Section of State Range · Area profile
500 or more
100 km²
Separate houses make up nearly 95% of the dwellings in 500 or more, creating a landscape dominated by detached homes. This is a significantly older community where the typical resident is 48 and a quarter of the population are seniors. While many residents own their homes outright, the area is characterized by lower typical incomes compared to the national figure. It is a stable, predominantly Australian-born population with a high proportion of people living alone.
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The population is far older than the national average, with 25% of residents aged 65 or over. This shift is part of a growing trend, as the typical age rose by 5 years since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 fell to 16%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and only 12.1% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, accounting for 46.1% and 41.6% respectively.
English is the primary language for 90.3% of the community. Only 3.5% of people use another language at home, and the proportion of those who speak little or no English is among the lowest in the country at 0.2%.
A majority of residents report no religion, at 49.9%, which is far above the national figure. This represents a significant shift since 2011, when only 28.7% of the community identified this way.
While 17% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, this is well below the national average. However, educational attainment is improving, with the share of people completing Year 12 rising by 8.9 percentage points since 2011.
Weekly incomes are generally low; the typical household earns $1,221, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 11.4% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 35.3% of people living with a long-term health condition. About 7% of residents need help with daily activities, and arthritis is the most reported condition.
Residents are very active in their community, with 19.8% volunteering, which is well above the national average. There is also a higher rate of unpaid care and housework compared to most similar areas.
Homes tend to be smaller, with 2.3 people per household. A high number of people live alone—30.1%—which is well above the national figure and has risen since 2011.
Home ownership is very strong, with 43.9% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. Renting is much less common here than elsewhere, and typical weekly rents of $250 are well below the national average.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 65.4% of workers driving and only 1.1% using public transport. Very few homes lack a motor vehicle, at just 3.2%.
The community is relatively stable, as 34.4% of people moved in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals are also much less common here than in most areas.
Full-time employment is well below the national average at 53%. The most common industries for workers are health care and social assistance, followed by construction and education.
The area is considered somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.4. While 88.2% of homes are within a short walk of a park, only 37.9% are close to health services.