Urban Centre · Area profile
Merinda
1 km²
A small population of 228 people makes Merinda one of the smallest areas of its kind. The community is notably older and more diverse in its heritage, with 14.5% of residents being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. While typical ages are far older than the national figure, there are still many children, and homes tend to be larger than usual. It is a car-dependent area where most people live in separate houses.
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This is an older community where the typical resident is 47, and nearly a quarter are seniors aged 65 or over. It also has a strong Indigenous presence, with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population rising to 14.5% since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people (7.0%) than the state or national figures. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the dominant language, and the proportion of people using another language at home is much lower than in most other areas at just 1.3%.
Religious views are shifting, with the proportion of people reporting no religion rising 20 points since 2011 to reach 39.0%.
Education levels are much lower than the national average, with only 30.8% of residents completing Year 12 and just 1.6% holding a bachelor degree or higher.
Typical weekly incomes are well below the national figure, with typical families earning $1,312 and typical individuals making $615.
A significant 10.5% of people need help with daily activities, which is much higher than most areas. Arthritis and diabetes are the most common long-term health conditions reported.
While about 13.5% of people provide unpaid care, the number of volunteers is among the lowest at this level, falling to 6.5% since 2011.
Homes are generally larger, with 2.5 people per household, and more than half are couples with children.
Every single home in Merinda is a separate house. While 41.4% are owned outright, the proportion of households renting is higher than in most similar areas.
The area is entirely dependent on cars, as every home has at least one motor vehicle and no one works from home.
The community is relatively stable, with 35.0% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. There were no recent arrivals from overseas.
Full-time employment is far above the national average at 72.2%, though the unemployment rate is also higher than usual at 7.6%. Many residents work in agriculture, construction, or mining.
Merinda is highly car-dependent with a very low walkability score. While most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school, there are no parks, groceries, or health services within that distance.