Gosford

The community is older than most areas, with 22.9% of people aged 65 and over, a figure well above the national average. The population grew by 9.4% since 2011, and the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people rose to 3.5%.

English and Australian are the most common ancestries, making up 43% and 38% respectively. Those born overseas account for 18.9% of the population, which is well below the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the dominant language, spoken by 86.8% of residents. Only 8.4% of people use another language at home, which is far below the New South Wales average of 26.6%.

There has been a sharp shift away from organized faith, with the share of people reporting no religion rising 21 points since 2011 to reach 41%. This is well above the state average.

The area has seen a rise in qualifications, with the share of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher climbing 8 points since 2011 to 22.4%. This remains well below the national figure.

Typical weekly household income is $1,615, which is about the same as the national figure. Higher earners are more common here than in most similar areas, with 12% of people earning $2,000 or more per week.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 32.7% of people living with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are also slightly more frequent than the national average.

Unpaid housework is more common here than in most areas, with 24.1% of people doing 15 or more hours a week. However, the proportion of volunteers fell 3.7 points since 2011.

Gosford is home to 6,318 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Year 12 completion for First Nations residents is 41.1%, which is well above both the state and national figures.

Families with one parent are more common here than in most areas, at 15.2%. The typical home has 2.5 people, which is consistent with the national figure.

The area is dominated by separate houses, and 35% of homes are owned outright, which is well above the state average. Typical weekly rent is $400 and monthly mortgage payments are $2,150.

While the area has a high number of public transport stops, only 1.7% of people use them to commute. Working from home is very popular, with 30.1% of the workforce doing so, well above the national figure.

The community is relatively stable, as the share of people who moved in the last five years is lower than in most areas. Recent arrivals from overseas have also fallen since 2011.

The local workforce is less likely to be employed full-time than most areas, at 52.7%. Health care and social assistance is the largest employer, accounting for 18% of jobs.

The population grew by 2% since 2021, which is much lower than the New South Wales average of 6.1%.

Gosford is a high-rainfall area, with an annual average of 1,424mm, which is far above the state average of 515mm.

Most homes are within a short walk of a park or public transport, but far fewer residents can walk to groceries or health services compared to the state average. The terrain is also steeper than the state average.