2580, NSW

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 5.0% of the population, a figure that has risen since 2011. The community is older than the state and national averages, with 21.2% of residents aged 65 and over.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 10.7% born overseas, which is far below the national figure. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries reported.

English is the primary language for 86.1% of residents, and only 6.1% use another language at home, which is far below the state and national averages.

Christianity remains the most common faith at 56.7%. The proportion of people reporting no religion has risen sharply by 18 points since 2011 to reach 31.1%.

The area has lower levels of formal qualifications than most, with only 14.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Those who completed Year 12 represent 41.7% of the population, which is far below the national average.

Typical weekly household income is $1,470, a little below the national figure. While incomes have risen since 2011, only 16.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 34.6% of people living with a long-term health condition and 7.3% needing help with daily activities.

Providing unpaid care is more common here than in most areas, with 13.4% of people involved. A higher proportion of residents have served in the Defence Force compared to the state average.

Single-person households are common, with 30.4% of people living alone. One-parent families are also much more frequent here than in most other areas, making up 16.1% of families.

The housing stock is dominated by separate houses, which make up 87.4% of dwellings. Homes here tend to be large, with 78.4% having three or more bedrooms, and 36% are owned outright.

Reliance on cars is very high, as only 0.4% of people commute by public transport. This is reflected in the long 120-minute typical drive time to the city.

The area has seen a fair amount of movement, with 37.5% of residents moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 14.0% of the population.

Full-time employment is more common here than in most areas at 61.2%. The most common industries for local workers are health care, social assistance, and public administration.

The area scores a 4 out of 10 for overall advantage, placing it below about 60% of similar areas across the country.

The community is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.5. This is far below the state average, with only 33.9% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries.