Urban Centre · Area profile
Ross
3 km²
A shrinking population has seen Ross become significantly older since 2011, with 149 people leaving the area. It is now a community of retirees, where the typical resident is 61 and nearly half the population is aged 65 or over. This shift is reflected in the homes, which are mostly owned outright and often house only one or two people. Despite these changes, it remains a highly walkable village with many residents living within a short stroll of local shops and parks.
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The community has aged rapidly, with the typical resident now 61 and seniors making up 43% of the population. In contrast, children under 15 have fallen to just 6.9%, far below the national figure.
Most residents were born in Australia, though 14.4% were born overseas. English ancestry is the most common, shared by 53.6% of the population.
English is the sole language spoken at home, with 0% of people using another language, a figure well below the state and national averages.
About 48.1% of people identify as Christian, while 40.5% report no religion, which is a little above the national figure.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 9.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 31.5% completing Year 12.
Incomes are very low compared to the rest of the country, with a typical weekly household earning $805. Only 2.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Long-term health issues are common here, affecting 38.1% of people. This is far above the national figure, with arthritis being the most reported condition.
Volunteering is higher than most areas at 18.9%, and 6.7% of residents have served in the Defence Force, which is well above the national average.
Small households are the norm, with 34.5% of people living alone and a typical home containing only 1.9 people.
Home ownership is very high, as 59.3% of homes are owned outright. This helps explain why the typical monthly mortgage payment of $725 is far below the national figure.
Most people rely on cars, as 60.6% drive to work and 0% use public transport for commuting.
The area has seen a fair amount of movement, with 38% of people moving in the last five years, although there have been no recent arrivals from overseas.
Only 40% of adults are working or looking for work, far below the national average. The unemployment rate is 9.1%, which is well above the state and national figures.
The village is very walkable, with 86.2% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries and 87.1% near a park, though no homes are within walking distance of a school or health service.