Coffs Harbour

The area is noticeably older than the national figure, with a typical age of 45 and a senior population that rose to 23.7% since 2011. First Nations people make up 5.6% of the community, which is much higher than most similar areas.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a lower proportion of overseas-born people compared to the state. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, though the share of people born overseas rose slightly to 15.1% since 2011.

English is the dominant language for 85.4% of the population. While the share of people using another language at home rose to 8.4% since 2011, this is still far below the New South Wales figure.

A large number of residents report having no religion, at 43.5%. This is well above the national figure and represents a significant increase of 19 percentage points since 2011.

More people have completed Year 12 than in 2011, though at 45.6% this is still far below the state average. About 18.8% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is well below the national figure.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national figure, with the typical family earning $1,651 a week. Only 13.3% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is well below the state average.

Health challenges are more common here, as 32.8% of people have a long-term health condition. This includes a high rate of mental health conditions at 10.7%, which is a little above the national figure.

Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, though the rate fell to 16.2% since 2011. Many residents also provide unpaid care, with 13.2% helping others, which is higher than most similar areas.

The area has a large First Nations population of 5,144 people. About 6% speak a First Nations language, which is a little above the state average, while the typical personal income of $559 is about the same as the national figure.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, at 17.3%. Meanwhile, about 27.8% of people live alone, which is a little above the national figure.

Home ownership is very high, with 38.9% of homes owned outright, well above the state average. Separate houses are the most common dwelling type at 78%, and typical weekly rent is $370.

Most people rely on cars, and very few (0.6%) commute by public transport. Only 11.8% of people work from home, which is far below the New South Wales figure.

About 39.7% of the population moved in the last five years, which is about the same as the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas rose to 16.6% since 2011, a rate slightly above the national average.

Working or looking for work is less common here than in most areas, at 54.9%. Many of the local workforce are employed in health care and social assistance, with an unemployment rate of 5.3%.

The population has grown to 95,765, though the growth rate of 3.6% since 2021 is a little below the New South Wales average.

The area is very wet, with annual rainfall far above the state average at 1,705mm. Temperatures are generally lower than the state average, with a typical maximum of 21.0 degrees.

The area is only somewhat walkable, and far fewer homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services compared to the state average. About 48.3% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed.