Region (SA4) · Area profile
Coffs Harbour - Grafton
13,230 km²
A growing population of over 146,000 people has seen Coffs Harbour - Grafton become noticeably older since 2011. This region is a retirement destination where a quarter of residents are now seniors, far exceeding the national figure. While it is a predominantly English-speaking community with strong ties to Australia and the UK, there is a significant and growing First Nations presence. The area is defined by a slower pace of life and lower typical incomes than the rest of the state.
Plenty of schools here relative to how few children live in the area.
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The typical resident is 46, which is far older than the Australian average of 38. Seniors make up 25.1% of the population, a figure that rose 5.6 points since 2011, while children under 15 have fallen to 17.0%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people (12.6%) than the state average of 29.3%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 86.6% of people, and only 6.3% use another language at home. This is far below the New South Wales figure of 26.6%.
About 41.6% of people report having no religion, which is well above the state average. This is a significant shift, as the figure rose 19 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than the national average, with only 16.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion rose 7.7 points since 2011 to 41.5%.
Incomes are much lower than the national figures, with a typical household earning $1,254 a week. Only 11.7% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this rose 8.4 points since 2011.
Health challenges are common here, as 34.2% of people have a long-term health condition, well above the national figure of 27.7%. This is consistent with the area's older population, with 7.4% needing help with daily activities.
The community is active in volunteering, with 16.0% of people helping out, which is higher than most similar areas. Unpaid care is also common, with 13.6% of residents providing support.
First Nations people make up 6.5% of the population, well above the national average of 3.2%. This group is younger than the general community, with a typical age of 24.
One-parent families are much more common here (17.3%) than in most other areas. People living alone also make up a higher proportion of households at 28.2%.
The area is dominated by separate houses, and a striking 41.3% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. Rents are slightly lower than the state average at $350 a week.
Cars are essential for the 64.9% who drive to work, as only 0.5% of people use public transport. Very few homes (5.0%) are without a motor vehicle.
The area is relatively stable, with 37.8% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 14.2% of the population, which is about the same as the national average.
The workforce is smaller than in most similar areas, with only 51.7% of adults working or looking for work. Health care and social assistance is the largest employer at 18.2%.
The population grew by 4.2% since 2021, though this is a little below the New South Wales growth rate of 6.1%.
The region is warm and wet, with an average annual rainfall of 1,176mm, which is far above the state average of 515mm.
The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.2. This is far below the state average, and fewer than half of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or schools.