Urban Centre · Area profile
Leigh Creek
12 km²
A far higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in Leigh Creek than in the rest of the state. This small community of 91 people has seen its population shrink by 79% since 2011. It is a place of contrasts, where a high number of residents live alone and rent their homes, yet many others are in de facto relationships. The area is markedly younger than the national figure, with very few seniors and children.
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Indigenous residents make up 22% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 3.2%. The community has aged slightly since 2011, with the typical resident now 40 years old, while the number of children and seniors has fallen.
Most people here were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up only 4.4% of the population, which is far below the national figure. Australian and English are the most common ancestries listed.
While only 4.4% were born overseas, the number of people using another language at home rose to 16.5% since 2011. However, no residents reported speaking little or no English.
About 40.7% of residents have no religion, which is slightly above the national figure. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 19.8%.
A higher than usual 16% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, though this remains well below the state average. Only 36.8% of residents finished Year 12, which is far below the national figure.
Typical personal weekly income is $900, which is a little above the national figure and rose by $279 since 2011. However, no households earn $3,000 or more a week.
Residents are generally healthier than the national average, with a much lower 24.2% reporting a long-term health condition. No one in the community currently needs help with daily activities.
Participation in unpaid work is very low; only 8.6% of people volunteer, and far fewer care for children or provide unpaid care compared to the rest of the state.
Living arrangements are unusual, with 57.6% of people living alone—far above the national figure. One-parent families make up 20.5% of households, which is well above the state average.
Every single household in the community is rented, with a typical weekly rent of $84, which is far below the national figure. Most homes are separate houses with three or more bedrooms.
Cars are the main way to get around, though 18.2% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is far above the state average. No one uses public transport to commute.
The population is quite mobile, with 52.2% of people moving in the last five years. This is far above the national figure of 40.7%.
Full-time employment is slightly higher than the national figure at 60%, but the unemployment rate of 8.2% is well above the national figure. Many people work in education, food services, or retail.
The area is very walkable for its size, with 86% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, and schools. However, there is no public transport within a 10-minute walk.