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Lower Hunter vs Lake Macquarie - East

Name: Lower Hunter vs Lake Macquarie - East — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Sub-region (SA3) comparison ≈ 60 km apart · Lower Hunter profile · Lake Macquarie - East profile

Lower Hunter Lake Macquarie - East

Lake Macquarie - East and Lower Hunter are two New South Wales areas with very different layouts. Lake Macquarie - East is more urban and walkable, with a walkability score of 5.6 (somewhat walkable), while Lower Hunter is mostly car-dependent with a score of 3.3. This is reflected in the homes; 92.8% of people in Lake Macquarie - East live within a 10-minute walk of public transport, compared to 60.5% in Lower Hunter. Education levels also differ, with a far higher share of adults in Lake Macquarie - East holding a bachelor degree or higher (21.0% compared to 10.7% in Lower Hunter).

Both areas share very similar typical weekly household incomes, sitting around $1,600. They also have almost identical rates of people caring for children unpaid and those who served in the Defence Force. While they are similar in these respects, other gaps are shifting; the difference in the number of people with a bachelor degree has widened since 2011, and the share of First Nations residents is now well higher in Lower Hunter than it was a decade ago.

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Where they differ most

Year 12: 11.9 pts higher in Lake Macquarie - East Bachelor+: 10.3 pts higher in Lake Macquarie - East De facto: 2.4 pts higher in Lower Hunter Separate houses: 8.4 pts higher in Lower Hunter Work from home: 8.1 pts higher in Lake Macquarie - East

Demographics & Identity

Population in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +28,569 larger in Lake Macquarie - East gap narrowing

97,927 75th pct 126,496 86th pct

Median age in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +4 yrs older in Lake Macquarie - East gap steady

38 yrs 36th pct 42 yrs 67th pct

Age structure

25.8% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +2.4 pts 23.4%

25.2% Older adults (45–64) +0.6 pts ▸ 25.7%

16.9% Seniors (65+) +4.7 pts ▸ 21.5%

20.1% Children (0–14) ◂ +2.0 pts 18.1%

12.1% Youth (15–24) ◂ +0.9 pts 11.2%

Marital status

44.4% Married +3.0 pts ▸ 47.5%

36.9% Never married ◂ +3.9 pts 32.9%

9.7% Divorced +0.3 pts ▸ 9.9%

5.1% Widowed +1.3 pts ▸ 6.4%

3.9% Separated ◂ +0.6 pts 3.3%

Age & sex structure

Lower Hunter Lake Macquarie - East

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

87.4% Australia ◂ +1.5 pts 85.9%

1.9% England +0.6 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.1% New Zealand ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%

0.5% Philippines ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.3% India +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.3% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% China +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

0.0% Nepal even 0.1%

Ancestry

45.4% Australian ◂ +2.7 pts 42.7%

42.3% English +1.5 pts ▸ 43.8%

11.1% Scottish +1.2 pts ▸ 12.3%

9.7% Irish +1.7 pts ▸ 11.4%

4.3% German even 4.3%

1.6% Italian +0.8 pts ▸ 2.4%

1.1% Dutch +0.3 pts ▸ 1.4%

0.5% Chinese +0.7 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.8% Filipino ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

0.3% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.4% Indian +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

90.7% English only +0.3 pts ▸ 91.1%

0.1% Mandarin +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Italian +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Cantonese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.0% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

0.1% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.1% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

51.1% Christianity ◂ +1.5 pts 49.6%

39.6% No religion +3.7 pts ▸ 43.3%

7.9% Not stated ◂ +2.8 pts 5.1%

0.6% Buddhism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.3% Hinduism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.3% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Islam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.0% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +5 more in Lake Macquarie - East

49 86th pct 54 89th pct

Schools/1k kids in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +0.13 more in Lower Hunter

2.49 58th pct 2.36 55th pct

Students in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +4,888 more in Lake Macquarie - East

14,154 68th pct 19,042 79th pct

Avg size in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +64 larger in Lake Macquarie - East

289 29th pct 353 38th pct

ICSEA in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +87 higher in Lake Macquarie - East

936 13th pct 1,024 55th pct

Highest year of school

35.5% Year 12 +11.9 pts ▸ 47.4%

34.7% Year 10 ◂ +4.3 pts 30.4%

13.7% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.5 pts 11.2%

7.9% Year 11 ◂ +1.7 pts 6.2%

Highest qualification level

44.8% Certificate III / IV ◂ +10.4 pts 34.4%

13.6% Bachelor degree +9.9 pts ▸ 23.5%

13.1% Advanced diploma / diploma +2.5 pts ▸ 15.6%

3.0% Postgraduate degree +3.6 pts ▸ 6.5%

1.9% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.4 pts ▸ 3.3%

3.0% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.9 pts 2.1%

Field of qualification

21.9% Engineering & related ◂ +4.1 pts 17.8%

15.9% Management & commerce +2.6 pts ▸ 18.5%

9.4% Health +2.7 pts ▸ 12.2%

9.7% Society & culture +1.1 pts ▸ 10.8%

6.5% Education +3.5 pts ▸ 10.0%

5.1% Architecture & building +1.9 pts ▸ 7.1%

6.4% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.7 pts 4.7%

2.0% Creative arts +0.8 pts ▸ 2.9%

2.6% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.0 pts 1.5%

1.5% Natural & physical sciences +0.8 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.3% Information technology +0.5 pts ▸ 1.8%

