Lake Macquarie - East

The typical resident is 42, making the area noticeably older than the national figure. This trend is driven by a large senior population, which rose to 21.5% since 2011, alongside a First Nations population that is higher than most areas at 4.9%.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 85.9% born here and only 10.5% born overseas, a figure far below the New South Wales average.

English is the primary language for 91.1% of residents. Only 5.3% use another language at home, which is far below the national figure.

A large number of people report having no religion, accounting for 43.3% of the population. This figure is well above the national average and rose by 23 points since 2011.

While 47.4% of residents completed Year 12—a figure far below the state average—there has been an increase in higher qualifications, with 21% now holding a bachelor degree or higher.

Typical weekly family income is $2,122, which is about the same as the national figure. Higher earners are present, with 11.9% of people earning $2,000 or more a week.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 34.9% of people living with a long-term health condition and 11.7% reporting a mental health condition.

Residents are more likely to provide unpaid care or look after children than those in most other areas. However, the share of people who volunteer fell to 13.2% since 2011.

The area is home to 6,229 First Nations people, one of the largest groups at this level. Typical household income for this group is $1,746, which is a little above the New South Wales figure.

Families are common, with 55.3% of households consisting of couples with children. About 25.7% of people live alone, which is about the same as the national average.

Detached houses are the norm for 82.3% of homes, and 38% of these are owned outright, well above the state average. Renting is less common here, at 23.7%.

Most people rely on cars, with 54.8% driving to work. While 21.7% work from home, very few people—just 0.6%—use public transport for their commute.

The population is quite settled, as 34.4% of people moved in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals are also much lower than average at 8.1%.

About 59.5% of adults are working or looking for work, with a low unemployment rate of 4.4%. The biggest employer is the health care and social assistance industry.

The population has grown to 130,288, though growth since 2021 has been much lower than in most other areas of the state.

The area is wetter than most of the state, with an average annual rainfall of 1,132mm. Minimum temperatures are also well above the New South Wales average.

Most homes are within a short walk of a park or public transport, though far fewer people can walk to groceries or health services compared to the state average.