Cessnock

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 11.7% of the population, a figure that has risen since 2011 and is well above the national average. The community is ageing, with 19.4% of residents aged 65 or over, which is higher than most similar areas.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 7.4% of people born overseas—far below the state and national figures. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, Scottish, and Irish.

English is the primary language for 86% of residents. Only 2.7% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure, and very few people speak little or no English.

About 39% of people report having no religion, which is about the same as the national figure. This represents a significant increase from 2011, when only 16.7% identified this way.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 29.1% of residents completing Year 12. Just 7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the state average.

Incomes are much lower than the national average, with the typical household earning $1,258 a week. Only 11.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, compared to 25.2% across New South Wales.

Health challenges are common here; 37.4% of people have a long-term health condition and 14.2% have a mental health condition, both of which are among the highest rates for similar areas.

While 13.1% of people provide unpaid care—a rate higher than most areas—volunteering is quite low. Only 8.2% of residents volunteer, which is well below the national figure of 14.1%.

There are 2,758 First Nations people in the area. Education gaps are evident, with Year 12 completion at 22.8%, which is far below the national figure of 37%.

One-parent families are very common, making up 26% of households, which is far above the national figure. People living alone also make up a higher than average share of the community at 28.5%.

Most people live in separate houses, and 75.5% of homes have three or more bedrooms. While rents are lower than the state average at $320 a week, 33.8% of households are renting, which is higher than most areas.

Cars are essential for the 61.8% who drive to work, especially given the 99-minute drive time to the city. Public transport use is very low, with only 0.4% of people commuting by it.

The population is relatively stable, with 36.3% of people moving in the last five years, which is below the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas are also far less common than in the rest of the state.

Fewer people are working or looking for work compared to the state average, and the unemployment rate of 6.6% is higher than most areas. Common industries include health care, food services, and mining.

The area is ranked among the most disadvantaged in the state, scoring a 1 out of 10 for overall advantage. This is consistent with the low levels of educational and job skills reported.

Cessnock receives significantly more rainfall than the New South Wales average, with 895mm annually. Summer temperatures are typical for the state, while winter minimums are a little above the state average.

The area is only somewhat walkable. While most people live within a short walk of a park or public transport, only 31.7% can walk to groceries within 15 minutes, which is far below the state average.