Tea Gardens - Hawks Nest

The typical resident is 65, making this area far older than the national figure of 38. Seniors make up 51.8% of the population, while children under 15 have fallen to just 7.5%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas roots are far less common here than across the state. English, Australian, Irish, and Scottish are the most frequent ancestries.

English is the main language for 89.1% of people. Those who use another language at home are much less common here than in most other areas.

Christianity is the most common faith at 60.1%. Those reporting no religion make up 28.9% of the community, which is well below the national figure.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 14.9% of the population, far below the state average. Year 12 completion is also much lower than most areas at 35.9%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,036, among the lowest at this level and far below the state figure. Only 9% of households earn $3,000 or more a week.

Long-term health conditions are very common, affecting 45.1% of people, which is far above the national average. Around 8.6% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, with 19.5% of people pitching in. There is also a higher number of former Defence Force members compared to the state.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 4.6% of the population, which is a little above the state figure. The typical age for First Nations residents is 31.

Homes are generally small, with just 2.0 people per home. Many residents live alone, and couples without children make up the largest group at 63.5%.

A huge 53.6% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure. Detached houses are the norm for 88.3% of residents, and renting is much less common than in most areas.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with 0% of people commuting by public transport. For most, the drive to the city takes about 132 minutes.

Recent arrivals from overseas are far less common here than in the rest of the state. However, about 39.2% of residents have moved house in the last five years.

Only 31.6% of adults are working or looking for work, among the lowest at this level. The most common industries are health care and construction.

The area has a lower overall advantage score than most other similar places. Population growth since 2021 has been much lower than the state average.

Rainfall is much higher here than in most of New South Wales, averaging 1,329mm annually. Minimum temperatures also tend to be well above the state figure.

Most homes are car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.9. While many people live near a park, far fewer are within a 15-minute walk of a school or health service.