# Eden

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile

Located in: New South Wales › Rest of NSW › Bega Valley › 2551, NSW

Area: 95 km²

Weekly household incomes in Eden are far below the national figure, with a typical family earning just $1,345. This is an older community where the typical resident is 53, and over 32% of the population are seniors. The area has a strong First Nations presence and a high proportion of people who own their homes outright. While the population grew by 6.9% since 2011, the town remains a small, quiet settlement with a predominantly Australian-born population.

## Demographics & Identity

Eden is far older than the state and national average, with a high proportion of seniors and a typical age of 53. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is 8.0%, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 3,425 | +6.9% since 2011 |
| Median age | 53 yrs | +12.8% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 8.0% | +9.6% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 32.2% | +46.6% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 15.7% | -10.4% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 13.6% | +19.9% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Seniors (65+) 32.2%, Older adults (45–64) 27.8%, Young adults (25–44) 16.0%, Children (0–14) 15.7%, Youth (15–24) 8.4%

**Marital status** — Married 42.7%, Never married 31.8%, Divorced 12.2%, Widowed 9.4%, Separated 3.9%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

The community is predominantly Australian-born, with only 11.6% born overseas, a figure far below the national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 11.6% | +10.6% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 78.6%, England 3.4%, New Zealand 1.2%, Philippines 0.6%, South Africa 0.4%, India 0.3%, China 0.3%, Nepal 0.1%, Italy 0.1%

**Ancestry** — English 42.2%, Australian 36.5%, Irish 10.6%, Scottish 9.9%, German 4.4%, Italian 1.6%, Dutch 1.6%, Chinese 0.6%, Filipino 0.6%, Greek 0.5%, Indian 0.3%

## Language

English is the primary language, with only 3.3% of people using another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 3.3% | -0.3% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.5% | +45.1% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 87.5%, Mandarin 0.4%, Tagalog 0.3%, Greek 0.2%, Italian 0.2%

## Religion

A large portion of the community reports no religion at 43.5%, a figure that has risen 21 points since 2011 and is well above the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 43.5% | +92.0% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Christianity 45.1%, No religion 43.5%, Not stated 10.0%, Buddhism 0.6%, Other religions 0.4%, Islam 0.3%, Hinduism 0.3%

## Education & Qualifications

Educational attainment is much lower than most areas, with only 11% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and only 32.6% completing Year 12.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 32.6% | +16.9% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 11.0% | +49.6% since 2011 |
| Schools | 2 | — |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 3.71 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 4 | — |
| School enrolments | 792 | — |
| Average school size | 396 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 940 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 32.6%, Year 10 30.0%, Year 9 or below 16.7%, Year 11 10.4%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 36.4%, Bachelor degree 14.3%, Advanced diploma / diploma 13.9%, Graduate diploma / certificate 3.0%, Certificate I / II 2.7%, Postgraduate degree 2.6%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 15.4%, Management & commerce 12.3%, Society & culture 11.2%, Health 8.7%, Education 8.1%, Food, hospitality & personal services 7.3%, Architecture & building 5.5%, Agriculture & environment 3.1%, Creative arts 2.3%, Natural & physical sciences 1.7%, Information technology 0.9%

## Income

Typical incomes are among the lowest at this level; a typical household earns $1,013 a week, which is far below the national figure of $1,746.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $573 | +39.4% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,013 | +26.9% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $1,345 | +38.2% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 3.9% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 6.5% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $650–$1,499 33.4%, Under $650 25.9%, $1,500–$2,999 22.1%, $3,000–$3,999 4.3%, $4,000 or more 2.2%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 48.9%, $650–$1,499 30.1%, $1,500–$2,999 8.3%, $3,000 or more 1.2%

## Health & Disability

Health challenges are common here, as 37.6% of people have a long-term health condition, which is well above the national average. About 8.3% of residents need help with daily activities.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 37.6% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 10.1% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 8.3% | +10.3% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 14.9%, Mental health 10.1%, Asthma 8.8%, Heart disease 7.5%, Other condition 7.5%, Diabetes 6.9%, Lung condition 4.6%, Cancer 3.8%, Stroke 1.8%, Dementia 1.4%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 50.7%, One condition 22.7%, Two conditions 9.1%, Three or more 6.0%

## Community Participation

Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, at 17%. There is also a higher than average number of people providing unpaid care and those who served in the Defence Force.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 17.0% | -20.5% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 12.9% | +1.7% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 20.0% | -13.5% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 3.8% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 24.3% | -13.4% since 2011 |

## First Nations

First Nations residents are noticeably younger than the wider community, with a typical age of 19. However, they face significant challenges, with an unemployment rate of 17.8% and typical personal incomes well below the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 274 | — |
| First Nations median age | 19 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 22.6% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 17.8% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $428 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,125 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 2.9% | — |

## Family & Households

The area has a high number of people living alone (33.7%) and one-parent families (18.7%), both of which are well above the national average. Typical homes are small, with 2.2 people per dwelling.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.2 | -4.3% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 18.7% | -13.0% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 33.7% | +17.2% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 40.1%, Couples without children 40.0%, One-parent families 18.7%, Other families 1.2%

