Urban Centre · Area profile
Clare
13 km²
Daily life in Clare is shaped by a mature population and a strong spirit of community service. This regional centre is noticeably older than the national average, with over a quarter of residents aged 65 and over. The town is dominated by large, detached houses and a high rate of volunteering that far exceeds state figures. It is a stable, mostly Australian-born community where most people live in their own homes and work in health, retail, or hospitality.
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The typical resident is 45, making the area noticeably older than most of Australia. Seniors make up 26.3% of the population, a figure well above the national average that has risen since 2011.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 9.1% of people born overseas—far below the national figure of 27.7%. English, Australian, and German are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 90.5% of the population. While the number of people using another language at home rose to 4.1% since 2011, this is still far below the national average.
About 41.6% of residents report no religion, which is a little above the national figure. This reflects a significant shift in the community, as the number of non-religious people rose 17 points since 2011.
Qualifications are higher than in many similar areas, with 16.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This has increased by 4.5 points since 2011, alongside a rise in Year 12 completions.
Typical weekly household income is $1,317, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. However, personal incomes are higher than in most similar areas, and typical earnings have risen since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, with 35.3% of people affected. This is well above the national figure, and mental health conditions are notably more frequent than usual.
Clare is a highly active community where 27.3% of people volunteer, a rate far above both the state and national figures. This spirit of service is a defining feature of the town.
Homes are generally small in occupancy, with 2.2 people per dwelling. A high number of people live alone—33.2%—which is well above the national average.
The town consists almost entirely of separate houses, with 91.4% of homes being detached. This is far above the national figure, and 80% of these homes have three or more bedrooms.
Cars are essential here, as only 0.2% of people use public transport to commute. Very few people work from home at 5.2%, which is far below the national rate.
The area has seen a fair amount of movement, with 38.4% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas have also increased since 2011 to 12.1%.
Most adults are working or looking for work, and the unemployment rate of 3.4% is lower than the national average. The local workforce is concentrated in health care, retail, and food services.
The town is quite walkable for daily needs, with 70.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries. Health services are especially accessible, with 67.6% of homes nearby, far above the state average.