Urban Centre · Area profile
Ayr
21 km²
A higher-than-average rate of full-time employment defines Ayr, where 64.4% of the workforce is employed full-time. This community has grown by 23% since 2011 and is now noticeably older than the national average, with a typical resident aged 45. It is a place where people predominantly live in separate houses and many are owners, contributing to a stable but ageing population. The area is well-served by local amenities, making it a convenient place to live despite its regional setting.
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Ayr has a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population at 8.5%, which is well above the national figure. The community is ageing, with 24.5% of residents aged 65 or over, a figure that rose 3.6 percentage points since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia (79.5%), and the proportion of people born overseas is far below the national average at 10.9%. Italian heritage is particularly prominent here, with 16.1% of residents claiming Italian ancestry.
While 83.1% of people speak only English, the proportion using another language at home is much higher than in similar areas, though still well below the state average. This reflects a slight increase in language diversity since 2011.
The community is more religious than the national average; only 23.2% of people report no religion, which is far below the Australian figure of 38.9%.
Qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 9.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The most common qualification is a Certificate III or IV, held by 40.9% of residents.
Typical weekly family income is $1,710, which is a little below the national figure. Since 2011, incomes have risen steadily, with the typical household income increasing by $425 per week.
A little more than the national average of people need help with daily activities, at 7.2%. Long-term health conditions are reported by 30.6% of the population, with arthritis being the most common at 12.2%.
Volunteer rates are lower than in most similar areas at 15.3%. There has also been a decline in unpaid housework and childcare since 2011.
A large proportion of people live alone (33.8%), which is well above the national average. Households are generally smaller than usual, with 2.2 people per home.
Housing is overwhelmingly dominated by separate houses (81.6%), and home ownership is strong, with 39% of homes owned outright. Rent is far below the national average at a typical $230 per week.
Cars are the primary way to get to work, with 68.5% of people driving. Very few residents work from home (3.9%), a figure far below the national average.
The area has seen a surge in recent overseas arrivals, with 32.4% arriving in the last five years, which is far above the national figure. However, overall movement into the area has fallen since 2011.
The local economy is driven by agriculture, forestry, and fishing (14.8%), alongside health and manufacturing. Unemployment is lower than the national average at 4.0%.
Ayr is quite walkable, with 94.1% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park and 84.7% near a school. However, there is no public transport within a 10-minute walk for any home.