Urban Centre · Area profile
Mount Barker
29 km²
A much younger population than the state average marks Mount Barker, where the typical resident is just 37. This community is shaped by a high number of families with children, leading to a preference for large, detached homes. While it has seen a recent population drop, it remains a relatively affluent area with a well-qualified workforce and a strong trend toward secularism. Its character is defined by a professional, family-oriented atmosphere set within a sprawling residential landscape.
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The area is noticeably younger than the South Australian average, with 20.1% of the population being children under 15. While the total population shrank by 14% since 2011, the proportion of seniors has risen slightly to 17.1%.
English and Australian ancestries are most common, with 47.4% and 39.2% respectively. People born overseas make up 16.5% of the community, a figure that has risen since 2011 despite being far below the national average.
English is the main language for 90.1% of residents. While only 6.5% of people use another language at home—far below the national figure—this is still much higher than in many similar areas.
The community is far more secular than the rest of Australia, with 53.2% of people reporting no religion. This figure has risen sharply by 22 percentage points since 2011.
Educational attainment has climbed significantly, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree rising 14 points since 2011 to 22.4%. About 59.4% of residents completed Year 12, which is well above the state average.
Typical weekly household incomes are $1,690, which is a little above the South Australian figure. This reflects a general rise in wealth, with the share of households earning over $3,000 a week increasing by 14 points since 2011.
About 11.1% of residents have a mental health condition, which is a little above the national average. However, the rate of long-term health conditions is lower than in most similar areas.
Local residents are very active, with 20.1% volunteering, well above the national figure. This community focus is also seen in the 31.6% of people who provide unpaid care for children.
Family living is common here, with 57.5% of households consisting of couples with children. Consequently, there are more people per home than usual, and fewer people living alone compared to the state average.
The area is dominated by large homes, with 92% being separate houses and 87.7% having three or more bedrooms. Typical weekly rents are $350, which is a little above the state average.
Most people rely on cars, though the share of people working from home rose to 10.4% since 2011. Only 2.8% of the workforce commutes via public transport.
The community is highly mobile, with 48.6% of people having moved in the last five years—far above the state average. Recent overseas arrivals make up 9.0% of the population.
The area has a high rate of people working or looking for work at 66.0%. Unemployment is low at 3.7%, and many residents work in professional roles or health care and social assistance.
While most homes are within a short walk of a park, the area is less walkable than the state average. Only about half of the homes have easy walking access to schools or health services.