Income

Personal income in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +$54 higher in Lake Macquarie - East gap widening

$727 32nd pct $781 48th pct

Household income in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +$51 higher in Lake Macquarie - East gap widening

$1,604 44th pct $1,655 48th pct

Family income in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +$181 higher in Lake Macquarie - East gap widening

$1,941 43rd pct $2,122 58th pct

Household income distribution

29.7% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.4 pts 28.4%

27.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.2 pts 26.5%

16.4% Under $650 +0.9 pts ▸ 17.3%

9.9% $3,000–$3,999 +1.2 pts ▸ 11.1%

8.9% $4,000 or more +1.8 pts ▸ 10.7%

Personal income distribution

41.8% Under $650 ◂ +0.9 pts 41.0%

30.7% $650–$1,499 +0.9 pts ▸ 31.6%

15.6% $1,500–$2,999 +2.8 pts ▸ 18.3%

3.5% $3,000 or more +0.5 pts ▸ 4.0%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

11.9% Mental health ◂ +0.2 pts 11.7%

11.4% Arthritis +0.2 pts ▸ 11.6%

10.5% Asthma ◂ +0.5 pts 10.0%

8.4% Other condition +0.6 pts ▸ 9.0%

5.6% Diabetes ◂ +0.2 pts 5.4%

4.6% Heart disease +0.6 pts ▸ 5.3%

3.0% Cancer +0.7 pts ▸ 3.7%

2.4% Lung condition ◂ +0.1 pts 2.3%

1.1% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.8% Dementia +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.5% None +1.9 pts ▸ 58.4%

21.8% One condition +1.1 pts ▸ 22.8%

7.6% Two conditions +0.2 pts ▸ 7.8%

4.4% Three or more ◂ +0.1 pts 4.3%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +2,983 larger in Lower Hunter

9,212 91st pct 6,229 88th pct

Median age in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +1 yrs older in Lake Macquarie - East

22 yrs 21st pct 23 yrs 29th pct

Median income in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +$15 higher in Lake Macquarie - East

$601 47th pct $616 52nd pct

Household income in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +$10 higher in Lake Macquarie - East

$1,736 61st pct $1,746 62nd pct

Family & Households

Household size in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +0.1 larger in Lower Hunter gap steady

2.6 71st pct 2.5 57th pct

Family composition

54.9% Couples with children +0.5 pts ▸ 55.3%

26.3% Couples without children +1.6 pts ▸ 28.0%

17.9% One-parent families ◂ +2.1 pts 15.7%

0.9% Other families even 1.0%

Household size

34.0% 2 people +0.9 pts ▸ 35.0%

23.9% 1 person +1.8 pts ▸ 25.7%

16.0% 3 people ◂ +0.7 pts 15.3%

15.0% 4 people +0.8 pts ▸ 15.8%

7.3% 5 people ◂ +1.3 pts 6.0%

3.8% 6 or more ◂ +1.5 pts 2.3%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +$30 higher in Lake Macquarie - East gap steady

$340 43rd pct $370 56th pct

Mortgage in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +$267 higher in Lake Macquarie - East gap widening

$1,733 43rd pct $2,000 65th pct

People / bedroom in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

39.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +3.6 pts 35.5%

32.6% Owned outright +5.4 pts ▸ 38.0%

25.3% Rented ◂ +1.6 pts 23.7%

1.5% Other tenure even 1.6%

1.4% Not stated ◂ +0.2 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

90.7% Separate house ◂ +8.4 pts 82.3%

6.9% Townhouse / semi-detached +4.6 pts ▸ 11.6%

1.6% Flat or apartment +4.2 pts ▸ 5.7%

0.5% Other dwelling ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

41.8% 3 bedrooms +0.7 pts ▸ 42.5%

32.3% 4 bedrooms ◂ +5.0 pts 27.3%

14.1% 2 bedrooms +3.9 pts ▸ 18.0%

7.2% 5 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 7.1%

3.0% 1 bedroom +0.8 pts ▸ 3.8%

0.3% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

43.4% $350–$549 +4.4 pts ▸ 47.8%

41.0% $200–$349 ◂ +18.3 pts 22.6%

9.4% Under $200 +6.5 pts ▸ 15.9%

2.1% $550–$749 +6.8 pts ▸ 8.9%

0.4% $750 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 1.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