**Household size** — 2 people 40.6%, 1 person 33.7%, 3 people 10.7%, 4 people 7.9%, 5 people 4.4%, 6 or more 2.5%

## Housing & Dwellings

Home ownership is strong, with 44.6% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%. Typical weekly rents are much lower than the national average at $270.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $270 | +54.3% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,517 | +6.1% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.70 | -36.4% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 29.8% | -15.4% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 44.6% | +15.1% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 79.0% | -3.3% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 71.7% | -3.2% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned outright 44.6%, Rented 29.8%, Owned with a mortgage 19.6%, Other tenure 3.4%, Not stated 2.2%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 79.0%, Townhouse / semi-detached 12.3%, Other dwelling 4.8%, Flat or apartment 3.6%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 45.4%, 4 bedrooms 21.4%, 2 bedrooms 21.1%, 5 or more 4.9%, 1 bedroom 4.6%, Studio / none 0.6%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $200–$349 46.1%, $350–$549 24.6%, Under $200 22.4%, $550–$749 0.7%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,000–$1,799 42.2%, $1,800–$2,999 25.2%, Under $1,000 21.5%, $3,000 or more 8.5%

## Transport & Vehicles

The town is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.3% of people commute via public transport. Public transport access is poor, with some residents facing a 49-minute walk to the nearest stop.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 7.9% | -17.8% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 7.1% | +82.5% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 0.3% | -81.9% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 9 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 2.63 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 84.1 | — |
| Public transport routes | 6 | — |
| Walk to nearest stop (min) | 49 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 67.3%, Worked at home 7.1%, Car (passenger) 5.2%, Walked 4.9%, Bus 0.3%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 1 vehicle 40.6%, 2 vehicles 36.5%, 3 vehicles 10.9%, No vehicle 7.9%, 4 or more 4.5%

## Migration & Movement

The population is relatively stable, with 35.3% of people moving in the last five years, which is lower than the national figure of 40.7%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 35.3% | -5.9% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 6.8% | +28.4% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

Fewer adults are working or looking for work here compared to most areas, at 44.4%. The workforce is concentrated in health care, retail, and hospitality.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9% | -28.1% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 44.4% | -14.1% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 49.8% | -7.4% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Health care & social assistance 13.3%, Retail trade 11.6%, Accommodation & food 11.5%, Construction 8.5%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 7.0%, Education & training 6.9%, Manufacturing 5.6%, Public administration & safety 5.4%, Other services 4.5%, Transport & warehousing 4.4%, Professional & technical 4.0%, Administrative & support 3.8%, Wholesale trade 3.6%, Arts & recreation 1.1%, Rental & real estate 1.0%, Electricity, gas & water 0.9%, Finance & insurance 0.9%

**Occupations people work in** — Labourers 18.0%, Community & personal service 15.5%, Technicians & trades 14.7%, Professionals 11.1%, Managers 10.3%, Clerical & administrative 9.9%, Machinery operators & drivers 9.5%, Sales workers 9.0%

## Economy & Advantage

Eden ranks among the lowest for overall advantage and job skills, with a typical household income and a small business count that are both far below the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile) | 1 | — |
| Socio-economic disadvantage (IRSD decile) | 2 | — |
| Economic resources (IER decile) | 2 | — |
| Education & occupation (IEO decile) | 1 | — |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD score) | 880 | — |
| Population estimate | 3,453 | — |
| Population growth since 2021 | 1.3% | — |
| Businesses | 269 | — |

## Environment & Climate

The area is cooler than most of New South Wales, with an average maximum temperature of 20.7 degrees. It also receives far more rainfall than the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average annual rainfall | 882 | — |
| Average maximum temperature | 20.7 | — |
| Average minimum temperature | 10.7 | — |

## Walkability

While many homes are within a short walk of a park, the area is generally less walkable than the state average, particularly for accessing health services and groceries.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 4.7 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 4.6 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 46.6% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 49.7% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 65.3% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 53.8% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 89.5% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 41.6% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 26.6 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 8 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 9.4% | — |

## Schools serving Eden

4 schools, 1,536 students, average ICSEA 983.

By sector: Government 2, Catholic 1, Independent 1

By type: Secondary 2, Primary 1, Combined 1

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Eden Marine High School | Government | Secondary | 3.0 km | 536 |
| Eden Public School | Government | Primary | 3.8 km | 256 |
| Lumen Christi Catholic College | Catholic | Combined | 10.3 km | 692 |
| Pambula Beach Flexible School | Independent | Secondary | 10.7 km | 52 |

## Areas within Eden

[Eden Block 1](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102301/10104102301) · [Eden Block 2](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102302/10104102302) · [Eden Block 3](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102303/10104102303) · [Eden Block 4](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102304/10104102304) · [Eden Block 5](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102305/10104102305) · [Eden Block 6](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102306/10104102306) · [Eden Block 7](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102307/10104102307) · [Eden Block 8](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102308/10104102308) · [Eden Block 9](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102309/10104102309) · [Eden Block 10](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102310/10104102310)

## Nearby areas

[Merimbula - Tura Beach](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041025/merimbula-tura-beach) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041020/bega-eden-hinterland) · [Bega - Tathra](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041019/bega-tathra) · [Bombala](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101031013/bombala) · [Narooma - Bermagui](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041027/narooma-bermagui) · [Deua - Wadbilliga](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041022/deua-wadbilliga) · [Cooma](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101031014/cooma) · [Moruya - Tuross Head](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041026/moruya-tuross-head)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041023/eden