Galston - Laughtondale

The community is far older than most, with 23.1% of people aged 65 or over, a figure well above the national average. While the population grew by 6.7% since 2011, the proportion of children under 15 has fallen to 16.8%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people (18.8%) than the state average. English, Australian, Irish, and Scottish are the most common ancestries reported.

English is the dominant language, with only 9.5% of people using another tongue at home, which is far below the national figure. Consequently, very few residents speak little or no English.

Christianity is the most common faith at 58.8%. Those reporting no religion make up 33.8% of the population, a figure that rose by 14 points since 2011.

The area is well-qualified, with 28.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is consistent with a high school completion rate of 61.8%, which is a little above the national figure.

Typical family incomes are much higher than most areas, reaching $2,710 per week. High earners are common here, with 36.7% of households earning $3,000 or more weekly, a figure that rose 18 points since 2011.

Mental health conditions are reported much less often here than in other areas. Around 28% of residents have a long-term health condition, with arthritis being the most frequent.

Residents are active in their community, with 19.7% volunteering—well above the national figure. Unpaid housework is also more common here than in most of the country.

The First Nations community is small, numbering 63 people, but they have very high outcomes, including a 0.0% unemployment rate and high Year 12 completion at 57.9%.

Homes here are larger than average, with 2.9 people per dwelling. This is reflected in the family structure, where 64.4% are couples with children.

The area is dominated by detached houses (89.2%), and 44.6% are owned outright, far above the national figure. Renting is rare here, with only 12.5% of households renting.

Working from home is very common at 38.9%, which helps explain why only 0.3% of people commute via public transport. Most homes have two or more vehicles.

The population is stable, with 29.1% of people moving in the last five years—far below the national average. Recent overseas arrivals have also fallen since 2011.

Unemployment is very low at 3.0%. Many residents work in construction, healthcare, or professional and technical roles, though the proportion of full-time workers has fallen slightly since 2011.

This is one of the most advantaged areas in the region, ranking 9 out of 10 for overall advantage. Residents generally have high access to money and resources.

The area is quite wet, with an average annual rainfall of 1,279mm, which is far above the New South Wales average.

Living here is mostly car-dependent, with a low walkability score of 2.2. Most homes are far from shops, health services, and public transport, and the terrain is notably steep.