Urban Centre · Area profile
Peterborough
6 km²
A typical resident in Peterborough is 55, making the community far older than the national figure. This aging population is reflected in a high number of seniors and a far lower proportion of children than usual. While the town has grown by 18% since 2011, it is defined by a high rate of people living alone and a significant number of residents who own their homes outright. These factors combine to create a quiet, stable community with a very high proportion of seniors.
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The area is far older than most, with 31.1% of people aged 65 and over and a typical age of 55. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 7.6% of the population, which is well above the South Australian figure.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 9.5% of the population, which is far below the national average. English, Irish, and Scottish are the most common ancestries after Australian.
English is the primary language here, with only 2.1% of people using another language at home, a figure far below the national average. Very few residents speak little or no English.
People with no religion make up 45.3% of the community, which is well above the national figure. This has risen by 16 points since 2011.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 22% of residents completing Year 12 and 5.5% holding a bachelor degree or higher.
Incomes are among the lowest for similar areas, with a typical weekly household earning $699. This is far below the national typical income of $1,746.
Health needs are high, as 41% of people have a long-term health condition and 10.4% need help with daily activities, both of which are much higher than the national average.
While volunteer rates are a little above the state average, only 13.3% of people care for children unpaid, which is far below the national figure.
Nearly half of all residents live alone, and one-parent families are far more common here than in most other areas. This helps explain why homes are small, with only 1.8 people per home.
Housing is very affordable, with typical weekly rents at $160 and monthly mortgage payments at $542. Over half of all homes are owned outright, far above the national figure.
Most people drive to work, though 11.9% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well above the state average.
The population is very stable, as only 23.5% of people have moved in the last five years, far below the national rate of 40.7%.
Joblessness is a significant issue, with an unemployment rate of 12.8% and only 35.1% of adults working or looking for work, both far below state and national levels.
The town is very walkable, with 96.1% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services and 98.4% near a park, both far above the state average.