Urban Centre · Area profile
Saddleworth
1 km²
Typical household incomes in Saddleworth are among the lowest in the region, with a usual weekly income of $839. This small community has grown by 60% since 2011, though it remains a place of stark contrasts. It is far older than the national average, with a third of residents aged 65 or over and very few children. Most people live in detached houses, which helps explain why the area feels like a traditional residential pocket within the Clare and Gilbert Valleys.
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The community is far older than most, with a typical resident aged 55 and 33.2% of the population aged 65 or over. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 11.8%, which is well below the national figure.
People born overseas make up 14.4% of the population, a figure that has risen since 2011. English and Australian ancestries are most common, together representing about 80% of residents.
English is the primary language for 87.9% of the area, and it is very rare to find someone who speaks little or no English. Those using another language at home fell to 3.3% by 2021.
About 45.3% of residents report no religion, which is well above the national average. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 40.8%.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 8.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 29.3% of residents completed Year 12, far below the South Australian average.
Weekly incomes are far below the state and national figures; typical personal income is $490 and typical family income is $1,022. No one in the area earns $2,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions are very common here, affecting 42.6% of people. This is far above the national average, and 9.3% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is a standout feature, with 28.2% of people volunteering, which is far above the national figure. There is also a higher rate of people doing significant unpaid housework compared to most areas.
The area has many people living alone (35.3%) and small households, with only 2.0 people per home. One-parent families have also increased significantly since 2011 to reach 18.8%.
Housing is dominated by separate houses, with 42.8% owned outright, well above the national average. Typical weekly rent is $214, and typical monthly mortgage payments are much lower than usual at $782.
Cars are essential here, as 0.0% of people commute via public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and 10.5% of workers operate from home.
While 26.9% of residents moved in the last five years, there has been a significant surge in recent overseas arrivals, which rose 23 percentage points since 2011.
Only 45.0% of adults are working or looking for work, far below the national average. The local workforce is split across agriculture, health care, and retail, with an unemployment rate of 6.4%.
Saddleworth is mostly car-dependent, with no one living within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services. However, almost everyone is within a short walk of a school or public transport.