Urban Centre · Area profile
Cowell
5 km²
An ageing population has become the most striking feature of Cowell since 2011, as the typical resident is now 54 years old. This community is far older than most other areas, with seniors making up nearly a third of the population. While the total population grew slightly to 1,004 people, there are far fewer children than there used to be. It is a place where many residents own their homes outright and lead a quiet, established life in a very walkable town.
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The community is far older than the national figure, with 32.4% of people aged 65 and over, a figure that rose 13 points since 2011. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 13.4% of the population, which is well below the state and national averages.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up only 7.5% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. The most common ancestries are Australian and English.
English is the primary language here, with only 1.4% of people using another language at home. This is far below the state and national averages, and the percentage of people who speak little or no English is 0.0%.
About 45.0% of residents report having no religion, which is well above the national figure and rose 17 points since 2011. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 41.8%.
Educational qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 8.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national average of 26.3%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,141, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. However, personal incomes have risen by $221 since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 35.3% of residents. This is well above the national figure, and the number of people needing help with daily activities rose to 7.1% since 2011.
Volunteerism is very high at 29.1%, which is far above the national figure of 14.1%. There is also a higher rate of former Defence Force members compared to most areas.
Homes are generally small, with a typical size of 2.1 people, which is a little below the national figure. This is consistent with the high number of people living alone, who make up 31.2% of households.
Home ownership is strong, with 45.7% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. Rents and mortgage payments are also much lower than in most areas, with typical weekly rent at just $200.
Most people drive to work, and 36.7% of homes have two vehicles. Very few people work from home, at just 2.7%, which is far below the national average.
The population is relatively stable, with only 29.7% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%.
The local workforce is smaller than in most areas, with 48.7% of adults working or looking for work. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing is the largest industry, employing 19.3% of the workforce.
The town is very walkable, with 90.0% of homes within a 15-minute walk of amenities. This includes 89.0% of homes within easy reach of groceries and 87.2% near health services.