Section of State · Area profile
Rural Balance
793,900 km²
A far older population than the national average defines Rural Balance, where the typical resident is 46. This large community has grown by 10% since 2011 and is marked by a high proportion of seniors. It is a place of stability and home ownership, with very few renters and a low rate of people moving in or out. The area feels traditional, with most residents born in Australia and a high number of large, detached family homes.
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The community is significantly older than most areas, with seniors making up 20.8% of the population. While the number of children has fallen slightly since 2011, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen to 4.7%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (10.1%) compared to the national figure of 27.7%.
English is the primary language here, with only 4.7% of people using another language at home, which is far below the national average.
More than half of the population identifies as Christian, though the number of people with no religion has risen significantly to 33.8% since 2011.
The area has a higher share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher than most similar areas, and the proportion of people completing Year 12 has risen to 44.2% since 2011.
Typical family incomes have risen by $702 since 2011 to reach $1,996 per week. The proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week has also seen a significant increase.
Long-term health conditions are reported at a rate of 28.6%, which is about the same as the national figure. Mental health conditions are slightly less common here than in other areas.
Volunteering is much more common here than across Australia, with 19.4% of people pitching in. A high number of residents also provide unpaid care or perform significant amounts of housework.
Family life is central here, with 57.7% of households being couples with children. Homes are larger than usual, typically holding 2.7 people.
Housing is dominated by detached houses, and 47.0% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Renting is very uncommon, accounting for only 12.9% of households.
Car dependence is very high, with only 0.3% of people using public transport to commute. However, working from home is common, accounting for 22.1% of the workforce.
The population is very stable, as the proportion of people who moved in the last five years is far below the national average.
The local economy relies heavily on agriculture, forestry and fishing. Unemployment is much lower than in most similar areas, sitting at 3.2%.
The area is almost entirely car-dependent, with a very low walkability score and almost no street intersections. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services.