Urban Centre · Area profile
Penola
4 km²
Daily life in Penola revolves around a very walkable town centre where almost every home is within a short stroll of groceries, parks, and schools. This South Australian community is notably older than the national average, with a high proportion of seniors and a strong spirit of volunteering. While the population has shrunk slightly since 2011, the area has seen a recent surge in overseas arrivals and a significant rise in educational qualifications. It is a place where traditional industries like manufacturing and farming meet a growing number of well-qualified professionals.
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The typical resident is 47, making the area far older than the national figure. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 24.2% of the population, which is well above the state average.
Most residents were born in Australia, with English and Scottish ancestry being the most common heritages. Only 9.8% of people were born overseas, a figure far below the national average.
English is the main language for 90% of the community. Those using another language at home now make up 4.1% of the population, which is a rise from 2011 but still far below the state figure.
Nearly half of the population (49.6%) report having no religion, which is far above the national figure. This number has risen by 18 percentage points since 2011.
Educational attainment has climbed sharply since 2011, with those holding a bachelor degree or higher rising by 10 percentage points to 14.3%. This is still well below the state average.
Typical weekly household income is $1,351, which is well below the national figure. However, family incomes have risen significantly by $1,113 since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than across Australia, with 32.9% of residents affected. Arthritis is the most reported condition at 11.7%.
Volunteerism is a standout feature, with 26.5% of people volunteering, far above the national figure. About 10.7% of the community provides unpaid care.
Homes tend to be smaller than average with 2.2 people per dwelling. A high proportion of residents (35.4%) live alone, which is well above the national figure.
The area is dominated by separate houses, and 80.9% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Typical weekly rent is $200, which is far below the national average.
Car travel is the primary way to get to work for 71.5% of residents. Very few homes (2.9%) have no motor vehicle, a figure well below the state average.
The community has become more mobile, with 35.5% of people moving in the last five years. This is consistent with a surge in recent overseas arrivals, who now make up 21.5% of the population.
The area has a very strong job market, with an unemployment rate of just 2.3%, much lower than most similar areas. Manufacturing and agriculture are the main industries.
Penola is very walkable, with 94.7% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a '15-minute-city' walkshed. This far exceeds the state average, as most residents can easily walk to groceries, schools, and parks.