Lake Macquarie - West

The area is noticeably older than the national figure, with a much higher share of seniors than most similar places. There is also a significant First Nations presence, which rose to 6.4% in 2021.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people than the state or national averages. English and Australian are the most common ancestries reported.

English is the primary language for 90.6% of the community. The share of people using another language at home is far below the national figure, though it has risen slightly since 2011.

About 41.4% of people report having no religion, which is well above the New South Wales figure. This reflects a significant trend, as the number of non-religious residents rose 22 points since 2011.

The community has lower levels of formal qualifications, with far fewer adults holding a bachelor degree than the national average. However, Year 12 completion rose by 9.3 points since 2011.

Typical weekly household incomes are a little below the state and national figures. While most households earn under $3,000 a week, the number of high-earners rose 11 points since 2011.

Health needs are among the highest for this level, with a much higher rate of long-term health and mental health conditions than the national average.

More people provide unpaid care or do housework here than in most other areas. Conversely, the share of volunteers fell 3.5 points since 2011.

First Nations people make up a larger population here than in 91% of similar areas. Typical personal incomes and unemployment rates for this group are around the middle for its level.

Families with children are common, and there is a higher share of one-parent families than in most areas. About 23.6% of people live alone.

The area is dominated by separate houses, with 89.6% of homes being detached. Many of these are large, with 81.4% of homes having three or more bedrooms.

Car use is essential, as very few people commute by public transport and only 4.4% of homes have no vehicle. Working from home rose significantly to 18.2% since 2011.

Recent arrivals from overseas are much less common here than in most other areas. About 38.8% of the population moved into the area in the last five years.

Working or looking for work is less common here than the national figure. The most common industries for local workers are health care and social assistance.

The population has continued to grow since 2021, with an increase of 7.9%, which is a little above the New South Wales rate.

The area receives much more rainfall than the state average, though its minimum and maximum temperatures are around the middle for its level.

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