State Electorate · Area profile
Light
120 km²
A smaller-than-average community for its level, Light is a family-oriented area with a population of 36,095. It is a place where children are more common than in most areas, and the typical resident is just 38. The community is notably less diverse than the rest of the state, with very few people speaking languages other than English. It has a distinctive character marked by a high proportion of people who identify as having no religion and a strong presence of former Defence Force members.
13 schools within reach make Light convenient for families.
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Children under 15 make up 19.4% of the population, which is higher than in most similar areas. While the typical age is 38, there has been a rise in the number of seniors, with those aged 65 and over now at 17.8%.
The area is far less diverse than the national average, as only 16.8% of people were born overseas. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, accounting for 48.2% and 39.1% respectively.
English is the dominant language here, with 89.9% of people using it exclusively at home. This means the proportion of people using another language is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
A majority of residents (53.7%) report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and has risen by 19 points since 2011.
Qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 12.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the percentage of people who completed Year 12 rose to 46.9% since 2011.
Typical weekly household income is $1,401, which is much lower than in most similar areas. Only 12.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, although this has risen by 8.2 points since 2011.
Health challenges are common here, as 35.5% of people have a long-term health condition, which is well above the national figure. Mental health conditions are also among the highest at this level at 12.8%.
This is a supportive community where 13.7% provide unpaid care and 28.5% care for children unpaid. It also has a high proportion of people who served in the Defence Force (5.6%).
One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas at 19.7%. About 27.1% of people live alone, and the typical home has 2.5 people.
The area is dominated by separate houses (84.4%), and 83% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Typical weekly rent is $288, which is well below the national figure of $375.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with 71.5% of people driving to work. Only 6.4% work from home, a figure that is far below the national average of 21%.
The population is quite mobile, with 42.2% of people moving in the last five years. In contrast, recent arrivals from overseas are among the lowest at this level at 5.6%.
Employment levels are around the middle for similar areas, with 61% of adults working or looking for work. The most common industries are health care and social assistance, and retail trade.
While 88.4% of homes are near a park, the area is generally less walkable than the state average. Many residents live far from groceries, health services, and schools.