Federal Electorate · Area profile
Macquarie
4,360 km²
Higher than typical incomes and a preference for large homes define Macquarie. This community is noticeably older than the national average, with a typical resident aged 42. It is a stable, largely Australian-born population where many people own their homes outright. The area feels spacious and residential, with a strong trend toward detached housing and a growing number of people working from home.
Explore Macquarie by topic
The area is older than most, with 19.7% of residents aged 65 or over. About 3.7% of the population is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a figure that has risen by 3.2 points since 2011.
Macquarie is far less diverse than the state average, with 80.7% of people born in Australia and only 15.5% born overseas. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the dominant language, with only 6.8% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3% and has fallen since 2011.
About 41.3% of residents report having no religion, which is well above the New South Wales average. This figure has risen by 19 points since 2011.
A quarter of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is higher than most similar areas. While the area has many schools, the percentage of people who completed Year 12 is well below the national average.
Typical incomes are higher than the national figure, with a typical family earning $2,253 a week. Nearly a quarter of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, a figure that has risen since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.6% of people. Mental health conditions are also much more frequent than in similar areas.
Volunteering is much higher than in most areas, with 16.5% of people helping out. Many residents also provide unpaid care, and a higher than average number of people served in the Defence Force.
Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.6 people per home. Couples with children make up 58.8% of families, while one-parent families are less common than in most areas.
Detached houses are very common, making up 89.8% of homes. A high 37.1% of residents own their home outright, and 83.1% of dwellings have three or more bedrooms.
Driving is the primary way to get around, though 31.2% of people now work from home. Very few people use public transport for commuting, despite the area having many bus stops.
The population is quite stable, with far fewer people moving into the area in the last five years compared to the state average. Recent arrivals from overseas are also among the lowest for similar areas.
Unemployment is much lower than in most areas at 3.6%. Full-time employment is lower than the national average, with many people working in health, construction, and education.
While there are many parks and transport stops, the area is less walkable than most of New South Wales. Many homes are far from groceries and health services, with only 41.5% within a 15-minute walk.