Lower Hunter

The population has grown by 19% since 2011 and is more diverse than the national average, with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of 9.4%. Children under 15 make up 20.1% of the community, which is a little above the national figure.

Most residents were born in Australia (87.4%), and those born overseas make up only 7.3% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the primary language for the vast majority, with only 2.7% of people using another language at home—a figure far below the national average of 22.3%.

About 39.6% of the community report no religion, which is about the same as the national figure, though this represents a large increase of 22 points since 2011.

The area has far fewer people with a bachelor degree or higher (10.7%) compared to the national figure of 26.3%. Year 12 completion is also much lower than most areas at 35.5%.

Typical weekly family income is $1,941, which is a little below the national figure of $2,120. Typical personal income is also lower than most areas at $727 per week.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 33.7% of people living with a long-term health condition and 11.9% reporting a mental health condition.

Unpaid care is very common, with 29.5% of people caring for children—well above the national figure of 26.3%. However, the 11.9% volunteer rate is much lower than in most similar areas.

The area is home to 9,212 First Nations people, who are generally younger than the national average with a typical age of 22. Their unemployment rate of 9.1% is well below the national figure of 12.3%.

Homes tend to be larger, with 2.6 people per household. One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 17.9% of households.

Separate houses are the dominant dwelling type at 90.7%, and 81.3% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Renting is less common here than nationally, at 25.3%.

The community is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.3% of people commuting via public transport. This is consistent with the fact that only 4% of homes have no motor vehicle.

About 39.4% of residents moved in the last five years, which is about the same as the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals make up 8.2% of the population, which is well below the national average.

Mining (11.7%) and health care (12.5%) are key industries, and the workforce is led by technicians and trades. About 58.7% of adults are working or looking for work.

The population has continued to grow since 2021, with an increase of 9.1%, which is well above the New South Wales rate of 6.1%.

The area is wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall of 805mm. Maximum temperatures are typically around 25.4 degrees.

The region is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.3. Access to essentials is limited, as only 24.5% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.