# Bega - Tathra

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile

Located in: New South Wales › Rest of NSW › Bega Valley › 2550, NSW

Area: 184 km²

A growing population of nearly 9,000 people has seen Bega - Tathra become a significantly older community since 2011. The area is defined by a high proportion of seniors and a strong trend toward secularism, with nearly half the population now claiming no religion. While typical incomes are well below the national figure, the community is marked by high rates of home ownership and a strong spirit of volunteering. It remains a predominantly Australian-born enclave with a noticeably high First Nations presence.

## Demographics & Identity

The typical resident is 46, making the area far older than the national figure. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 24.5% of the population, a figure that rose 5.4 points since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 8,872 | +10.3% since 2011 |
| Median age | 46 yrs | +4.5% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 4.6% | +34.7% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 24.5% | +28.3% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 17.6% | -7.5% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 13.9% | +17.6% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Older adults (45–64) 28.0%, Seniors (65+) 24.5%, Young adults (25–44) 20.5%, Children (0–14) 17.6%, Youth (15–24) 9.5%

**Marital status** — Married 44.4%, Never married 33.6%, Divorced 10.9%, Widowed 7.4%, Separated 3.6%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 9.6% were born overseas, which is far below the state and national figures. English and Irish are the most common ancestries after Australian.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 9.6% | +14.3% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 82.8%, England 2.8%, New Zealand 0.9%, India 0.5%, Philippines 0.4%, Nepal 0.2%, South Africa 0.2%, China 0.1%, Vietnam 0.1%, Italy 0.1%

**Ancestry** — Australian 43.7%, English 41.7%, Irish 13.3%, Scottish 9.9%, German 5.5%, Dutch 1.8%, Italian 1.4%, Chinese 0.9%, Filipino 0.7%, Indian 0.6%, Greek 0.2%, Vietnamese 0.2%

## Language

English is the primary language for 89% of the community. Only 3.9% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 3.9% | +67.9% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.3% | +49.6% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 89.0%, Mandarin 0.2%, Vietnamese 0.1%, Italian 0.1%, Hindi 0.1%, Tagalog 0.1%, Cantonese 0.1%, Greek 0.0%

## Religion

The area has seen a major shift toward secularism, with those reporting no religion rising 21 points since 2011 to reach 46.6%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 46.6% | +83.8% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — No religion 46.6%, Christianity 42.2%, Not stated 9.0%, Buddhism 1.2%, Hinduism 0.4%, Other religions 0.4%, Islam 0.2%, Judaism 0.1%

## Education & Qualifications

The area has a high number of schools per 1,000 children. However, only 44.3% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 44.3% | +20.5% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 19.7% | +48.5% since 2011 |
| Schools | 8 | — |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 5.12 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 8 | — |
| School enrolments | 1,999 | — |
| Average school size | 286 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 999 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 44.3%, Year 10 27.8%, Year 9 or below 10.6%, Year 11 8.6%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 33.3%, Bachelor degree 22.1%, Advanced diploma / diploma 12.6%, Postgraduate degree 5.7%, Graduate diploma / certificate 4.0%, Certificate I / II 2.3%

**Field of qualification** — Management & commerce 13.6%, Health 13.4%, Engineering & related 11.7%, Society & culture 11.6%, Education 10.0%, Architecture & building 6.6%, Food, hospitality & personal services 5.2%, Agriculture & environment 3.7%, Creative arts 3.2%, Natural & physical sciences 2.3%, Information technology 1.2%

## Income

Typical weekly household income is $1,276, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. The number of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 8.5 points since 2011 to 12.1%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $704 | +44.0% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,276 | +41.3% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $1,655 | +48.3% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 6.8% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 12.1% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $650–$1,499 33.0%, $1,500–$2,999 27.0%, Under $650 20.8%, $3,000–$3,999 6.9%, $4,000 or more 5.2%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 42.7%, $650–$1,499 34.4%, $1,500–$2,999 12.5%, $3,000 or more 2.2%

## Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 35% of people. Mental health conditions are also well above the state and national figures.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 35.0% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 11.3% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 6.6% | +15.5% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 12.5%, Mental health 11.3%, Asthma 9.6%, Other condition 8.7%, Heart disease 5.0%, Diabetes 4.9%, Cancer 3.6%, Lung condition 3.0%, Stroke 1.2%, Dementia 0.6%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 55.3%, One condition 22.6%, Two conditions 8.3%, Three or more 4.1%

## Community Participation

Residents are very active in their community, with 22.4% volunteering, which is well above the national figure. Unpaid care for others is also much higher than in most areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 22.4% | -15.9% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 14.7% | +16.7% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 26.2% | -3.1% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 3.0% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 26.1% | -2.8% since 2011 |

## First Nations

First Nations people make up a larger share of the population than in most areas. This group is noticeably younger than the general population, with a typical age of 20.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 410 | — |
| First Nations median age | 20 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 31.4% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 5.0% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $489 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,296 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 4.6% | — |

## Family & Households

People are more likely to live alone here than in most areas, accounting for 31.3% of households. One-parent families also make up a higher share than the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.3 | -4.2% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 17.3% | +7.7% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 31.3% | +10.9% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 48.2%, Couples without children 33.8%, One-parent families 17.3%, Other families 0.7%

**Household size** — 2 people 38.0%, 1 person 31.3%, 3 people 12.4%, 4 people 10.9%, 5 people 4.9%, 6 or more 2.3%

## Housing & Dwellings

Homes are mostly separate houses, and 42.1% are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Typical weekly rent is $320, well below the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $320 | +64.1% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,517 | +16.7% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.70 | -36.4% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 26.2% | -4.8% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 42.1% | +8.1% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 87.5% | +2.4% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 74.6% | -0.3% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned outright 42.1%, Owned with a mortgage 28.0%, Rented 26.2%, Not stated 2.0%, Other tenure 1.8%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 87.5%, Townhouse / semi-detached 8.7%, Flat or apartment 2.4%, Other dwelling 1.0%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 43.0%, 4 bedrooms 26.3%, 2 bedrooms 18.7%, 5 or more 5.4%, 1 bedroom 4.0%, Studio / none 0.7%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $200–$349 39.7%, $350–$549 38.8%, Under $200 17.1%, $550–$749 0.8%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,000–$1,799 42.4%, $1,800–$2,999 24.5%, Under $1,000 21.5%, $3,000 or more 6.8%

## Transport & Vehicles

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.4% of people commuting by public transport. Very few people work from home compared to the rest of the state.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 5.8% | -22.3% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 9.4% | +84.4% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 0.4% | -3.7% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 30 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 3.38 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 101.4 | — |
| Public transport routes | 8 | — |
| Walk to nearest stop (min) | 41 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 64.5%, Worked at home 9.4%, Walked 5.8%, Car (passenger) 4.4%, Bicycle 0.8%, Bus 0.2%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 39.2%, 1 vehicle 36.4%, 3 vehicles 13.0%, No vehicle 5.8%, 4 or more 5.6%

## Migration & Movement

About 36% of residents moved in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas rose slightly to 8.8% since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 36.0% | +0.8% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 8.8% | +45.5% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

The unemployment rate is 3.4%, which is a little below the national figure. Health care and social assistance is the largest employer in the area.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | -26.2% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 54.2% | -2.0% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 52.8% | -5.2% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Health care & social assistance 20.5%, Retail trade 10.5%, Construction 8.7%, Manufacturing 8.5%, Education & training 8.5%, Accommodation & food 8.2%, Public administration & safety 6.6%, Professional & technical 4.6%, Other services 4.0%, Administrative & support 3.3%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 3.1%, Transport & warehousing 2.6%, Electricity, gas & water 1.9%, Wholesale trade 1.7%, Finance & insurance 1.2%, Arts & recreation 1.0%, Rental & real estate 0.9%, Media & telecommunications 0.6%, Mining 0.2%

