Darlington

The area is noticeably younger than the national figure, with a typical age of 35. It has a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence at 6.6%, which is well above the own New South Wales figure of 3.4%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the most common ancestries are English and Australian. Only 10.8% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the main language for 88.1% of the community. While 9.5% use another language at home—which is higher than most similar areas—this is still far below the state average of 26.6%.

Over half of the population identifies as Christian, while 36.8% report no religion. This lack of religious affiliation is a little below the national figure of 38.9%.

Educational attainment is much lower than the state average, with only 38.3% completing Year 12 and 11.4% holding a bachelor degree or higher. Qualifications are often practical, with 47.5% holding a Certificate III or IV.

Typical weekly household income is $1,786, which is about the same as the national figure. However, a high proportion of people earn $2,000 or more per week, which is well above the Australian average.

Health challenges are more common here, with 33.3% of people living with a long-term condition, well above the state figure of 27.0%. Mental health conditions are also more frequent than in most areas.

Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 30.4% of people caring for children and 16.3% providing other unpaid care, both of which are well above national levels.

First Nations people in the area are noticeably younger and earn more than those in similar areas. The typical personal income for First Nations residents is $900, far above the national figure of $540.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 22.4% of households. About 28.2% of people live alone, which is a little above the national average.

Most people live in separate houses, and 75.5% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Renting is more common than in similar areas, though the typical weekly rent of $333 is well below the state average.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 70.9% of workers driving to work. Only 9.5% work from home, which is far below the state figure of 31.0%.

The community has seen significant movement, with 42.2% of residents moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals also make up 17.1% of the population, a little above the national average.

Employment is strong and concentrated in mining, where 23.3% of workers are employed. Full-time employment at 66.7% is well above the national figure of 58.9%.

While every home is within a short walk of a park or public transport, the area is mostly car-dependent. There are no groceries or health services within a 15-minute walk.