State Electorate · Area profile
Elder
19 km²
A highly educated and walkable community, Elder is a well-connected area of Adelaide where nearly 90% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of essential services. The population has grown slightly to 39,212 people, with a notable shift toward a more qualified workforce and a rise in those who identify as having no religion. It is a diverse place with a strong presence of overseas-born residents and high levels of community volunteering, creating a social environment that is more active than most similar areas.
Modest local incomes, but the area's schools serve a more advantaged intake.
Explore Elder by topic
The typical resident is 39 years old, making the area a little younger than the state average. While children under 15 make up 16.8% of the population, there has been a steady increase in seniors, with those aged 65 and over now accounting for 18.0%.
People born overseas make up 26.6% of the community, which is a little above the South Australian figure. However, this is an 11 point drop since 2011, with English and Australian ancestries remaining the most common.
Language diversity is higher than in most areas, as 23.8% of residents use a language other than English at home. This is well above the state average, though it represents a significant 16 point decrease since 2011.
A large portion of the community identifies as having no religion, at 44.4%. This figure is well above the national average and has risen by 24 points since 2011.
Elder is far more qualified than most areas, with 34.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far above the state average, and the proportion of residents who completed Year 12 has also risen sharply to 66.7% since 2011.
Typical family income is $2,189 a week, which is a little above the state figure. While typical household income is lower than in many similar areas, the number of households earning $3,000 or more per week has risen by 16 points since 2011.
About 9.8% of residents have a mental health condition, which is higher than in most areas. Additionally, 6.5% of people need help with daily activities, a figure that has barely changed over the last decade.
Volunteerism is much higher here than in most similar areas, with 18.3% of people volunteering. This active spirit extends to unpaid care, as 13.3% of residents provide unpaid care, which is much higher than in most areas.
Single-person households are common, with 30.3% of people living alone, a figure well above the national average. Family sizes are slightly smaller than usual, with a typical 2.4 people per home.
Detached houses are less common here than in the rest of the state, making up 66.6% of homes. Many residents rent—30.8%—and the typical weekly rent is $310, which is a little below the national figure.
Public transport use is much higher than in most areas, and 6.4% of people use it for commuting. The area is very well served, with 221 public transport stops and 55 different routes available.
Recent arrivals from overseas make up 19.8% of the population, which is well above both the state and national figures. However, this is an 11 point drop from 2011.
The workforce is more active than in most areas, with 64.0% of adults working or looking for work. Many residents work in health care and social assistance, which is the most common industry at 20.9%.
Elder is very walkable, with a score of 7.1. Almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park or public transport, and 81.1% are near health services, which is far above the state average.