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Lake Macquarie vs Upper Hunter

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

State Electorate comparison ≈ 136 km apart · Lake Macquarie profile · Upper Hunter profile

Lake Macquarie Upper Hunter

Upper Hunter and Lake Macquarie are two New South Wales areas with similar population sizes, but they differ greatly in layout and lifestyle. Lake Macquarie is far more connected, with a much higher number of public transport stops and 81.7% of homes within a 10-minute walk of transport, compared to just 44.7% in Upper Hunter. Upper Hunter has a more rural character, with a higher share of detached houses (91.2%) and more people working in mining and agriculture. In contrast, Lake Macquarie has a larger proportion of professionals and more residents working from home.

Since 2011, the two areas have tracked in different directions across several key measures. While the gap in overseas births has narrowed, the difference in full-time employment has widened, with Upper Hunter now well higher in this area. However, they share many commonalities, such as almost identical typical weekly household incomes (around $1,500) and the same number of people per home. Both areas also have residents who are noticeably older than the national figure.

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Where they differ most

Full-time: 6.1 pts higher in Upper Hunter Recent arrivals: 7.0 pts higher in Upper Hunter Needs assistance: 2.0 pts higher in Lake Macquarie De facto: 2.0 pts higher in Upper Hunter Unpaid carers: 1.7 pts higher in Lake Macquarie

Demographics & Identity

Population in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +880 larger in Lake Macquarie gap narrowing

79,707 81st pct 78,827 80th pct

Median age in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +3 yrs older in Lake Macquarie gap narrowing

44 yrs 81st pct 41 yrs 64th pct

Age structure

25.5% Older adults (45–64) +1.4 pts ▸ 26.9%

24.1% Seniors (65+) ◂ +5.2 pts 18.9%

22.2% Young adults (25–44) +1.3 pts ▸ 23.5%

17.0% Children (0–14) +2.3 pts ▸ 19.4%

11.2% Youth (15–24) +0.1 pts ▸ 11.3%

Marital status

47.2% Married ◂ +0.3 pts 47.0%

31.9% Never married +2.4 pts ▸ 34.3%

10.4% Divorced ◂ +1.1 pts 9.4%

6.9% Widowed ◂ +1.2 pts 5.7%

3.6% Separated +0.1 pts ▸ 3.7%

Age & sex structure

Lake Macquarie Upper Hunter

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

84.7% Australia +0.2 pts ▸ 84.9%

2.9% England ◂ +1.0 pts 1.8%

1.5% New Zealand ◂ +0.2 pts 1.4%

0.4% Philippines +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

0.4% India even 0.3%

0.2% China even 0.3%

0.1% Italy ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

0.1% Nepal even 0.1%

Ancestry

42.1% Australian +3.5 pts ▸ 45.6%

44.4% English ◂ +2.5 pts 41.9%

11.5% Scottish ◂ +1.5 pts 10.1%

10.8% Irish ◂ +0.3 pts 10.5%

4.2% German ◂ +0.1 pts 4.1%

2.1% Italian ◂ +0.7 pts 1.4%

1.6% Dutch ◂ +0.5 pts 1.1%

0.9% Chinese ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

0.7% Filipino +0.1 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.6% Greek ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.5% Indian ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

91.1% English only ◂ +1.2 pts 89.8%

0.3% Mandarin even 0.3%

0.1% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Italian ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.1% Cantonese even 0.1%

0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

0.1% Punjabi even 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

51.1% Christianity +5.8 pts ▸ 56.9%

41.1% No religion ◂ +7.7 pts 33.4%

6.0% Not stated +2.2 pts ▸ 8.3%

0.8% Buddhism ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

0.4% Hinduism even 0.3%

0.4% Other religions even 0.3%

0.2% Islam even 0.2%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools/1k kids in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +1.15 more in Upper Hunter

2.65 72nd pct 3.80 87th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +22 more in Upper Hunter

36 86th pct 58 91st pct

Students in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +1,479 more in Upper Hunter

10,149 56th pct 11,628 69th pct

Avg size in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +81 larger in Lake Macquarie

282 19th pct 200 9th pct

ICSEA in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +51 higher in Lake Macquarie

