Byron Bay

The community is notably adult-heavy, with a typical age of 39 and far fewer children under 15 than the national figure. De facto relationships are much more common here than in most other areas, at 18.0%.

International roots are strong in Byron Bay, with 29.9% of people born overseas, which is a little above the Australian average. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.

While more people use a language other than English at home than in most similar areas, this is still far below the New South Wales average. Very few residents speak little or no English.

A striking 58.9% of residents have no religion, a figure far above both the state and national averages.

The area is highly qualified, with 32.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, well above the national figure. Most residents have completed Year 12, and qualifications in management, commerce, and creative arts are common.

Typical weekly household income is $1,561, which is a little below the national figure. However, it has a higher proportion of high-earners—those making $2,000 or more a week—than most similar areas.

Residents here are generally healthier than the national average, with a much lower rate of long-term health conditions at 22.2%. Mental health conditions are reported at a rate of 7.4%, about the same as the state.

Volunteering is well above the national figure at 17.6%. However, there are far fewer people providing unpaid care or doing heavy housework compared to most other areas.

First Nations residents are older than the state average, with a typical age of 35. Education levels are also far above the state average, with 45.8% completing Year 12.

Single living is very common, with 33.9% of people living alone—well above the national figure. Households are typically smaller than usual, averaging 2.3 people.

Renting is very common at 40.1%, and typical weekly rents of $600 are far above the national figure. Homes are generally smaller, with 62.6% having three or more bedrooms, which is far below the Australian average.

The area is very accessible, with 92.9% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. About 25% of people work from home, which is well above the national figure.

Byron Bay is a highly mobile community, with nearly half of all residents having moved in the last five years. This is consistent with the very high number of recent overseas arrivals.

Full-time employment is far below the national average, with many people working in accommodation and food services. The unemployment rate is 5.6%, which is much higher than in most similar areas.

The area is very walkable, with a high density of parks and food and drink spots within reach. Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries and health services, far exceeding state averages.