Taree Surrounds

The area is far older than the state average, with 32.4% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population has grown, rising 11 points since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian born, with 83% born here and only 9.2% born overseas, which is far below the national figure.

English is the dominant language, spoken by 91.7% of residents. Only 1.9% use another language at home, among the lowest rates in the region.

About 38.3% of residents report no religion, a figure that has risen 18 points since 2011, though over half the population still identifies as Christian.

Educational attainment is lower than most areas, with only 33.2% of residents completing Year 12 and 12.2% holding a bachelor degree or higher.

Typical weekly household incomes are far below the national figure at $1,069. Only 8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is among the lowest for its level.

Long-term health conditions are common, affecting 38.5% of people, which is far above the national average. This is reflected in the 7.3% of residents who need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 17.7% of people helping out, and 14.7% providing unpaid care.

First Nations people make up 5.5% of the population, which is a little above the state average. This group is generally younger than the wider community, with a typical age of 26.

Homes are generally smaller in size, with a typical 2.3 people per household. Around 43.6% of families are couples without children.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 93.4% of dwellings. A huge 57.1% of these homes are owned outright, far exceeding the state average.

Car dependence is very high, with 60.3% of people driving to work and only 0.3% using public transport. Almost every home has at least one vehicle.

The population is relatively stable, with 33% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure.

Working or looking for work is less common here than in other areas, with a rate of 44.5%. Many of those employed work in health care, social assistance, or agriculture.

The area is ranked as having low overall advantage, with a score of 2 out of 10, largely due to lower typical incomes and education levels.

The area is very wet, with average annual rainfall of 1,392mm, which is far above the New South Wales average.

The region is almost entirely car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.9. Only 26.3% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of basic amenities.