Council (LGA) · Area profile
Bellingen
1,600 km²
Bellingen has aged significantly over the last decade, with the typical resident now 50 years old. This older profile is reflected in a population where over a quarter are seniors and a high proportion of homeowners own their homes outright. It is a place of contrast, combining a highly educated workforce with household incomes that are much lower than the national figure. Set in a high-rainfall region, the community is marked by a strong lean toward non-religious beliefs and a high rate of volunteering.
Modest local incomes, but the area's schools serve a more advantaged intake.
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The area is far older than the national average, with people aged 65 and over making up 26.9% of the population. Since 2011, the typical age has risen by 4 years to 50, while the proportion of children has fallen.
Most residents were born in Australia, and only 12.6% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language here; only 3.6% of people use another language at home, which is far below the state and national averages.
A majority of the community reports no religion, at 51.9%. This figure is far above the national average and has risen by 20 points since 2011.
Bellingen has a well-qualified workforce, with 22.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion has also risen to 47.4% since 2011, though this remains far below the state average.
Typical weekly household incomes are much lower than the national figure, sitting at $1,197. Only 10.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the state average.
More people here live with long-term health conditions compared to most areas, at 31.6%. This includes a mental health condition rate of 10.4%, which is much higher than most areas.
Volunteerism is high at 22.2%, well above the national figure. A high proportion of residents also provide unpaid care or do significant amounts of unpaid housework.
First Nations people make up 4.2% of the population. The unemployment rate for this group is 4.8%, which is among the lowest for similar areas.
One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, at 17.5%. People living alone also make up 29% of the community.
Housing is dominated by separate houses, and 48% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure. While renting is less common, typical weekly rents have risen by $115 since 2011 to $340.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.2% of people commuting by public transport. However, 18.2% of the workforce now works from home, a figure that has risen since 2011.
The community is relatively stable, with recent overseas arrivals at 4.5%, which is well below the national figure.
Only 51.3% of adults are working or looking for work, which is much lower than most areas. Those employed are largely concentrated in health care, social assistance, and education.
The area is regarded as having high job skills, ranking better than 80% of similar areas. However, population growth since 2021 has been much lower than the state average.
Bellingen is an exceptionally wet area, with average annual rainfall of 1,971mm, far above the New South Wales average.
The overall crime rate is lower than most areas, and drug offences are among the lowest. Conversely, there are higher rates of sexual offences and property damage.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.7, far below the state average. Many homes are far from public transport, schools, and health services.