Sub-region (SA3) · Area profile
Richmond Valley - Coastal
1,573 km²
Far more residents in Richmond Valley - Coastal have no religion than in the rest of the country, with nearly half the population identifying as non-religious. This is a notably older community where the typical resident is 46, far above the national figure of 38. Since 2011, the population has grown by 20%, adding about 14,544 people. This growth is happening alongside a rise in university qualifications, suggesting a shifting professional character for the region.
Richmond Valley - Coastal's schools draw a more advantaged community than local incomes would suggest.
Richmond Valley - Coastal is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The area is much older than most, with 23.6% of people aged 65 and over, a figure well above the state and national averages. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 16.2% of the population, which has fallen since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (16.2%) than the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the dominant language, with 85.7% of people using it only. The proportion of people using another language at home is far below the national figure, and only 0.4% speak little or no English.
Almost half of the community (49.4%) has no religion, which is far above the national average of 38.9% and represents a 22 point increase since 2011.
A quarter of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, a figure that rose 7.6 points since 2011. While the area has a high number of schools per 1,000 children, Year 12 completion (53.5%) is well below the national average.
Typical weekly household income is $1,461, which is a little below the national figure of $1,746. However, incomes have risen since 2011, with those earning $3,000 or more per week increasing by 13 points.
About 28.8% of people have a long-term health condition, which is a little above the national average. Arthritis and mental health are the most common reported conditions.
Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, with 18.1% of people volunteering. This is well above the national figure, though it has fallen from 23.9% in 2011.
First Nations people make up 3.2% of the population. Their unemployment rate is 7.4%, which is well below the national average of 12.3%.
Families with one parent are a little more common here (15.7%) than in the rest of the state. About 27.8% of households consist of just one person.
Home ownership is high, with 39.9% of homes owned outright, well above the national figure. However, typical weekly rents are $450, which is a little above the national average.
Car use is essential, as only 0.3% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and 39.2% have two.
The area is seeing significant movement, with 41.1% of people having moved in the last five years. This is a little above the state average.
Full-time employment is far below the national average at 47.1%. The most common industries for work are health care, accommodation, and retail.
The population has grown by 6.2% since 2021, which is about the same as the New South Wales average.
The area is very wet, with average annual rainfall of 1,860mm, far above the state average of 515mm. Minimum temperatures are also well above the state figure.
Walkability is lower than in most of the state, with only 50.3% of homes having a 15-minute-city walkshed. Access to health services within a 15-minute walk is especially low at 36.5%.
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