Ballina

Ballina has a population of 18,629 and is far older than the national figure, with 34.7% of residents aged 65 and over. In contrast, children under 15 make up just 13.2%, which is well below the national average.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 12.4%, a figure far below the national average of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the main language for 88.4% of the community. Only 4.8% of people use another language at home, which is far below the New South Wales figure of 26.6%.

About 39.6% of people report having no religion, which is about the same as the national figure. This is a significant increase from 2011, when the number was 18.7%.

Schooling levels are much lower than most areas, with only 42.6% of residents completing Year 12. However, the number of adults with a bachelor degree or higher has risen to 17.9% since 2011.

Typical weekly incomes are much lower than most areas, with the typical family earning $1,563. Only 10.7% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the state average.

Health needs are high here, as 37.8% of people have a long-term health condition and 9.3% need help with daily activities, both of which are among the highest figures for similar areas.

The community is active in care, with 13.9% providing unpaid care, which is a little above the national figure. About 15.2% of residents are volunteers.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 4.8% of the population. While the unemployment rate for First Nations people is lower than most areas, their typical weekly personal income is $512.

Homes are smaller than usual, with only 2.1 people per home. A high 35.8% of people live alone, and one-parent families are much more common than in most areas.

Home ownership is strong, with 40.3% of homes owned outright, well above the national figure. Typical weekly rent is $390, and 32.9% of households are renting.

Cars are the main way to get around, with 60.3% of people driving to work. Public transport use is very low, with only 0.4% of people commuting by bus or train.

The area is quite dynamic, with 41.3% of people having moved house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 9.2% of the population.

Working life is lower than average, with only 47.0% of adults working or looking for work. Health care and social assistance is the biggest industry, employing 20.9% of the workforce.

Ballina is a major hub for business with 1,760 companies, but its overall advantage score is lower than about 68% of similar areas.

The area is very wet, with an average annual rainfall of 1,850mm, which is far above the state average. Minimum temperatures are also well above the state figure.

The town is very walkable, with 98.1% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport and 99.3% near a park. Most residents can also walk to groceries within 15 minutes.