The role of community newspapers in Australia's "cities of villages" is emphasised in new NewsMediaWorks research.

Some 85 per cent of Australians (age 14+) who read community newspapers like to know what's going on in their local community, according to emma data for the 12 months to last April.

The report says Australia's cities are effectively becoming cities of villages that service all needs. Population growth and the recent boom times for building units both move Australia towards an increased focus on local living, local working, local shopping and local entertainment as residents seek the sense of belonging that comes with community.

Some 72 per cent look to local papers as their main source for information, and 69 per cent would miss it if it wasn't available.

These readers are also out and about visiting shops more than the average, with 83 per cent shopping at a local strip, and spending more - ten per cent more likely to be in the top 20 per cent spenders on fish/seafood, and six per cent more likely to be in the top quintile as high spenders on white goods.

The Think Local research commissioned by NewsMediaWorks showed that 73 per cent of the population like having national businesses and stores in their neighbourhood, a point reflected in the finding that 57 per cent of them shopped at hardware chain at least every three months. NewsMediaWorks says this represents a targeting efficiency for advertisers, achieved despite the scale of 4.1m readers.

These and more facts are summarised in a new flyer.