Cumberland

Cumberland is much younger than most areas, with 19.9% of the population under 15 and a typical age of 34. It is a large community of over 235,000 people that has grown by 9% since 2016, though the proportion of seniors remains well below the national figure.

Overseas birth is very common here, with 53.2% of people born outside Australia—a figure far above the national average. The most common ancestries are Chinese, Australian, and English, with India and China being the top countries of birth.

Language diversity is a striking feature, as 65.2% of people use a language other than English at home, which is far above the state and national figures. Arabic is the most common non-English language, and 14.2% of residents speak little or no English.

The community is more religious than most, with the proportion of people reporting no religion (14.9%) being far below the national figure. Christianity is the most common faith, followed by Islam and Hinduism.

Education levels are high, with 62.7% of people completing Year 12 and a rising number of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Management and commerce are the most common fields of qualification.

Typical weekly household income is $1,678, which is slightly below the national figure. While the number of high-earning households rose since 2016, typical personal weekly income remains lower than in most other areas.

Residents are generally healthier than those in other areas, with a much lower rate of long-term health conditions and mental health conditions compared to the state and national averages.

Volunteer rates are among the lowest at this level, falling to 7.2% since 2016. Similarly, a lower than usual proportion of the community provides unpaid care or does significant housework.

The First Nations community here is noticeably older than the national average, with a typical age of 28. There is a strong connection to culture, as 9.8% speak a First Nations language, which is well above the state figure.

Homes in Cumberland are larger than usual, with 3.0 people per household. Most families consist of couples with children (66.6%), and far fewer people live alone compared to the rest of the state.

Renting is very common, with 43.3% of households renting—far above the national figure. Homes are often smaller and more crowded than in other areas, and the proportion of people owning their home outright is much lower than average.

Public transport use is high, and the area has a very high number of stops and routes. While 29.8% of people now work from home, 12.7% of households still have no motor vehicle.

The area is very dynamic, with 40.2% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 21.1% of the population, which is well above the national average.

The local jobless rate is 8.3%, which is well above the national figure. A smaller proportion of adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas, and full-time employment has fallen since 2016.

Cumberland is a major economic hub with over 30,000 businesses and strong population growth of 8.4% since 2021. It ranks highly for job skills and education but lower for overall access to money and resources.

The area receives significantly more rain than the state average, with an annual total of 1,075mm. Temperatures are around the middle for its level.

The overall crime rate is lower than in many other areas, and burglary and property damage are much lower than usual. However, motor vehicle theft is much higher than most areas.

The area is very walkable, with 99.8% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Most residents can also easily reach parks, schools, and groceries on foot.