Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is an older community, with a typical age of 44 and 23.1% of residents aged 65 and over, which is well above the national figure. The population has grown to 78,759 people, and those identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander make up 5.8% of the area.

Most residents were born in Australia, but 15.6% were born overseas, a figure that has risen since 2011. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Irish and Scottish heritage.

English is the main language for 84.8% of the community. While 9.2% of people use another language at home—which is higher than in most similar areas—this is still far below the state and national averages.

A shift away from organised religion is evident, with the number of people reporting no religion rising by 19 percentage points since 2011 to reach 42.1%. Christianity remains the most common faith at 44.7%.

Educational attainment is rising, with those holding a bachelor degree or higher increasing to 18.2% since 2011. However, Year 12 completion at 45.3% remains far below the state and national figures.

Typical family incomes are $1,685 a week, which is well below the national figure of $2,120. While weekly personal income has risen to $688, the area has a lower proportion of high earners compared to most other regions.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 33% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is reflected in a higher rate of people needing help with daily activities, at 6.9%.

Caring for others is a key part of local life, as 13.1% of people provide unpaid care, which is higher than in most areas. Interestingly, 3.3% of residents have served in the Defence Force, a rate higher than most other regions.

The First Nations community is among the largest for this level of area. It is a relatively young group with a typical age of 23, and 6.3% speak a First Nations language, which is higher than most areas.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 17.2% of households. Most homes contain two people, and about 27.5% of residents live alone.

Detached houses are very common, making up 75.7% of all dwellings. While 37.3% of homes are owned outright, typical weekly rents have risen by $125 since 2011 to reach $375.

The area is heavily dependent on cars, with 66% of people driving to work and only 0.7% using public transport. Working from home is less common here than across the rest of the state.

The community is quite mobile, with 40.5% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals have also increased, now making up 18.3% of the population.

Full-time employment is much lower than in most areas, at 53.1%. Many locals work in health care and social assistance, which is the largest industry in the region.

The area has a moderate level of overall advantage and a strong business presence with 6,827 enterprises. Population growth has continued since 2021, increasing by 4.2%.

The region is very wet, with average annual rainfall of 1,989mm, which is far above the New South Wales average. Minimum temperatures are also well above the state figure.

Recorded offences are higher than in most areas, particularly for motor vehicle theft and sexual offences. Assault and property damage rates are also higher than typical.

Walkability is well below the state average, as only about half of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or schools. Public transport and parks are the most accessible amenities for those on foot.