Taree - Gloucester

This is an older community where the typical resident is 51, and the proportion of people aged 65 and over is far above the national figure. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 8.3% of the population, which is well above the state average and has risen since 2011.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 83.3% born here. Only 9% of residents were born overseas, a figure far below the state and national averages.

English is the dominant language, spoken by 90% of residents. Very few people use another language at home, and only 0.3% speak little or no English, which is among the lowest rates for similar areas.

Over half the population identify as Christian, while 37.5% report no religion. This last group has grown significantly, rising 19 points since 2011.

Education levels are lower than the national average, with only 12.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the state figure at 34.2%, though this has risen since 2011.

Incomes are among the lowest for similar areas, with the typical household earning $1,092 a week, well below the state figure. Only 8.4% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.

Health challenges are common here, as 38.3% of people have a long-term health condition, far above the national figure. This includes a higher rate of mental health conditions (11.8%) and 8.7% of people needing help with daily activities.

Unpaid care is a strong feature of local life, with 14.6% of people providing unpaid care and 26.1% doing significant housework. There is also a higher-than-average number of people who served in the Defence Force.

The First Nations community is larger than in 89% of similar areas. This group is generally younger than the wider population, though they face higher unemployment (13.7%) and lower typical incomes.

Homes tend to be smaller, with 2.3 people per household. There is a high rate of people living alone (29.6%) and a much higher proportion of one-parent families compared to most areas.

Most people live in separate houses, and 46.6% own their home outright, which is far above the national figure. Typical weekly rents are lower than the state average at $300.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 66.3% of workers driving to work and only 0.4% using public transport. While there are many bus stops, very few people actually use them to commute.

The population is relatively stable, as fewer people moved here in the last five years compared to most areas. Recent overseas arrivals are also much lower than the national average.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the state average, and the unemployment rate is higher at 6.5%. Many residents work in health care and social assistance.

The population grew by 3.3% since 2021, which is a lower growth rate than the state average of 6.1%.

The region is wetter than most of New South Wales, with average annual rainfall far above the state figure at 1,121mm.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services or groceries.