Tweed Heads

Tweed Heads is an older community where 30.3% of people are seniors, a figure far above the national average. Children under 15 make up only 13.4% of the population, which is well below the New South Wales figure of 18.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas birthplaces make up 18.5% of the population. This is well below the national figure of 27.7%, with English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry being the most common.

English is the primary language for 84.7% of the area. Only 6.8% of people use another language at home, which is far below the state average of 26.6%.

The number of people reporting no religion rose 20 points since 2011 to reach 40.4%. This is well above the New South Wales figure of 33.2%.

Education levels are lower than in most areas; 44.1% of residents finished Year 12, which is far below the national average of 58.8%. However, the number of adults with a bachelor degree or higher rose 6.5 points since 2011.

Incomes are much lower than typical areas, with the usual household earning $1,182 a week, well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 11% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Health needs are high, as 33.4% of people have a long-term health condition, which is well above the national average. This is reflected in the high rate of people needing help with daily activities, at 7.7%.

Participation in unpaid child care is well below the national average at 20.5%. Meanwhile, 3.7% of the community have served in the Defence Force, which is higher than most areas.

There are 851 First Nations people in the area, and the typical age of 27 is noticeably older than the national figure of 24. Year 12 completion is 38.8%, which is a little above the national average.

Homes here tend to be smaller and more likely to house only one person, with 34.3% of people living alone. This is well above the national figure of 25.6%.

Home ownership is strong, with 40% of homes owned outright, well above the national figure. However, detached houses are much less common here than in most areas, making up only 48.7% of dwellings.

Most people rely on cars, and only 0.7% of the workforce commutes by public transport. While there are many bus stops, it can take up to 55 minutes to walk to the nearest one.

The community is relatively stable, with 39.7% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 10.5% of the population, which is well below the national average.

The local workforce is smaller than in most areas, with only 49.7% of adults working or looking for work. Many of those employed work in health care, social assistance, or construction.

The area has a high number of businesses—1,831—but overall advantage scores are lower than about 70% of similar areas.

The climate is warm and wet, with an average annual rainfall of 1,810mm, which is far above the New South Wales average. Minimum temperatures are also well above the state figure.

The area is somewhat walkable, and 76.8% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries. However, only 41.5% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school, far below the state average.