987 30th pct 936 11th pct

Highest year of school

42.6% Year 12 ◂ +6.3 pts 36.3%

32.2% Year 10 +2.0 pts ▸ 34.2%

12.5% Year 9 or below +0.9 pts ▸ 13.4%

7.0% Year 11 +0.6 pts ▸ 7.6%

Highest qualification level

37.7% Certificate III / IV +4.9 pts ▸ 42.6%

18.9% Bachelor degree ◂ +4.4 pts 14.5%

15.8% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.7 pts 13.0%

5.6% Postgraduate degree ◂ +2.4 pts 3.2%

3.0% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.0 pts 2.0%

2.4% Certificate I / II +0.4 pts ▸ 2.8%

Field of qualification

18.1% Engineering & related +4.6 pts ▸ 22.7%

17.5% Management & commerce ◂ +2.5 pts 15.0%

11.9% Health ◂ +2.5 pts 9.3%

11.1% Society & culture ◂ +2.7 pts 8.4%

9.1% Education ◂ +1.9 pts 7.2%

6.9% Architecture & building ◂ +2.0 pts 4.8%

5.2% Food, hospitality & personal services even 5.2%

1.6% Agriculture & environment +2.9 pts ▸ 4.6%

2.7% Creative arts ◂ +1.0 pts 1.7%

2.0% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.6 pts 1.4%

1.6% Information technology ◂ +0.8 pts 0.8%

Income

Personal income in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +$20 higher in Upper Hunter gap narrowing

$717 27th pct $737 33rd pct

Household income in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +$54 higher in Upper Hunter gap narrowing

$1,496 31st pct $1,550 35th pct

Family income in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +$65 higher in Upper Hunter gap narrowing

$1,894 34th pct $1,959 40th pct

Household income distribution

29.2% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.1 pts 27.1%

29.1% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.5 pts 27.6%

17.6% Under $650 +0.2 pts ▸ 17.8%

9.2% $3,000–$3,999 +0.6 pts ▸ 9.8%

8.3% $4,000 or more +1.2 pts ▸ 9.5%

Personal income distribution

43.2% Under $650 ◂ +2.0 pts 41.2%

32.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.9 pts 29.1%

15.4% $1,500–$2,999 +1.2 pts ▸ 16.5%

2.9% $3,000 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 4.1%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

12.7% Arthritis ◂ +2.2 pts 10.6%

12.5% Mental health ◂ +3.0 pts 9.5%

10.4% Asthma ◂ +0.7 pts 9.7%

9.7% Other condition ◂ +2.3 pts 7.4%

6.0% Diabetes ◂ +0.8 pts 5.3%

5.9% Heart disease ◂ +1.4 pts 4.5%

3.9% Cancer ◂ +0.9 pts 3.1%

2.7% Lung condition ◂ +0.5 pts 2.2%

1.4% Stroke ◂ +0.4 pts 1.0%

1.3% Dementia ◂ +0.6 pts 0.7%

Number of long-term health conditions

55.4% None +3.5 pts ▸ 58.9%

23.4% One condition ◂ +3.0 pts 20.4%

8.7% Two conditions ◂ +1.8 pts 6.9%

5.0% Three or more ◂ +1.2 pts 3.9%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter even gap narrowing

2.5 43rd pct 2.5 43rd pct

Family composition

52.0% Couples with children +3.5 pts ▸ 55.5%

30.5% Couples without children ◂ +0.8 pts 29.7%

16.5% One-parent families ◂ +2.5 pts 14.0%

1.0% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

Household size

37.0% 2 people ◂ +1.2 pts 35.8%

25.2% 1 person +1.2 pts ▸ 26.4%

15.3% 3 people ◂ +1.3 pts 14.0%

13.9% 4 people ◂ +0.2 pts 13.6%

5.8% 5 people +1.2 pts ▸ 6.9%

2.9% 6 or more +0.3 pts ▸ 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +$70 higher in Lake Macquarie gap narrowing

$370 52nd pct $300 25th pct

Mortgage in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +$152 higher in Lake Macquarie gap narrowing

$1,885 52nd pct $1,733 41st pct

People / bedroom in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter even gap narrowing

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

37.3% Owned outright ◂ +1.1 pts 36.3%

35.3% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +1.0 pts 34.3%

23.1% Rented +1.5 pts ▸ 24.6%

2.8% Other tenure +0.3 pts ▸ 3.1%

1.4% Not stated +0.3 pts ▸ 1.7%

Types of homes

87.6% Separate house +3.6 pts ▸ 91.2%

8.6% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +2.4 pts 6.2%

2.8% Flat or apartment ◂ +1.4 pts 1.4%

0.8% Other dwelling +0.1 pts ▸ 0.9%

Bedrooms per home

40.7% 3 bedrooms +0.1 pts ▸ 40.8%

30.7% 4 bedrooms +2.2 pts ▸ 32.9%

16.3% 2 bedrooms ◂ +3.4 pts 12.9%

7.3% 5 or more +0.7 pts ▸ 8.1%

3.3% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.2 pts 3.2%

0.3% Studio / none +0.2 pts ▸ 0.4%

Weekly rent distribution

50.3% $350–$549 ◂ +19.7 pts 30.6%

26.4% $200–$349 +19.1 pts ▸ 45.5%

12.5% Under $200 +4.1 pts ▸ 16.6%

6.4% $550–$749 ◂ +4.7 pts 1.7%

0.6% $750 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

37.5% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +8.4 pts 29.1%

29.2% $1,000–$1,799 +6.9 pts ▸ 36.1%

15.2% Under $1,000 +1.8 pts ▸ 17.0%

12.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +0.6 pts 11.9%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +211 more in Lake Macquarie

