2502, NSW

The population has grown by 7.2% since 2011 and is slightly younger than the national figure, with a typical resident aged 39. About 19.2% of the community are children under 15, and 20.3% are seniors, which is well above the Australian average.

People born overseas make up 31.4% of the population, a figure well above the national average, although this has fallen since 2011. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, Italian, Irish and Scottish.

Language diversity is very high, with 34.3% of people using a language other than English at home, far above the national figure. This helps explain why 8.8% of residents speak little or no English, one of the highest rates for similar areas.

Religion remains common here, as the 27% of people reporting no religion is far below the national figure of 38.9%. Over half the population identifies as Christian and 10.3% as Muslim.

Educational qualifications are far below the national average, with only 10.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. While 39.5% of residents finished Year 12, this is far below the state and national figures.

Typical weekly household income is $1,138, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 10.4% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, far below the national average of 22.6%.

Health challenges are common here, with 32.7% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average, and 10.8% of residents need help with daily activities, among the highest for its level.

Unpaid care is a key feature of the community, with 14.8% of people providing care, which is well above the national figure. However, only 6.9% of people volunteer, among the lowest for similar areas.

Single-parent families are very common at 21.7%, well above the national average of 14.1%. People living alone are also more common here than in most areas, making up 29.8% of households.

Separate houses are the most common home type, though 35.9% of people rent, which is well above the national figure. Typical weekly rent is $330, well below the national average of $375.

Public transport access is strong, with 98 stops and a very high number of departures per 1,000 people. Despite this, 13.6% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well above the national average.

The community is relatively stable, as 30.9% of people moved in the last five years, well below the national figure of 40.7%. Recent arrivals from overseas also make up a smaller share of the population than usual.

Working or looking for work is far less common here than nationally, at 46%. The unemployment rate is 7.5%, which is a little above the national figure of 5.1%.

This area ranks among the smallest for overall advantage, scoring 865 against a national average of 1,000. It sits in the lowest category for access to money, resources, and job skills.

Walking to schools, parks and public transport is very easy, with nearly all homes within a short walk of these services. However, groceries and health services are far less accessible by foot than in other parts of the state.