Section of State · Area profile
Rural Balance
215 km²
A much higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in Rural Balance than in other Australian areas. The community is noticeably older than the national figure, with a population that has grown slightly to 976 people. It is a place of contrasting identities, where a strong Indigenous presence and a high number of overseas-born residents live in a predominantly detached-housing setting. The area's character is shaped by low typical incomes and a workforce that is much smaller than in most similar regions.
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The typical resident is 43, making the area noticeably older than the rest of Australia. This trend is highlighted by the 21.1% of people aged 65 and over, a figure that rose by 19 points since 2011.
Born overseas, 43% of the population comes from abroad, which is far above the national figure. However, this proportion fell by 19 points since 2011.
Language diversity is high, with 28.3% of people using a language other than English at home. This is well above the national figure and represents a 22 point increase since 2011.
People with no religion make up 26.8% of the community, which is far below the national figure. This figure has risen by 20 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 9.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree and 30% finishing Year 12, both far below national levels.
Incomes are among the lowest at this level; the typical household earns $1,142 a week, which is well below the national figure of $1,746.
The community is healthier than most, with long-term health conditions affecting 17.9% of people, well below the national figure of 27.7%.
Volunteering is well above the national average at 18.5%. Conversely, the proportion of people caring for children unpaid is far below the rest of Australia.
Living arrangements vary, with 32.2% of people living alone, which is well above the national figure. One-parent families are also more common here than in most similar areas.
Almost every home is a separate house, with 96.5% being detached. Rent is very affordable, with a typical weekly rent of $129, far below the national figure.
Most residents rely on cars, and 40.4% of homes have two vehicles. Only 7.6% of people work from home, which is far below the national figure.
The population is very stable, as only 20.1% of people moved in the last five years, far below the national figure of 40.7%.
Only 39.6% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure. The unemployment rate is 5.3%, about the same as the national average.
The area is highly car-dependent with a walkability score of 0.7. While 43.6% of homes are near a park, almost no one can walk to a school or public transport.