**Occupations people work in** — Professionals 20.0%, Labourers 15.4%, Community & personal service 14.4%, Technicians & trades 13.1%, Clerical & administrative 10.5%, Managers 10.4%, Sales workers 9.2%, Machinery operators & drivers 5.2%

## Economy & Advantage

The area ranks lower than most similar regions for overall advantage, with a score of 3 out of 10. Population growth since 2021 has been lower than the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile) | 3 | — |
| Socio-economic disadvantage (IRSD decile) | 4 | — |
| Economic resources (IER decile) | 4 | — |
| Education & occupation (IEO decile) | 4 | — |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD score) | 942 | — |
| Population estimate | 9,070 | — |
| Population growth since 2021 | 2.5% | — |
| Businesses | 789 | — |

## Environment & Climate

The area receives 903mm of annual rainfall, which is far above the New South Wales average. Temperatures are generally a little lower than the state figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average annual rainfall | 903 | — |
| Average maximum temperature | 22.0 | — |
| Average minimum temperature | 9.8 | — |

## Walkability

While the area has many walkable amenities per resident, overall walkability is well below the state average. Only about half of the homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 4.7 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 4.5 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 52.1% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 49.0% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 66.8% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 54.3% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 75.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 54.7% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 28.3 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 9 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 8.9% | — |

## Schools serving Bega - Tathra

8 schools, 1,999 students, average ICSEA 999.

By sector: Government 4, Independent 3, Catholic 1

By type: Primary 5, Combined 2, Secondary 1

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bournda Environmental Education Centre | Government | Combined | 6.4 km | — |
| Tathra Public School | Government | Primary | 6.8 km | 171 |
| Sapphire Coast Anglican College | Independent | Combined | 7.0 km | 454 |
| Thomas More Christian Montessori School | Independent | Primary | 7.6 km | 26 |
| St Patrick's Primary School | Catholic | Primary | 8.3 km | 175 |
| Mumbulla School for Rudolf Steiner Education | Independent | Primary | 8.7 km | 176 |
| Bega High School | Government | Secondary | 8.8 km | 706 |
| Bega Valley Public School | Government | Primary | 9.3 km | 291 |

## Areas within Bega - Tathra

[Bega - Tathra Block 1](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101901/10104101901) · [Bega - Tathra Block 2](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101902/10104101902) · [Bega - Tathra Block 3](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101903/10104101903) · [Bega - Tathra Block 4](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101904/10104101904) · [Bega - Tathra Block 5](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101905/10104101905) · [Bega - Tathra Block 6](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101906/10104101906) · [Bega - Tathra Block 7](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101907/10104101907) · [Bega - Tathra Block 8](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101911/10104101911) · [Bega - Tathra Block 9](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101912/10104101912) · [Bega - Tathra Block 10](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101913/10104101913) · [Bega - Tathra Block 11](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101915/10104101915) · [Bega - Tathra Block 12](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101917/10104101917) · [Bega - Tathra Block 13](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101918/10104101918) · [Bega - Tathra Block 14](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101919/10104101919) · [Bega - Tathra Block 15](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101920/10104101920) · [Bega - Tathra Block 16](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104101921/10104101921)

## Nearby areas

[Merimbula - Tura Beach](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041025/merimbula-tura-beach) · [Eden](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041023/eden) · [Narooma - Bermagui](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041027/narooma-bermagui) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041020/bega-eden-hinterland) · [Deua - Wadbilliga](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041022/deua-wadbilliga) · [Bombala](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101031013/bombala) · [Moruya - Tuross Head](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041026/moruya-tuross-head) · [Cooma Surrounds](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101031015/cooma-surrounds)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041019/bega-tathra