Tweed Valley

Tweed Valley is far older than the national figure, with 26.6% of people aged 65 and over. This senior presence is a standout feature, as the proportion of retirees is among the highest for similar areas.

The area is predominantly Australian and English in ancestry, and only 15.4% of residents were born overseas, which is far below the New South Wales figure of 29.3%.

English is the primary language for 88.1% of the community. Only 5.0% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the state and national averages.

A large shift in belief is evident here, with those reporting no religion rising by 20 points since 2011 to reach 42.0%.

While 45.9% of residents completed Year 12, this is far below the national figure. However, the proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher has risen to 17.7% since 2011.

Incomes are much lower than in most similar areas, with a typical weekly household income of $1,296, which is well below the national figure of $1,746.

Health needs are higher here than in most areas, with 32.4% of people living with a long-term condition and 7.4% needing help with daily activities.

Unpaid care is common, as 13.3% of residents provide unpaid care, which is a little above the national figure. Local volunteering has fallen slightly since 2011 to 14.3%.

First Nations people make up 4.4% of the population, which is a little above the state average. The community is relatively young, with a typical age of 25.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas at 16.3%. Additionally, 28.8% of people live alone, which is well above the state average.

Home ownership is very high, with 41.5% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. Renting is less common here, and typical weekly rents are $400.

Car dependence is high and public transport use is very low at 0.5%. While 14.5% of people work from home, most residents drive to their jobs.

Movement into the area is steady, with 39.0% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals are much lower than in most areas at 7.4%.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the national figure, at 52.7%. Many of those employed work in health care, social assistance, or construction.

The population has grown slightly by 3.9% since 2021, though this is a little below the New South Wales average growth rate.

Tweed Valley is a high-rainfall area, with an annual average of 1,793mm, which is far above the state average.

The area is only somewhat walkable, and many homes are far from essential services. For example, only 35.2% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services, far below the state average.