Section of State · Area profile
Major Urban
237 km²
A highly walkable urban lifestyle defines Major Urban, where nearly 95% of homes are within a short stroll of public transport. This growing community has seen its population rise by 15% since 2011 and is marked by a well-educated workforce and a strong trend toward secularism. It is a place where professionals and a significant number of overseas arrivals live in a mix of detached houses and rentals. The area is notably more diverse and qualified than many similar regions.
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The population is slightly older than the national average, with 18.8% of residents aged 65 or over. While the typical age is 38, there are fewer children under 15 here than in most other areas.
More people were born overseas here than in most similar areas, making up 20.9% of the population. This figure has risen by 7.0 percentage points since 2011, with English and Australian being the most common ancestries.
The use of languages other than English at home has grown significantly to 15.1%, which is higher than in most similar areas. However, this is still well below the national figure of 22.3%.
Nearly half of the population (49.8%) report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average. This reflects a sharp rise of 21 percentage points since 2011.
The area is highly qualified, with 31.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is well above the national figure and has risen by 12 percentage points over the last decade.
Typical personal income is $779 a week, which is about the same as the national figure. While typical household incomes are slightly below the national average, the number of households earning over $3,000 a week has risen by 11 percentage points since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most similar areas, with 31.9% of people reporting a long-term health condition. This includes a higher-than-average rate of mental health conditions at 11.7%.
Volunteerism is strong, with 18.9% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure. There is also a higher rate of people providing unpaid care and a larger presence of Defence Force veterans compared to most areas.
Living arrangements are diverse, with 28.9% of people living alone and 17.1% in one-parent families—the latter being much higher than in most similar areas.
Detached houses are common (82.3%), though the area has a higher rental rate than most similar places. Typical weekly rents are $350, which is about the same as the national figure.
Public transport use for commuting is much higher than in most similar areas. While 8.0% of homes have no car, very few people work from home compared to the national average.
The area is a hub for new arrivals, with 21.7% of people arriving from overseas recently. This is well above the national figure, and 40.2% of all residents have moved house in the last five years.
More adults are working or looking for work than in most similar areas, though the unemployment rate of 6.6% is a little above the national figure. Health care and education are the dominant industries.
The area is very walkable, with 70% of homes having a '15-minute-city' walkshed. Most residents have easy access to parks and public transport, though only about half are within a 15-minute walk of health services.