Urban Centre · Area profile
Woomera
47 km²
Daily life in Woomera is defined by a small, highly mobile population where a huge number of residents walk to local shops and parks. The community has shrunk by 55% since 2011, with the typical resident now 43 years old. It is a place of high earners and a strong Defence Force presence, though it is marked by a lack of home ownership. Most people live in detached houses, though many live alone in a town that feels more like a transit point than a permanent settlement.
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The population is noticeably older than the national figure, and children under 15 make up only 9.1% of the community. Since 2011, the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents has fallen sharply from 90.1% to 3.8%.
Most residents were born in Australia, though the proportion of people born overseas rose to 12.1% since 2011. Australian and English are the most common ancestries, both at 40.9%.
English is the main language used at home for 89.4% of people, and the number of residents using other languages has fallen significantly since 2011. No one in the area reports speaking little or no English.
About 40.2% of the community reports having no religion, a figure that rose 36 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 43.9%.
While 44.5% of residents completed Year 12, only 6.0% hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national figure. Qualifications are heavily skewed toward engineering and related fields.
Incomes are very high here, with the typical personal weekly income of $1,275 far exceeding the South Australian figure. Nearly one in five people earn $2,000 or more a week.
Long-term health conditions are much more common than in most areas, affecting 37.9% of residents. About 7.6% of people need help with daily activities, which is higher than the national average.
Volunteering is very common, with 35.3% of people helping out, far above the national figure. The community has a strong military link, with 26.1% of residents having served in the Defence Force.
Living arrangements are unusual, as 57.5% of people live alone and the typical home holds only 1.7 people. This is far above the national figure for single-person households.
Renting is very common at 50.7%, and not a single home is owned outright. While most are separate houses, the typical weekly rent of $103 is far below the national figure.
Cars are essential, as every single home has at least one motor vehicle and no one uses public transport to get to work. About 30.7% of workers walk to their jobs.
The population is very transient, with 55.4% of residents having moved house in the last five years. This is far above the state and national averages.
Employment is very high, with 78.4% of people working full-time. Most residents work in construction or public administration and safety.
Almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of groceries, schools, and parks. However, no homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport or health services.