Hilltops

The population is older than most areas, with 24% of residents aged 65 and over, a figure well above the national average. Children under 15 make up 18.9% of the community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represent 5.1% of the population.

This is a community with very few overseas-born residents, at just 7.5%, which is far below the New South Wales average. Most people claim Australian or English ancestry, with Australian and English roots making up over 80% of the total.

English is the dominant language, spoken by 87.4% of residents, and only 5.2% use another language at home. This is far below the state and national figures, though the number of people using other languages rose slightly since 2016.

Christianity is common here at 61.6%, while 25.8% of people report no religion. This proportion of non-religious residents is far below the Australian average, though it has risen by nearly 10 points since 2016.

Qualifications are lower than most areas, with only 11.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 36.4%, though this has improved slightly over the last five years.

Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with the usual household earning $1,175 a week. Only 10.8% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the New South Wales average.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 33.9% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure, and 7.1% of residents need help with daily activities.

Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 13.8% of people providing such support, which is much higher than most areas. While 17.6% of people volunteer, this is a drop of over 7 points since 2016.

There are 974 First Nations people in the area, with a typical age of 23. Typical personal income for this group is $479, which is well below the state average, and Year 12 completion is far below the national figure.

Living arrangements are varied, with a higher than average 30.9% of people living alone. One-parent families also make up 15.4% of households, which is slightly above the national average.

Detached houses are the norm here at 91.1%, and 42.4% of homes are owned outright, a figure far above the national average. Rent is well below the national figure, with a typical weekly rent of $250.

The area is heavily dependent on cars, as only 0.1% of people commute by public transport. Public transport stops are very sparse, and only 12.2% of the workforce works from home, which is well below the state average.

Movement into the area is steady, with 32.8% of residents having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 13.5% of the population, which is about the same as the national figure.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are major employers for 19.6% of the workforce. While full-time employment is around the national average, the overall rate of people working or looking for work is well below the state figure.

The region has an overall advantage score of 929, which is lower than about 68% of similar areas. Population growth since 2021 has been very slow at 0.6%, well below the New South Wales rate.

The area is cooler and wetter than most, with average annual rainfall of 799mm, well above the state average. Average minimum temperatures are among the lowest in the state at 6.9 degrees.

Theft and burglary rates are much lower than most areas, though drug offences and sexual offences are higher. Overall, the number of recorded offences per 100,000 people is around the middle for similar areas.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.0, far below the state average. Very few homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport, at just 15.8% compared to over 85% across New South Wales.