Murwillumbah

The area is far older than the national figure, with 25.1% of residents aged 65 and over. While children under 15 make up 18.0% of the population, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community has grown to 3.6% since 2011.

People born overseas make up 12.6% of the community, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, combined with Irish and Scottish heritage.

English is the primary language for 87.7% of residents, and the 4.8% who use another language at home is much lower than in most areas. Only 0.5% of people speak little or no English.

Religious views have shifted significantly, with those reporting no religion rising 20 points since 2011 to reach 41.5%. This is well above the New South Wales figure of 33.2%.

Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 15.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion rose 10 points since 2011 to 41.7%.

Incomes are much lower than the national average, with a typical weekly household income of $1,154. Only 8.1% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is among the lowest for its level.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 33.7% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is reflected in the 8.5% of residents who need help with daily activities.

Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 14.3% of people providing such support, which is much higher than most similar areas.

The First Nations community includes 346 people, with a typical age of 23. Unemployment for this group is 8.3%, which is well below the national figure of 12.3%.

Living arrangements vary, with 31.0% of people living alone and 22.3% of homes being one-parent families, the latter of which is among the highest for its level.

Detached houses are very common at 78.6%, far above the state average. Many residents own their homes outright, with 35.1% of households owing no mortgage.

Most people rely on cars, as 66.4% of workers drive to work and only 0.4% use public transport. Despite this, the area has a high number of bus stops and routes compared to similar places.

The community is relatively stable, with 39.3% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are very few at 3.9%, far below the national figure.

Working or looking for work is less common here than elsewhere, at 51.3%. Full-time employment is also among the lowest for its level at 49.9%.

The area faces significant challenges, ranking in the bottom 20% for overall advantage with a score of 914. Population growth since 2021 has been very low at 0.3%.

The region is very wet and warm, with average annual rainfall of 1,661mm, which is far above the New South Wales average.

The area is somewhat walkable, though many homes are far from groceries and health services. On the plus side, 91.6% of residents live within a 15-minute walk of a park.