Urban Centre · Area profile
Cargo
1 km²
A dramatic shift in age and family life has transformed Cargo over the last decade. This small community of 246 people has become much younger, with the typical resident now 38 and the proportion of children under 15 rising to 26%. Many more families have moved in, which is reflected in the high number of couples with children and a significant increase in de facto relationships. It is now a place where young families are common, and households are larger than in most similar areas.
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The area has a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence at 9.8%, which is well above the national figure. Since 2011, there has been a notable increase in children and young families, while the proportion of seniors has fallen by 21 points.
Most residents were born in Australia, and only 2.4% were born overseas, which is far below the state and national averages. Those with listed ancestry are primarily Australian, English, Scottish, and Irish.
English is the dominant language, with 90.7% of people using it only. Just 2.8% of residents use another language at home, a figure far below the national average.
Over half the population identifies as Christian, while 40.7% report having no religion. The proportion of people with no religion has risen by 33 points since 2011.
Formal qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 3.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. A large proportion of residents, 45.6%, have Year 10 as their highest year of school.
Typical weekly household income is $1,702, which is much higher than in most similar areas. While few households earn over $3,000 a week, typical personal incomes have risen by $394 since 2011.
About 30.1% of residents have a long-term health condition, and 7.3% need help with daily activities, which is a little above the national figure.
Caring for others is common here, with 34.7% of people providing unpaid childcare—well above the national average. Unpaid care for others is also among the highest for its level at 17.0%.
Families are larger than usual, with 2.8 people per home. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children (64.1%) and a low number of people living alone.
The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 91.6% of homes. Most dwellings are large, with 80.7% having three or more bedrooms, and 50.6% of homes are owned with a mortgage.
Cars are essential, as 74.1% of workers drive to work and no one uses public transport to commute. Only 4.8% of homes do not have a motor vehicle.
The community is very stable, with only 24.4% of people moving in the last five years. This is far below the national average and represents a 16 point drop since 2011.
There is a strong attachment to the workforce, with 62.5% of adults working or looking for work. Full-time employment (63.0%) is well above the national figure, with many working in public administration and construction.
Most homes are within a short walk of groceries, schools, and parks, though there is no public transport or health service within a 15-minute walk.