Urban Centre · Area profile
Cockatoo Valley
4 km²
Daily life in Cockatoo Valley is defined by spacious family living and a high reliance on cars for everything. The population grew 34% since 2011 to 688 people, creating a community where large detached houses and family-oriented households are the norm. It is a relatively affluent area with high typical incomes, though it lacks basic local services like shops or health clinics. This combination of wealth and a family-heavy demographic makes it a distinct, residential pocket of the Barossa region.
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The area is noticeably older than the national figure, with a typical resident aged 42. It has a strong family presence, as children under 15 make up 20.3% of the population, which is well above the South Australian average.
English and Australian are the most common ancestries. While 15.3% of residents were born overseas—much higher than most similar areas—this is still far below the national figure.
English is the dominant language, spoken by 96.7% of the community. Only 3.3% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the state and national averages.
A majority of residents report no religion, at 55.4%. This is far above the national figure and represents a significant increase of 22 points since 2011.
The community is well-educated, with 52.1% of residents completing Year 12. Those with a bachelor degree or higher make up 16.1%, which is higher than most similar areas but well below the state average.
Household incomes are very high, with 26.1% earning $3,000 or more a week. The typical weekly household income is $2,257, which is well above both the state and national figures.
Residents are generally healthier than in other areas, with only 26.9% reporting a long-term health condition. This is well below the state average, and only 4.1% of people need help with daily activities.
There is a high level of unpaid care here; 34.8% of people care for children and 17.8% provide other unpaid care, both figures being well above the national average.
Large households are common, with 3.0 people per home, which is well above the national figure. Very few people live alone, at just 4.0%, while 60.4% of homes are couples with children.
Almost every home is a separate house (99.1%), and 94.2% have three or more bedrooms. Renting is very rare at 4.9%, far below the state average, and typical monthly mortgage payments are $1,863.
Car ownership is universal, as 0% of homes have no motor vehicle. Most residents drive to work, and nearly 40% of homes have two vehicles.
The area is stable, with 34.2% of people moving in the last five years, which is a little below the state figure. No recent arrivals from overseas were recorded in the latest census.
Job prospects are strong, with 70.0% of adults working or looking for work. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, which is much lower than most similar areas.
The area is heavily car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.9. While 90.6% of homes are near a park, there is no access to groceries or health services within a 15-minute walk.