Urban Centre · Area profile
Rochester
6 km²
Weekly household incomes are far below the national figure in Rochester, where a modest way of life is common. This is an older community with a typical resident aged 54, and about one third of the population are seniors. The area has grown rapidly since 2011, with the population more than doubling to 2,802 people. Most residents live in their own homes, and there is a strong connection to traditional Australian and English roots.
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The area is far older than the state or national average, with 32.9% of people aged 65 and over. This age profile is reflected in the low number of children, as those under 15 make up only 13.5% of the population.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 86.5% born here. This is much lower than the national figure for overseas births, and the proportion of people born abroad has fallen to 5.6% since 2011.
English is the primary language for 91% of residents, which is far above the national average. Only 2.3% of people use another language at home, a figure that has fallen since 2011.
Nearly half of the population identify as Christians, while 41.5% report having no religion. This last group has grown significantly, rising 16 points since 2011.
Education levels are much lower than in most similar areas, with only 29.2% of residents completing Year 12. Only 8.3% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the state average.
Typical weekly household income is $1,028, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 8.4% of households earn $3,000 or more a week.
Health challenges are common here, as 40.8% of people have a long-term health condition. This is much higher than most areas, and 11% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteer rates are high at 18.4%, which is well above the state average. About 14.2% of people provide unpaid care, slightly more than the national figure.
Living alone is very common, with 35.8% of people in single-person households. This is far above the national average, and homes are smaller than usual with 2.1 people per dwelling.
Home ownership is very high, with 50.2% of houses owned outright. Most people live in separate houses, and typical weekly rents of $220 are far below the state average.
Cars are essential for the community, as 70.2% of workers drive to get to their jobs. No one uses public transport to commute, and only 6.7% of people work from home.
The population is relatively stable, with 30.2% moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals make up 8.9% of the community.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the state average, at 45.7%. The most common industries for the local workforce are health care, manufacturing, and retail.
The area is somewhat walkable, and 91.5% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport. However, fewer homes are within easy walking distance of schools and groceries compared to the state average.