Woonona - Bulli - Russell Vale

The population has grown 11% since 2011 to over 20,000 people. It is a slightly older community than the national average, with a higher proportion of both children under 15 (20.1%) and seniors over 65 (19.0%).

The area is much less diverse than the state average, with 82.7% of people born in Australia and only 14.2% born overseas. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, each accounting for about 42% of the population.

English is the primary language for 90.3% of residents, which is far above the national figure. Only 6.1% of people use another language at home, and very few speak little or no English.

A significant shift toward secularism has occurred here, with the proportion of people reporting no religion rising 22 points since 2011 to reach 44.2%, well above the national figure.

The community is well-qualified, with a higher-than-average 27.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This increase in qualifications is mirrored in the school-age population, with 3,721 enrolments across eight local schools.

Incomes are notably high, with the typical family earning $2,496 a week. This is reflected in the 29.5% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, a figure that has risen 18 points since 2011.

Health challenges are slightly more common here than in most areas, with 30.5% of residents living with a long-term health condition. Arthritis is the most reported issue, affecting 10.8% of the population.

There is a strong focus on unpaid care, as 30.9% of people care for children and 24.3% spend 15 or more hours a week on housework, both of which are much higher than most areas.

The First Nations community is larger than in about 84% of similar areas. This group is noticeably older than the national average and achieves higher Year 12 completion rates (44.1%) than the state average.

Families with children are common, making up 63.9% of households. Homes are slightly larger than the national average, with a typical size of 2.6 people per dwelling.

Home ownership is strong, with 36.3% of homes owned outright. While 75.7% of homes have three or more bedrooms, mortgage payments are quite high, typically costing $2,349 a month.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, though 32.5% of people now work from home, a massive increase from 3.5% in 2011. Public transport use is very low, with only 1.0% of people commuting by bus or train.

The population is quite stable, with far fewer people moving in the last five years (30.6%) compared to the national average of 40.7%. Recent overseas arrivals are also much lower than the state figure.

Unemployment is very low at 3.7%, though full-time employment is slightly below the national average. Many residents work in health care, social assistance, and education.

The area is generally advantaged, scoring a 7 out of 10 for overall advantage and access to resources. It is home to 1,394 businesses, which is more than 74% of similar areas.

The local climate is much wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall reaching 1,446mm. Temperatures are generally milder, with an average maximum of 22.4 degrees.

The area is very walkable, with 98.9% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park. However, access to health services on foot is far below the state average, with only 33.2% of homes within a 15-minute walk.