Sawtell - Boambee

The community is noticeably older than the national figure, with 23.7% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population has grown by 6.0 percentage points since 2011.

People born overseas make up 11.4% of the population, which is far below the New South Wales figure of 29.3%. Most residents claim English or Australian ancestry.

English is the dominant language, with only 4.4% of people using another language at home—a figure far below the national average of 22.3%.

People with no religion now make up 42.5% of the community, a figure that has risen by 21 percentage points since 2011.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 18.2%, which is well below the state average. Year 12 completion also sits far below the national figure at 44.5%.

Typical weekly family income is $1,690, which is well below the national figure of $2,120. This lower income is consistent with a lower proportion of residents earning $3,000 or more per week.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 35.5% of people. This includes higher rates of mental health conditions and arthritis.

Volunteer rates are higher than most areas at 16.2%, and a higher than usual 14.0% of people provide unpaid care.

First Nations people make up 6.4% of the population, which is well above the national average. This group faces higher unemployment at 13.6% and lower Year 12 completion rates.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 18.0% of households. About 27.4% of people live alone.

Homes are predominantly separate houses, and 37.2% are owned outright, which is well above the national figure. Most homes are large, with 77.6% having three or more bedrooms.

Car use is dominant for work, as only 0.3% of people commute by public transport. However, 86.8% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of a stop.

The area is relatively stable, with 36.3% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%.

Full-time employment is much lower than most areas at 52.4%. Many residents work in health care and social assistance, which is the largest industry at 20.3%.

The area ranks lower than most similar regions for overall advantage, with a score of 3 out of 10, reflecting lower typical incomes and job skills.

The region is very wet, with an average annual rainfall of 1,880mm, which is far above the New South Wales average.

The area is only somewhat walkable, as many residents live more than 15 minutes from health services and groceries.