Urban Centre · Area profile
Avoca
5 km²
A significant population decline has transformed Avoca, which lost 45% of its residents since 2011. The community has aged considerably, with the typical resident now 51 and a third of the population aged 65 or over. It is a predominantly English-speaking area where many people own their homes outright and a high proportion live alone. This shift toward an older, smaller population is reflected in the local housing and health profiles.
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Avoca is far older than the national figure, with 33.7% of people aged 65 and over, a figure that rose 15 points since 2011. The population has shrunk to 1,129 people, and the number of children under 15 has fallen to 16.5%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up just 8.0% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language here, with 91.6% using it at home. Very few people use another language, at 1.2%, and no one reported speaking little or no English.
The community is increasingly secular; 47.5% of people report no religion, which is well above the national figure and represents a 25 point increase since 2011.
Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 11.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 31.6% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%.
Incomes are much lower than most areas; the typical weekly household income is $890, far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 6.4% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health needs are high in this older community, with 38.8% of people living with a long-term health condition. Around 9.9% need help with daily activities, which is well above the national figure.
Local participation is high, with 18.1% of people volunteering, which is well above the state average. There is also a higher than usual number of people who served in the Defence Force at 4.1%.
The area has a high number of single-person households, with 38.5% of people living alone. This is far above the national figure of 25.6% and is consistent with the aging population.
Housing is dominated by separate houses, making up 94.0% of homes. Many are owned outright—49.0% of homes—and the typical weekly rent of $213 is far below the national figure.
Most people rely on cars, with 63.3% driving to work. Only 1.1% use public transport for their commute, and 8.8% of workers do so from home.
The population is relatively stable, as 32.4% of people moved in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work here (41.8%) compared to the national figure of 61.1%. The most common industries for those employed are health care, manufacturing, and agriculture.
The area is somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.4. While most homes are near a park or groceries, there are no health services within a 15-minute walk.