2286, NSW

The population is younger than the national figure, with 19.4% being children under 15. There is a strong presence of Indigenous Australians at 7.3%, which is well above the New South Wales average of 3.4%. De facto relationships are also much more common here than in most other areas.

This is a community with deep local roots, as only 6.2% of people were born overseas—a figure far below the national average of 27.7%. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.

English is the primary language for the vast majority of the area, with 93.7% speaking it only. Consequently, the proportion of people who speak another language at home is far below the state and national figures.

There has been a significant shift in faith here, with the number of people reporting no religion rising by 24 points since 2011. At 46.0%, this is well above the national figure.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 10.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, there has been a positive trend, with the share of people completing Year 12 rising by 13 points since 2011.

Typical household incomes are about the same as the national figure, though the share of households earning $3,000 or more a week is well below the New South Wales average.

Residents face higher health challenges than most areas, with 35.5% living with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are particularly prevalent, affecting 13.5% of the population, which is well above the national average.

Unpaid care is a major part of local life, as 32.2% of people care for children unpaid—a figure well above the national average. Conversely, the rate of volunteering is much lower than in most other areas.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.7 people per household. One-parent families are also much more common here than in most other areas, while far fewer people live alone.

The area is dominated by detached houses, which make up 96.9% of homes. Most are large family residences, with 88.3% having three or more bedrooms, far above the national figure.

Cars are essential for most, as 63.2% of people drive to work and very few use public transport for commuting. While there are many bus stops relative to the population, the typical drive time to the city is a long 86 minutes.

The community is quite mobile, with 38.1% of people moving house in the last five years. This is a rise of 9.7 points since 2011.

The local workforce is active, with 62.6% of adults working or looking for work, which is well above the state average. The unemployment rate is also lower than the national figure at 3.5%.

The area ranks lower than most for education and job skills, though it sits around the middle for general access to money and resources.

Most residents live within a short walk of public transport and parks, but far fewer can walk to groceries or health services compared to the state average.