Section of State Range · Area profile
499 or less
80 km²
A shrinking population marks the recent trend for 499 or less, which lost about 26% of its residents since 2011. This is a far older community than the national average, where the typical resident is now 52. Many people here live alone in their own homes, and there is a high proportion of seniors and retirees. The area feels quiet and residential, with very few young children and a strong lean toward separate house living.
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The community is ageing rapidly, with the typical resident being 52 and seniors making up 28.2% of the population. Children under 15 are far less common here than across Australia, at just 14.2%.
Most residents were born in Australia (80.1%), and the area has far fewer overseas-born people than the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
Language diversity is very low, with only 2.9% of people using a language other than English at home. This is among the lowest levels for similar areas.
More than half of residents (50.5%) report having no religion, which is far above the national figure. This has risen significantly by 23 percentage points since 2011.
While 15.4% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, the number of people who completed Year 12 is far below the national average at 37.5%.
Incomes are generally much lower than in most other areas, with a typical household earning $1,106 a week. Only 9.5% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the national figure.
Health challenges are common here, as 36.8% of people have a long-term health condition and 7.3% need help with daily activities. Arthritis is the most reported condition.
Community spirit is high, with 19.6% of people volunteering, which is well above the national average. There is also a higher rate of people providing unpaid care and those who served in the Defence Force.
Living arrangements are often small, with 30.4% of people living alone. This helps explain why the typical home has only 2.2 people, which is lower than in most areas.
Housing is dominated by separate houses (96.5%), and nearly half of all homes are owned outright. Renting is far less common here than across Australia, at just 14.6%.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with very few people using public transport to get to work (0.5%). Only 2.6% of homes have no motor vehicle.
The population is relatively stable, with a lower percentage of people moving in the last five years compared to most areas. Recent arrivals from overseas are also among the lowest for this level.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the national average, at 50.2%. Full-time employment has fallen since 2011, now sitting at 52.6%.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.0. While many homes are near a park, only 12% are within a 15-minute walk of health services.