Urban Centre · Area profile
Wallaroo
13 km²
A far older population than most similar areas defines Wallaroo, where the typical resident is 57. The community has grown quickly, adding over 2,300 people since 2011, yet it has become much less child-friendly as the proportion of children fell by 10 points. This shift is reflected in a high number of seniors and a rise in people living alone. It is a place where many residents now age in place, with a high rate of outright home ownership and a significant need for health support.
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Wallaroo is far older than the national figure, with 35% of residents aged 65 and over, which is 18 points above the Australian average. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 12.8% of the population, a figure that is well below the state and national averages.
The area is predominantly Australian born, with 82.7% born here and only 9.5% born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, accounting for 45.2% and 44.4% respectively.
English is the primary language for 90.3% of residents, meaning the proportion of people using another language at home is far below the national average. Only 0.3% of the community speak little or no English.
Nearly half of residents (47.8%) report having no religion, a figure that is well above the national average and has risen by 12 points since 2011. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 42.4%.
Education levels are much lower than in most similar areas, with only 7.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The proportion of residents who completed Year 12 is also far below the national figure, at 28.1%.
Typical incomes are much lower than the national average, with the usual household earning $907 a week. This figure has fallen by $399 since 2011, and only 6% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health needs are significant here, as 43.4% of people have a long-term health condition, which is far above the national figure. Consequently, 10.1% of residents need help with daily activities, a rate much higher than most other areas.
Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 19.3% of people pitching in. There is also a higher rate of former Defence Force members (4.8%) compared to the state and national averages.
Living arrangements have shifted, with 33.1% of people now living alone, which is well above the national average. This contributes to a lower average household size of 2.1 people per home.
Housing is dominated by separate houses (91.5%), and 43.2% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure. While rents are well below the national average at $250 a week, the proportion of renters has risen to 30%.
Most residents rely on cars, with 64.6% driving to work and only 0.6% using public transport. About 5.5% of homes have no motor vehicle, a figure that has risen slightly since 2011.
The area has seen significant movement, with 37.7% of people moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas are few, at 4.7%, which is well below the national average.
The workforce is much smaller than in most similar areas, with only 40.7% of adults working or looking for work. Unemployment is also much higher than average at 10.2%, and full-time employment has fallen since 2011.
Wallaroo is somewhat walkable, with 91.2% of homes within a short walk of a park and 56.6% near health services. However, access to groceries (41%) and schools (53.1%) is far below the state average.