well above the national average.
A smaller proportion of people report no religion here compared to most areas, at 34.6%. While this is far below the state average, the figure has still risen by 12 points since 2011.
The community is well qualified, with 27.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, which is well above the state average. This is part of a broader trend of rising education, with Year 12 completion increasing by 12 points since 2011.
Typical incomes are much lower than in most other areas, with a typical weekly household income of $1,426. Only 15.0% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is well below the national average.
The need for daily help is among the highest at this level, with 7.9% of people requiring assistance. Mental health conditions are also more common here than in most areas, affecting 9.8% of residents.
Participation in unpaid work is much lower than in most areas, with only 11.9% of people volunteering and fewer people caring for children unpaid. This is well below both state and national figures.
Living arrangements are varied, with 30.2% of people living alone and a high rate of one-parent families at 17.7%. Despite this, the typical household size of 2.5 people is about the same as the national average.
Renters make up 44.4% of the community, a figure far above the national average of 30.6%. This helps explain why fewer people own their homes outright (22.0%) and why detached houses are less common than elsewhere.
Public transport use is among the highest at this level, with 7.5% of people using it to commute. This is supported by a high number of people living without a motor vehicle (12.1%), which is well above the state average.
The population is quite mobile, with 42.2% of people having moved in the last five years. This includes a high number of recent overseas arrivals, at 20.0%.
The unemployment rate is 6.8%, which is much higher than in most areas. Many residents work in health care and social assistance, while 8.0% of the workforce works from home.
Croydon is very walkable, with 96.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a '15-minute-city' walkshed. Almost every home is within a short walk of public transport (99.1%) and a park (99.0%).