Urban Area · Area profile
Medowie
365 km²
Families with children are a major part of life in Medowie, where 21% of the population are children under 15. This is a community of mostly detached houses and large households, which is consistent with the high number of couples raising children here. While the population shrank by 31% since 2011, the area remains a predominantly Australian-born enclave with strong ties to the Defence Force. It is a place where most people rely on cars to get around and enjoy a lifestyle centered on spacious homes.
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The typical resident is 40, making the area a little older than the national figure. There is a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community at 7.6%, which is well above the national average and has risen since 2011.
The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 86.6% born here. This is far below the state and national figures for overseas birth, and the proportion of people born overseas has fallen since 2011.
English is the primary language for 92.6% of residents. Only 3.4% use another language at home, which is far below the national figure.
While 51.8% of residents identify as Christian, there has been a big shift since 2011, with those reporting no religion rising by 22 points to 41%.
Educational qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 12.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far below the national figure.
Typical weekly household income is $1,763, which is about the same as the national figure. However, the number of households earning over $3,000 a week has risen significantly since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, with 34.4% of people affected. This includes a higher-than-average rate of mental health conditions at 11.7%.
Caregiving is a prominent feature of the community; 30.7% of people provide unpaid childcare and 14.2% provide other unpaid care, both well above national figures. Also, 10.1% have served in the Defence Force, which is among the highest at this level.
Homes tend to be larger, with an average of 2.8 people per home. This is among the highest for similar areas, and only 18.9% of people live alone.
The area is dominated by detached houses, which make up 96% of dwellings. Most homes are large, with 86.5% having three or more bedrooms, and 35.6% are owned outright.
Car use is essential here, as only 0.2% of people commute via public transport. Almost every home has a vehicle, and 19.7% of the workforce works from home.
About 41.2% of residents moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are much fewer than in most other areas, at 7.3%.
More adults are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas. Many residents work in health care, social assistance, or public administration.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, schools, or health services.