Kiama

The community is far older than the national figure, with 27.6% of people aged 65 and over, a figure that rose 7.0 percentage points since 2011. Children under 15 make up 16.5% of the population, which is a little below the state and national averages.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas heritage most commonly cite English, Irish, or Scottish ancestry. The proportion of people born overseas is 14.6%, which is far below the New South Wales and national figures.

English is the dominant language, spoken by 91% of the population. Only 4.5% of residents use another language at home, and those who speak little or no English make up just 0.4% of the community.

A growing number of residents report having no religion, now making up 41.3% of the area, which is a rise of 21 percentage points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 51.3%.

The area is highly qualified, with 30.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, which is well above the national figure. Year 12 completion is also much higher than in most similar areas.

Typical weekly household incomes are $1,834, which is much higher than in most similar areas. The proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 15 percentage points since 2011 to reach 24.9%.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.6% of residents. Arthritis is the most reported condition, affecting 11.8% of the population.

Residents are more active in unpaid work than the national average, with 20.6% volunteering and 26.2% spending 15 or more hours a week on housework. This is consistent with a high number of retirees living in the area.

First Nations residents in Kiama have a much higher typical personal income and Year 12 completion rate (48.6%) than the state and national figures. The unemployment rate for this group is also much lower than most areas at 6.6%.

Families tend to be larger than in most areas, with an average of 2.5 people per home. One-parent families make up 9.3% of households, which is well below the national average.

Home ownership is very high, with 47.5% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. Most homes are large, and 81.8% have three or more bedrooms, while rentals are much less common than in most areas.

Cars are essential here, with 50.3% of people driving to work and only 0.4% using public transport. Working from home is common, with 27.4% of the workforce doing so, a massive increase since 2011.

About 35.5% of residents moved in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%. Recent arrivals from overseas are also much lower than most areas at 5.8%.

The unemployment rate is very low at 3.4%, though the proportion of people working full-time is much lower than the national average. Many residents work in health care, education, or construction.

Kiama is among the most advantaged areas in the country, ranking 9 out of 10 for overall advantage. It has a very high score for access to money, resources, and job skills.

The area is very wet compared to the rest of the state, with average annual rainfall of 1,831mm. Temperatures are generally milder, with a maximum average that is lower than most areas.

This is a very safe community, with recorded offences per 100,000 people among the lowest in the country. Rates of burglary, robbery, and theft are all significantly lower than in most similar areas.

While many people live within a short walk of a park or public transport, the area is less walkable for daily needs. Only 56.4% of homes are within 15 minutes of groceries, which is far below the state average.