Lithgow Surrounds

This is an older community where the typical resident is 47, and 23.1% are seniors, a figure well above the national average. First Nations people make up 7.0% of the population, which is much higher than most areas and has risen since 2011.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 82.0% born here and only 9.4% born overseas, which is far below the state and national figures. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for 88.6% of residents. Only 3.5% use another language at home, a figure far below the national average, and very few people speak little or no English.

Over half the community identifies as Christian, while 36.8% report no religion. The proportion of people with no religion has risen by 20 points since 2011.

Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 12.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion rose by 8.3 points since 2011 to reach 36.1%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,393, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. While incomes have risen since 2011, only 16.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 33.2% of people. Arthritis is the most reported condition, and 6.3% of residents need help with daily activities.

The community is active in unpaid work, with 16.1% volunteering and a much higher than usual 26.0% spending 15 or more hours on housework. More people provide unpaid care here than in most other areas.

There are 588 First Nations people in the area. Their typical personal income is $584, and 27.8% have completed Year 12, which is well below the national average.

Homes tend to be smaller than average with 2.4 people per dwelling. About 27.4% of people live alone, which is a little above the national figure.

Separate houses make up 96.6% of all homes, and 46.6% are owned outright, far exceeding the national average. Rent is much lower here, with a typical weekly rent of $270.

The area is heavily car-dependent, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and 37.9% have two.

The population is quite stable, as only 28.5% of residents moved in the last five years, which is far below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals make up 4.8% of the community.

About 54.4% of adults are working or looking for work, which is well below the national average. Many residents work in health care, public administration, or as technicians and tradespeople.

The area has a lower overall advantage score than most other regions. Job skills and education levels are among the lowest 20% of similar areas.

The climate is cooler than most areas, with an average maximum temperature of 19.8 degrees. Annual rainfall is 816mm, which is well above the state average.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 2.7. Only about 31% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a grocery store or a park.