2326, NSW

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population rose to 10.9%, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%. Children under 15 make up 21.2% of the community, a much higher proportion than most other areas.

This is a very traditional Australian community, with 90.4% of people born here and only 4.6% born overseas, which is far below the New South Wales average.

English is the primary language for almost everyone, as only 1.7% of residents use another language at home, far below the national figure of 22.3%.

People with no religion now make up 43.5% of the population, a figure that has risen by 25 percentage points since 2011 and sits well above the national average.

Educational attainment is much lower than in other areas, with only 6.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and only 27.9% having completed Year 12.

Typical weekly household income is $1,373, which is well below the state figure of $1,829, though incomes have risen by $404 since 2011.

Health challenges are common here, with 37.4% of people living with a long-term condition and 14.1% reporting a mental health condition, both of which are well above national levels.

Caregiving is a major part of local life, as 30.9% of people care for children unpaid, which is well above the national figure.

Families tend to be larger than usual with 2.7 people per home, and one-parent families make up 21.1% of households, among the highest rates in the region.

The area is dominated by separate houses, making up 95.8% of homes. These are often larger than average, with 78.1% having three or more bedrooms.

Most people rely on cars, with 65.5% driving to work and very few using public transport. The drive time to the city is much higher than in most areas at 108 minutes.

About a third of the population has moved house in the last five years, and 6.8% of residents are recent arrivals from overseas.

The unemployment rate is 7.1%, which is a little above the national figure of 5.1%. Many residents work in health care, retail, or construction.

The area faces significant challenges, ranking among the smallest for overall advantage and scoring very low for education and job skills compared to other areas.

The community is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 3.2. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, and very few have nearby health services.