Dapto - Port Kembla

The area has a slightly older population than the national figure and a higher proportion of seniors at 19.4%. First Nations people make up 4.5% of the community, which is a little above the state average and has risen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 20.3% of the population. This is well below the New South Wales figure of 29.3% and has fallen slightly since 2011.

English is the main language for 79.5% of the community. While 16.0% of people use another language at home, this is far below the state average of 26.6%.

Christianity remains the most common faith at 54.5%. However, the number of people reporting no religion has risen sharply by 19 points since 2011 to reach 35.0%.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 14.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Despite this, Year 12 completion has risen by 11 points since 2011 to reach 43.3%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,494, which is a little below the national figure. Personal incomes are also much lower than in most areas, with the typical person earning $674 a week.

Health challenges are common here, with 33.5% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure, and the area has among the highest rates of people needing help with daily activities at 8.3%.

The community is very active in unpaid care, with 14.1% of people providing support—a rate much higher than most areas. However, the volunteer rate is much lower than the national average at 10.1%.

There are 3,580 First Nations people in the area, a population that is noticeably younger than the national average with a typical age of 21.

Families tend to be larger here, with 2.6 people per home. One-parent families are much more common than in most other areas, making up 17.5% of households.

Detached houses dominate the landscape at 85.5%, and 81.4% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Home ownership is strong, with 35.7% of residents owning their home outright.

Cars are essential for the 56.5% of workers who drive, as very few people use public transport to commute. Working from home has seen a massive jump, rising 18 points since 2011 to 19.7%.

The community is very stable, as only 31.9% of people have moved in the last five years. This is well below the national figure of 40.7%.

Fewer people are working or looking for work here compared to most areas, at 55.1%. The most common industries for local workers are health care, construction, and retail.

The population has grown by 4.2% since 2021, which is a little below the state growth rate of 6.1%.

The area is much wetter than most of the state, with an average annual rainfall of 1,376mm. Temperatures are generally milder, with an average maximum of 22.6 degrees.

While 91.8% of homes are within a short walk of public transport, the area is generally less walkable than the state average. Access to groceries and health services is far below the state figure, with only 16.4% of homes within 15 minutes of a clinic.