Punchbowl

The area is much younger than the national average, with few residents aged 65 and over. While children under 15 make up 21.1% of the population, this figure has fallen slightly since 2011.

Overseas birthplaces are very common here, with 47.5% of people born abroad, far above the national figure of 27.7%. The most common ancestries include Australian, Chinese, English, and Vietnamese.

Language diversity is very high, as 69.3% of residents use a language other than English at home, far above the New South Wales average. Arabic is the most common non-English language, spoken by 32.8% of the community.

Religious life is very active here; only 9.5% of people report no religion, which is far below the national figure. Christianity and Islam are the most common faiths, each held by about 37% of residents.

More people are finishing school than in the past, with Year 12 completion rising 12 points since 2011 to reach 59.4%. Those with a bachelor degree or higher make up 18.7% of adults, which is well below the state average.

Typical weekly family income is $1,489, which is well below the New South Wales figure of $2,185. However, there has been a rise in earnings since 2011, and the share of households earning $3,000 or more per week rose 9.3 points.

People needing help with daily activities are more common here than in most areas at 7.8%. Conversely, rates of long-term health conditions and mental health conditions are well below those seen across the state.

Volunteer rates are very low at 6.5%, well below the national average of 14.1%. Unpaid care for children and housework is also much less common here than in most other areas.

First Nations people make up a small part of the community, numbering 111. This group faces significant challenges, with an unemployment rate of 44.8%, which is far above the national figure.

Homes tend to be larger than usual, with 3.2 people per household. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children, who make up 68% of families.

Renting is much more common here than in the rest of the state, with 38.5% of households renting. Detached houses are also less common, and the typical monthly mortgage payment is slightly higher than the national figure.

Public transport is widely available, with nearly all homes within a 10-minute walk of a stop. While 23.3% of people now work from home—a huge increase since 2011—the number of homes without a car is still higher than average.

The community is relatively stable, as far fewer people moved house in the last five years compared to the state average. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 12.2% of the population.

Working life is challenging for many, with an unemployment rate of 10.2% that is well above the national figure. Only 42.8% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the state average.

Punchbowl has a high number of businesses but faces significant economic hurdles. It ranks as one of the most disadvantaged areas in the region, with a low overall advantage score of 909.

The area receives 1,156mm of annual rainfall, which is far above the New South Wales average. Temperatures are typical for the region, with a maximum average of 24 degrees.

The suburb is very walkable, with almost all homes within a 15-minute walk of a park, school, or grocery store. This makes it far more walkable than most other areas in the state.