Urban Centre · Area profile
Charleston
0 km²
Far more families with children live here than in most similar areas, making Charleston a youthful community in the Adelaide Hills. While the population has shrunk by 22% since 2011, the area remains a high-earning enclave with typical weekly household incomes well above the national figure. It is a place of large detached homes and high professional employment, where a strong sense of civic duty is seen in the high number of volunteers.
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Children under 15 make up 21.5% of the population, which is well above the national figure. The typical resident is 41, and while the community is noticeably older than the Australian average, there are far fewer seniors than in most similar areas.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian born, with only 6.3% born overseas—a figure far below both the state and national averages. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for almost everyone here, with only 2.2% of people using another language at home, which is far below the national average.
A majority of residents report no religion at 53.6%, a figure far above the national average that has risen since 2011.
Education levels have climbed since 2011, with 58.1% of residents completing Year 12. This is among the highest rates for similar areas, and the number of people with a bachelor degree or higher has more than doubled since 2011.
Typical weekly household incomes are much higher than in most similar areas, reaching $2,104. This is well above the South Australian figure and represents a significant increase of over $1,000 since 2011.
Residents generally enjoy good health, with only 3.5% needing help with daily activities, which is well below the state average.
Volunteerism is very high here, with 30.4% of people volunteering—far above the national figure. This community also sees higher rates of unpaid housework and childcare than most similar areas.
Homes tend to be larger, with 2.8 people per household, which is higher than the national figure. This is consistent with a high proportion of couples with children and very few people living alone.
The area is dominated by large detached houses, with 91.9% having three or more bedrooms. While typical rents are well above the state average, very few people rent here, as 63.1% have a mortgage.
Car dependency is total, as every single home has at least one motor vehicle. Most people drive to work, though 9% now work from home.
The population is relatively stable, with far fewer people moving in the last five years compared to the rest of the state.
The area has a very high rate of people working or looking for work at 72.8%, and unemployment is much lower than in most similar areas at 3.2%.
While every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park, the area is mostly car-dependent. There are no schools, groceries, or health services within a 15-minute walk.