Urban Centre · Area profile
Goolwa
29 km²
A far older population than most similar areas defines Goolwa, where the typical resident is now 63. The community has grown quickly, adding about 3,541 people since 2011 to reach a total of 8,756. This shift toward a senior population is striking, with nearly half of all residents aged 65 and over. This trend helps explain the high number of people needing help with daily activities and the fact that many residents own their homes outright.
Explore Goolwa by topic
The area has aged significantly, with the typical age rising by 23 years since 2011 to reach 63. Seniors now make up 46.6% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 17.2%. Conversely, children under 15 have fallen to 9.8%, among the lowest for similar areas.
People born overseas make up 20.3% of the population, a figure that has risen sharply since 2011. Most residents claim English (52.6%) or Australian (34.9%) ancestry, and 11.9% were born in England.
English is the dominant language, spoken by 92.8% of residents. Only 2.7% use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
Almost half of residents (49.3%) report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and has risen by 28 points since 2011.
Higher education levels are lower than the state average, with 13.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. About 38% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%.
Typical incomes are much lower than most areas, with a typical household earning $917 a week, far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 5.3% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are common here, as 45.6% of people have a long-term health condition. This is far above the national figure, and 10.1% of residents need help with daily activities.
The community is active, with 21% of people volunteering, which is well above the national average. There is also a strong presence of former Defence Force members at 5.9%.
Homes are generally small, with only 2.0 people per home. This is consistent with a high number of people living alone (35.2%) and a large proportion of couples without children (55.3%).
Home ownership is very high, with 50.3% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%. Most people live in separate houses, and typical weekly rent is $279.
Cars are essential for most, with 64.8% of workers driving to work. Only 0.4% of the population uses public transport for commuting.
The area has seen significant movement, with 42.5% of people moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas are few, making up only 2.6% of the population.
A small number of residents are working or looking for work (35.4%), which is far below the national figure. The unemployment rate is 6.8%, a little above the national average.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.1, far below the state average. Only 35.1% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed.