Lismore Surrounds

The area has an older profile, with 20.9% of people aged 65 and over, which is well above the national figure. Since 2011, the typical age has risen by 4 years to 47.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the population is far less diverse than the state average, with only 11.4% born overseas.

English is the dominant language, with only 4.4% of people using another tongue at home, far below the national figure of 22.3%.

A large proportion of the community has no religion, at 46.5%, which is well above the national average and has risen by 16 points since 2011.

While 24% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, the area has a lower rate of Year 12 completion than most other regions.

Typical weekly household income is $1,478, which is a little below the national figure of $1,746, though this has risen by $490 since 2011.

About 28% of people have a long-term health condition, and 8.9% report a mental health condition, which is about the same as the national average.

Volunteering is very common here, with 20.6% of people helping out, a figure well above the national average of 14.1%.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 3.4% of the population, and those in this group are more likely to have completed Year 12 than the national average.

Families are the main household type, with 53.6% being couples with children, and typical homes hold about 2.5 people.

The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 96.5% of homes, and renting is much less common here than across the state.

Cars are essential for most, as only 1.6% of homes have no motor vehicle and public transport use for commuting is almost non-existent at 0.1%.

The population is relatively stable, with 30% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Health care and social assistance are the biggest employers, and the unemployment rate of 4.1% is slightly lower than the national figure.

The area is home to 2,279 businesses and generally has a moderate level of access to money and resources compared to similar areas.

Lismore Surrounds is a high-rainfall area, averaging 1,758mm annually, which is far above the New South Wales average.

The area is highly car-dependent, with a very low walkability score and only 9% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries.