Wyong

The typical resident is 41, and the population is older than most areas, with 21.5% aged 65 and over. This senior population is well above the national figure. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 6.4% of the community, a figure that has risen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up just 13.0%, which is far below the state and national averages. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, accounting for over 80% of the population.

English is the primary language for 88.7% of the community. Only 5.7% of people use another language at home, which is far below the New South Wales figure.

While over half of the population identifies as Christian, 38.8% report having no religion. This figure has risen by 21 percentage points since 2011 and is well above the state average.

Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 12.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 40.8%, though this has risen nearly 10 points since 2011.

Typical weekly household income is $1,422, which is well below the state figure. Personal incomes are also much lower than in most areas, and only 15.3% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Health challenges are more common here, with 35.2% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average, and the area has some of the highest rates of mental health conditions.

More people provide unpaid care or do housework than in most areas. However, the volunteering rate is 10.1%, which is well below the national figure and has fallen since 2011.

Home to 10,725 First Nations people, Wyong has a community where the typical age is 22, making it a little younger than the national figure. Unemployment for this group is around the middle for similar areas at 10.7%.

One-parent families make up 19.7% of households, a rate well above the national figure. Most homes are occupied by couples with children, and the typical household has 2.5 people.

The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 83.1% of homes. Most houses are large, with 76.9% having three or more bedrooms, and 34.0% are owned outright.

Public transport is rarely used for commuting, with only 0.9% of workers using it. While the area has a very high number of bus stops, the typical drive time to the city is 67 minutes.

About 38.1% of the population moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 6.1% of the community, which is well below the national average.

The local workforce is smaller than in most areas, with 54.6% of adults working or looking for work. Health care, social assistance and construction are the most common industries.

The population has grown to over 175,000 people, though recent growth of 3.4% is a little below the state average.

Wyong is much wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall of 1,273mm. Temperatures are typical for the region, with a minimum of 12.3 degrees.

Most homes are within a short walk of public transport and parks. However, fewer people can walk to groceries or health services compared to the state average, leaving the overall walkability score slightly below the state figure.