501 88th pct 290 58th pct

Stops/1k in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +2.61 more in Lake Macquarie

6.29 83rd pct 3.68 30th pct

Departures/1k in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +636.4 more in Lake Macquarie

731.6 39th pct 95.2 8th pct

PT routes in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +5 more in Upper Hunter

34 67th pct 39 75th pct

How people get to work

56.7% Car (driver) +5.0 pts ▸ 61.7%

19.5% Worked at home ◂ +6.0 pts 13.5%

1.2% Walked +2.7 pts ▸ 3.9%

3.4% Car (passenger) +0.3 pts ▸ 3.7%

0.3% Train ◂ +0.3 pts 0.0%

0.3% Bus ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.2% Bicycle even 0.2%

Motor vehicles per home

38.8% 2 vehicles +0.1 pts ▸ 38.9%

33.7% 1 vehicle ◂ +3.0 pts 30.7%

14.1% 3 vehicles +1.8 pts ▸ 15.9%

8.8% 4 or more +1.5 pts ▸ 10.4%

4.6% No vehicle ◂ +0.5 pts 4.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

18.7% Health care & social assistance ◂ +8.9 pts 9.8%

2.7% Mining +12.1 pts ▸ 14.9%

11.9% Construction ◂ +4.3 pts 7.6%

0.7% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +9.4 pts ▸ 10.2%

9.3% Retail trade ◂ +1.6 pts 7.7%

8.7% Education & training ◂ +2.0 pts 6.8%

6.3% Manufacturing ◂ +1.4 pts 4.9%

6.0% Accommodation & food +0.1 pts ▸ 6.1%

5.2% Public administration & safety +0.1 pts ▸ 5.3%

5.1% Professional & technical ◂ +1.6 pts 3.4%

4.4% Other services ◂ +0.4 pts 4.0%

4.2% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.7 pts 3.5%

Occupations people work in

19.2% Professionals ◂ +7.1 pts 12.0%

16.4% Technicians & trades +1.0 pts ▸ 17.4%

7.6% Machinery operators & drivers +6.6 pts ▸ 14.3%

13.6% Community & personal service ◂ +2.5 pts 11.1%

10.8% Managers +2.5 pts ▸ 13.3%

9.6% Labourers +3.2 pts ▸ 12.8%

12.7% Clerical & administrative ◂ +2.7 pts 10.0%

8.4% Sales workers ◂ +1.3 pts 7.1%

Walkability

Walk score in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +1.2 higher in Lake Macquarie

4.2 26th pct 3.0 12th pct

Types ≤15 min in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +1.0 more in Lake Macquarie

4.1 26th pct 3.1 12th pct

15-min city in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +5.5 pts higher in Lake Macquarie

40.0% 18th pct 34.5% 12th pct

Walk to shops in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +2.8 pts higher in Lake Macquarie

35.2% 12th pct 32.4% 10th pct

Walk to transit in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +37.1 pts higher in Lake Macquarie

81.7% 40th pct 44.7% 14th pct

Walk to school in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +11.1 pts higher in Lake Macquarie

53.8% 26th pct 42.8% 15th pct

Walk to a park in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +22.5 pts higher in Lake Macquarie

77.4% 24th pct 54.9% 8th pct

Walk to health in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +1.4 pts higher in Upper Hunter

27.3% 17th pct 28.8% 20th pct

Amenities/1k in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +1.1 more in Upper Hunter

13.6 45th pct 14.7 53rd pct

Intersections/km² in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +17 higher in Lake Macquarie

17 31st pct 0 5th pct

Mean slope in Lake Macquarie in Upper Hunter +1.2 pts higher in Lake Macquarie

7.9% 86th pct 6.8% 74th pct

Compare Lake Macquarie with nearby areas

Swansea Wyong Charlestown Wallsend The Entrance Newcastle Maitland Terrigal

Compare Upper Hunter with nearby areas

Cessnock Maitland Tamworth Lake Macquarie Hawkesbury Wallsend Wyong Gosford

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Lake Macquarie vs Upper Hunter [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sed/SED10042/lake-macquarie/vs/SED10085/upper-hunter