Callala Bay

The area has a much older profile than most, with 28.4% of people aged 65 or over, far above the national figure of 17.2%. Children under 15 make up 14.9%, which is well below the New South Wales average of 18.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, though 14.5% were born overseas. English is the most common ancestry at 43.2%, followed by Australian at 39.3%.

English is the dominant language, spoken by 90.3% of the community. Only 5.8% of people use another language at home, which is far below the state average of 26.6%.

Over half of the population identifies as Christian (52.5%). Those reporting no religion make up 40.6%, a figure well above the New South Wales average of 33.2%.

Education levels are far below the national average, with only 16.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. About 42.6% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%.

Typical incomes are well below the national average, with the usual household earning $1,289 a week compared to the Australian figure of $1,746. Only 14.3% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 39.2% of people. This is far above the national average of 27.7%, with arthritis being the most frequent condition.

Community spirit is high, with 16.2% of people providing unpaid care and 17.4% volunteering. Notably, 7.6% of residents served in the Defence Force, which is well above the national figure of 2.8%.

First Nations people make up 5.6% of the population, a little above the national average. This group has a very strong employment record, with an unemployment rate of 0.0%.

Families are diverse, with 46.1% being couples with children. About 25.2% of people live alone, which is about the same as the national average.

The area is dominated by detached houses (94.8%), and a huge 51.9% of homes are owned outright. Most homes are large, with 90.2% having three or more bedrooms.

The community is highly car-dependent, with 65.4% of workers driving to work. Almost no one uses public transport to commute, and the drive time to the city is much higher than most areas at 128 minutes.

Movement is relatively steady, with 34.3% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are low at 1.2%, far below the national figure of 14.5%.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work (49.8%) compared to the national average of 61.1%. The most common industries for those employed are health care and social assistance.

While most homes are within a short walk of public transport and groceries, the area is mostly car-dependent. There are no health services within a 15-minute walk, which is far below the state average.