Urban Centre · Area profile
Cowes
11 km²
Far older than the typical Victorian town, Cowes is a community where 35.5% of residents are aged 65 or over. This high proportion of seniors helps explain why the typical age is 56 and why the area has a higher rate of long-term health conditions than most. It is a place of shifting populations, with half the residents having moved here in the last five years, though the total population shrank by 27% since 2011. The town is largely residential, dominated by detached houses and a high number of people living alone.
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The typical resident is 56, making Cowes far older than the national figure of 38. This senior profile is marked by a sharp rise in those aged 65 and over, who now make up 35.5% of the population, while children under 15 have fallen to 13.9%.
People born overseas make up 19.8% of the community, which is among the highest for its level and has risen since 2011. The most common ancestries are English, Australian, Irish, and Scottish.
While 85.7% of people speak only English, there is a growing number of people using another language at home, which rose to 7.8% since 2011. This is much higher than in most similar areas, though still far below the state average.
A large proportion of the community reported no religion, at 46.7%, which is well above the national figure. This represents a significant increase from 2011, when only 25.6% identified this way.
Education levels are higher than in most similar areas, with 16.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This figure, as well as the 44.5% who completed Year 12, has risen since 2011.
Typical weekly household incomes are far below the state and national figures, sitting at $1,029. Most people earn under $650 a week, though the share of households earning $3,000 or more has risen to 9.4%.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 38.2% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is reflected in the 8.2% who need help with daily activities, a figure that has risen since 2011.
Volunteer rates are well above the national average at 17.8%, and more people provide unpaid care compared to most areas. There is also a higher-than-average number of people who served in the Defence Force.
Homes here are smaller than usual, with only 2.1 people per home. This is consistent with a high number of people living alone, which rose to 34.9% by 2021.
Home ownership is very strong, with 47.5% of houses owned outright, far above the national figure. Detached houses are the dominant type, making up 83.8% of all dwellings.
Cars are essential here, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. However, working from home has become much more common, rising to 18.0% since 2011.
The area is highly mobile, with 50.0% of residents having moved in the last five years, which is well above the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals make up 7.7% of the population.
Fewer people are working or looking for work compared to most areas, at 43.2%, and full-time employment has fallen since 2011. The most common industries for those employed are health care, accommodation and food, and retail.
The area is somewhat walkable, and nearly every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park. However, it falls far below the state average for accessibility to schools, health services, and groceries.