Urban Centre · Area profile
Cummins
2 km²
Nestled in the Lower Eyre Peninsula, Cummins is a small rural town with a strong tradition of community service. It is a place where nearly half the population volunteers, far exceeding national figures. The community is notably older than the Australian average, with a high proportion of seniors and a stable, long-term population. This sense of stability is reflected in the local housing and a workforce deeply connected to the land and local services.
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The community is noticeably older than the state and national average, with the typical resident aged 46 and nearly 30% of people aged 65 or over. This shift toward an older population is clear, as the proportion of seniors rose 7.3 points since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people compared to the rest of the country. Australian and English are the most common ancestries reported.
English is the primary language used at home for 94.1% of the population. This means the proportion of people using another language is far below both state and national figures.
Over half of residents identify as Christian, while 40.4% report no religion. The number of people with no religious affiliation has risen 17 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than the national average, with only 10.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the proportion of people completing Year 12 rose 8.3 points since 2011.
Typical weekly personal income is $785, which is about the same as the national figure. Typical weekly household income is $1,407, though this is a little below the national average.
A higher proportion of residents live with long-term health conditions compared to the rest of Australia, with 36.9% reporting one. Asthma and arthritis are the most common conditions reported.
Volunteerism is a standout feature here, with 46.4% of people volunteering—far above the national figure of 14.1%. Many residents also provide unpaid care for children and housework.
About half of all households consist of couples with children. One-parent families are much less common here than in most other areas.
The town consists almost entirely of separate houses, and 40.4% are owned outright. Rents are far below the national figure, with a typical weekly rent of $180.
Cars are essential for the community, as no one uses public transport to commute to work. Very few homes are without a motor vehicle.
The population is stable and less mobile than most areas, with fewer people moving in the last five years compared to the state average. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.
The local economy is anchored by agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which employ 19.3% of the workforce. The unemployment rate is 2.8%, which is much lower than in most other areas.
The town is very walkable for its size, with almost every home within a 15-minute walk of health services, groceries, and parks.