2786, NSW

This is an ageing community, with 28.3% of people aged 65 and over, which is far above the national figure. Children under 15 make up only 13.2% of the population, a figure that fell since 2011.

About 21.4% of residents were born overseas, which is higher than most similar areas, though still well below the New South Wales average. English ancestry is the most common at 45.5%.

English is the primary language for 87.4% of the area. While 7.5% of people use another language at home—a higher rate than most similar areas—very few people speak little or no English.

A majority of residents identify as having no religion, at 55.6%. This is far above the national figure and represents a significant increase of 27 points since 2011.

The area is highly educated, with 32.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is well above the national figure and has risen by 14 points since 2011.

Typical household income is $1,225 a week, which is well below the national figure. However, 11.7% of people earn $2,000 or more weekly, a figure that has risen since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 35.4% of people living with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are also reported at a higher rate than the state average.

Volunteering is common here, with 22.2% of people helping out, well above the national figure. Many residents also provide unpaid care or do significant amounts of housework.

Small households are the norm, with people per home at just 2.0. This is well below the national average, and 38.1% of people live alone, which is far above the national figure.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, making up 98.7% of all homes. Half of all homes are owned outright, a figure far above the state and national averages.

Working from home is very common, with 34.0% of the workforce doing so, far above the national figure. Most residents rely on cars, as the drive time to the city is 100 minutes.

The population is somewhat mobile, with 37.4% of people moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas are much lower than in most other areas.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas, at 49.3%. Full-time employment is also far below the national figure.

Residents generally have high levels of education and job skills, which helps the area rank higher than 70% of other areas for overall advantage.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. This is partly due to the steep terrain and the fact that no homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.