Beresfield - Hexham

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 11.0% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%. While the typical age is 39, there are more seniors than usual, with 20.5% aged 65 and over.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 8.4% born overseas—a figure far below the national average of 27.7%. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.

English is the primary language for 90.7% of the population. Only 4.9% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

About 41.0% of residents report having no religion, which is a little above the national figure and represents a significant increase of 25 points since 2011.

Educational attainment is among the lowest for similar areas, with only 8.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 31.6% of residents have completed Year 12, which is far below the national average of 58.8%.

Incomes are much lower than in most areas, with the typical family earning $1,500 a week. This is well below the national figure of $2,120.

Health challenges are common here; 39.0% of people have a long-term health condition and 13.2% have a mental health condition, both of which are far above national levels.

Unpaid care is a key feature of local life, with a much higher rate of people providing unpaid care than in most areas. However, volunteering is well below the national average at 9.2%.

The First Nations community is large, with 941 people. This group is noticeably younger than the national average, with a typical age of 20, and faces a higher unemployment rate of 11.7%.

One-parent families are far more common here than in the rest of the country, making up 24.9% of households. People living alone are also more frequent than usual at 28.2%.

The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 93.2% of all homes. Rent is lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly rent of $340.

Cars are essential for most, as only 1.0% of people commute by public transport. This reliance on vehicles is consistent with the long 96-minute typical drive time to the city.

The population is relatively stable, as the 31.2% who moved in the last five years is well below the national figure of 40.7%. However, recent overseas arrivals have risen to 16.5%.

Unemployment is a little above the national rate at 7.1%. The workforce is concentrated in health care, manufacturing, and construction, with labourers being the most common occupation.

The area is ranked among the most disadvantaged in the state, with an overall advantage score of 863. Population growth has also been much lower than the New South Wales average.

The region is quite wet, with average annual rainfall of 1,019mm, which is far above the state average of 515mm.

While many homes are within a short walk of public transport, access to groceries is far below the state average, with only 49.2% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a store.