31.1% $1,800–$2,999 +8.2 pts ▸ 39.2%

37.1% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +10.8 pts 26.3%

11.5% $3,000 or more +3.7 pts ▸ 15.2%

14.6% Under $1,000 ◂ +0.6 pts 14.0%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +413 more in Lake Macquarie - East

484 72nd pct 897 90th pct

Stops/1k in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +2.15 more in Lake Macquarie - East

4.94 61st pct 7.09 88th pct

Departures/1k in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +909.7 more in Lake Macquarie - East

277.1 32nd pct 1,186.8 64th pct

PT routes in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +12 more in Lower Hunter

39 70th pct 27 49th pct

Stop walk in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East

— 1 0th pct

Drive to city in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +28 longer in Lower Hunter

126 88th pct 98 85th pct

How people get to work

60.8% Car (driver) ◂ +6.0 pts 54.8%

13.7% Worked at home +8.1 pts ▸ 21.7%

3.4% Car (passenger) even 3.4%

2.3% Walked ◂ +1.2 pts 1.1%

0.2% Bus +0.4 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.1% Bicycle +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.0% Train even 0.1%

Motor vehicles per home

38.9% 2 vehicles +1.4 pts ▸ 40.3%

30.1% 1 vehicle +3.9 pts ▸ 34.1%

16.2% 3 vehicles ◂ +3.4 pts 12.7%

10.8% 4 or more ◂ +3.6 pts 7.2%

4.0% No vehicle +1.7 pts ▸ 5.7%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

12.5% Health care & social assistance +7.0 pts ▸ 19.5%

11.7% Mining ◂ +9.4 pts 2.3%

8.9% Construction +2.0 pts ▸ 10.9%

6.2% Education & training +3.6 pts ▸ 9.8%

9.0% Retail trade +0.2 pts ▸ 9.2%

7.8% Accommodation & food ◂ +1.1 pts 6.6%

6.4% Manufacturing ◂ +1.1 pts 5.3%

3.6% Professional & technical +2.6 pts ▸ 6.2%

5.5% Public administration & safety +0.4 pts ▸ 5.9%

4.5% Other services ◂ +0.6 pts 3.9%

4.5% Administrative & support ◂ +1.5 pts 3.0%

3.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.3 pts 3.5%

Occupations people work in

12.2% Professionals +11.3 pts ▸ 23.5%

18.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +3.0 pts 15.1%

10.9% Clerical & administrative +2.6 pts ▸ 13.4%

13.3% Community & personal service ◂ +0.2 pts 13.1%

13.1% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +7.7 pts 5.4%

11.8% Labourers ◂ +3.3 pts 8.5%

10.5% Managers +0.7 pts ▸ 11.1%

8.4% Sales workers +0.2 pts ▸ 8.6%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +22,728 higher in Lake Macquarie - East

107,560 74th pct 130,288 81st pct

Growth in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +6.2 pts higher in Lower Hunter

9.1% 77th pct 2.9% 23rd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +327 higher in Lake Macquarie - East

805 44th pct 1,132 71st pct

Max temp in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +2.0 higher in Lower Hunter

25.4 66th pct 23.4 45th pct

Min temp in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +2.1 higher in Lake Macquarie - East

11.0 40th pct 13.2 65th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +2.3 higher in Lake Macquarie - East

3.3 20th pct 5.6 58th pct

Types ≤15 min in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +2.3 more in Lake Macquarie - East

3.2 17th pct 5.5 60th pct

15-min city in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +31.2 pts higher in Lake Macquarie - East

33.0% 14th pct 64.2% 58th pct

Walk to shops in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +28.0 pts higher in Lake Macquarie - East

24.5% 7th pct 52.5% 43rd pct

Walk to transit in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +32.3 pts higher in Lake Macquarie - East

60.5% 33rd pct 92.8% 64th pct

Walk to school in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +32.1 pts higher in Lake Macquarie - East

46.4% 25th pct 78.5% 65th pct

Walk to a park in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +25.1 pts higher in Lake Macquarie - East

69.5% 26th pct 94.6% 57th pct

Walk to health in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +23.0 pts higher in Lake Macquarie - East

16.0% 9th pct 39.0% 44th pct

Amenities/1k in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +2.3 more in Lake Macquarie - East

11.8 22nd pct 14.1 42nd pct

Intersections/km² in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +81 higher in Lake Macquarie - East

1 27th pct 82 61st pct

Mean slope in Lower Hunter in Lake Macquarie - East +1.1 pts higher in Lake Macquarie - East

6.4% 67th pct 7.5% 78th pct

Compare Lower Hunter with nearby areas

Maitland Lake Macquarie - West Newcastle Wyong Gosford Hawkesbury Lake Macquarie - East Upper Hunter

Compare Lake Macquarie - East with nearby areas

Newcastle Lake Macquarie - West Port Stephens Maitland Wyong Gosford Lower Hunter Great Lakes

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Lower Hunter vs Lake Macquarie - East [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa3/10601/lower-hunter/vs/11101/lake-macquarie-east