Urban Centre · Area profile
Penguin
5 km²
A population surge of 38% since 2011 has seen Penguin grow into a larger community of 3,330 people. It is a noticeably older area, where a quarter of residents are seniors and the typical age has climbed to 47. This growth has been accompanied by a significant increase in people identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, now making up 8.6% of the population. Overall, it is a place where traditional Australian roots meet a growing, older population in a quiet coastal setting.
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The community is far older than the national average, with the typical resident aged 47 and seniors making up 25.3% of the population. Notably, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen to 8.6%, which is well above the state and national figures.
Most residents were born in Australia, and 45.8% identify as having Australian ancestry followed closely by English at 45.6%. The proportion of people born overseas is 10.5%, which is well below the state average.
English is the primary language for 93.8% of the community. Only 2.2% of people use another language at home, a figure that is far below the national average.
A majority of residents, 52.8%, report having no religion, which is far above the national figure. This trend has grown significantly since 2011, rising by 28 percentage points.
Qualifications have risen over the last decade, with 16.4% of adults now holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the 37.3% who completed Year 12 is still far below the national average.
Typical weekly household income is $1,233, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. While incomes have risen since 2011, the area remains more affordable than much of Australia.
Health needs are higher than in most areas, with 37.4% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is reflected in the 8.2% of residents who require help with daily activities.
Local residents are more likely to volunteer than those in other areas, with 19.8% participating. Unpaid care is also common, as 14% of people provide unpaid care services.
The area has a high proportion of people living alone at 32.2%, which helps explain why the typical home has only 2.2 people. This is lower than the national average of 2.5.
Detached houses dominate the landscape, making up 89% of dwellings. These homes are often large, with 77.7% having three or more bedrooms, and 38.1% are owned outright.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with 72.2% of workers driving to work. Only 5.6% work from home, which is far below the national figure.
The area has seen a fair amount of movement, with 38.2% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas have also increased to 7.4%.
Health care and social assistance is the biggest employer at 19.3%. About 55% of adults are working or looking for work, with an unemployment rate of 4.5%.
Penguin is somewhat walkable, and nearly 90% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport. However, fewer people can walk to groceries or schools compared to the state average.