Blackheath - Megalong Valley

The area is significantly older than the state and national averages, with 28.7% of people aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up only 13.9% of the population, a figure that has fallen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, though 21.1% were born overseas, a figure that has risen since 2011. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries reported.

English is the primary language for 87.2% of the community. Only 7.1% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national average.

The community is strongly secular, with 53.3% of people reporting no religion. This is far above the national figure and represents a 23 point increase since 2011.

Residents are highly qualified, with 35.8% holding a bachelor degree or higher, well above the national average. Year 12 completion has also risen significantly to 62.7% since 2011.

Typical weekly household incomes are $1,317, which is well below the national figure. While incomes have risen since 2011, the proportion of households earning over $3,000 a week remains lower than most areas.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 35.8% of people living with a long-term health condition and 11.2% reporting a mental health condition.

Volunteering is very common, with 22% of the population contributing, much higher than the national average. Unpaid care for others is also more frequent than usual, while fewer people provide unpaid childcare.

First Nations people make up 2.5% of the population. This group is notably proficient in traditional languages, with 16.9% speaking a First Nations language, far above the state average.

Homes here are smaller than average, with 2.1 people per dwelling. A large proportion of the community—35.8%—lives alone, which is far above the national figure.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 96.4% of dwellings. Home ownership is very high, with 46.8% of homes owned outright, far above the state average.

Working from home is very popular at 36.1%, far above the national figure. Despite having many public transport stops, very few people (1.2%) use it for their daily commute.

The population is relatively stable, though 36.7% of residents moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are among the lowest for similar areas.

Fewer adults here are working or looking for work compared to other areas, at 50.5%. Full-time employment is also far below the national average.

The area ranks well for education and job skills, placing it above 80% of similar areas. Its overall advantage score of 1,010 is slightly above the national average.

The climate is much cooler and wetter than the state average, with an average minimum temperature of 7.8 degrees and annual rainfall far above the state figure.

While most homes are within a short walk of public transport, the area is generally less walkable than the state average due to steep terrain and fewer nearby grocery stores and health services.