Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Bellingen
45 km²
Families and older adults make up the heart of Bellingen, a community where the typical resident is 44 and children under 15 are much more common than in most similar areas. It is a place of contrasts, combining a highly educated workforce with typical incomes that sit well below the national figure. This character is reflected in a strong local spirit of giving, with volunteering rates far above the state average. Most people live in detached houses, creating a spacious but sparsely connected landscape.
Modest local incomes, but the area's schools serve a more advantaged intake.
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Bellingen has a diverse age profile, with 21.7% of people aged 65 and over, which is well above the national figure. It is also a place where de facto relationships are more common than in most areas.
While 15.5% of residents were born overseas, this is far below the state and national figures. The most common ancestries are English, Australian, Irish and Scottish.
English is the primary language for 87.6% of the community. Only 4.8% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the national average.
A striking 61% of residents report having no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%.
The area is well-qualified, with 27.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, a rate much higher than in most similar areas. Qualifications are strongest in society, culture, education and health.
Typical weekly household incomes are $1,268, which is well below the national figure. Very few households earn $3,000 or more per week compared to the rest of the state.
Mental health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 11.2% of residents. About 29.3% of people live with a long-term health condition.
Bellingen is a highly active community, with 22.8% of people volunteering, well above the national average. Unpaid care for children and housework is also more common than in most areas.
The First Nations community is among the largest for its level, with a median age of 21, which is noticeably younger than the national figure. Notably, the unemployment rate for this group is 0.0%.
One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas. About 29.1% of people live alone, which is well above the national figure.
Separate houses make up 93.2% of homes, far above the national average. While typical rents are about the same as the national figure, home loan payments are well below the national average.
Most people use a car to get to work, and 20.3% work from home. Public transport use is very low, with 0.0% of people commuting by it.
The area has seen significant movement, with 38.6% of people moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas are far less common than in the rest of the state.
Full-time employment is among the lowest at this level, and the unemployment rate is a little above the national figure. Many residents work in health, education and retail.
Bellingen is somewhat walkable, with 73.8% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries, which is well above the state average. However, it is far below the state average for homes within a 15-minute walk of public transport.