Fern Bay

The community is older than the state and national averages, with a typical age of 43 and a very high proportion of seniors. Children under 15 make up 19.9% of the population, which is higher than most similar areas.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those from overseas represent 11.9% of the population, which is far below the New South Wales and national figures. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for 90.7% of the community. Only 4.6% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the state and national averages.

Over half of the population identifies as Christian, while 38.4% report no religion. This lack of religious affiliation is well above the New South Wales average.

Educational attainment is lower than the national average, with only 19.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the state and national figures at 44%.

Typical family income is about the same as the national figure at $2,104 per week. However, typical personal and household incomes are both a little below the national average.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 36.5% of people reporting a long-term health condition. This is well above the national rate and is reflected in the 7.4% of residents who need help with daily activities.

A high number of people care for children unpaid, and 9% of residents have served in the Defence Force, which is well above the national average. Volunteering is lower than in most similar areas.

The First Nations community is among the largest for its level, with a typical age of 21. Year 12 completion for First Nations people is 47%, which is well above the national average.

About 30% of people live alone, a figure well above the state and national averages. Most families are couples, with 55.4% having children and 34.1% without.

Detached houses are the norm for 97.9% of homes, and 46.4% are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Rent is quite high, with a typical weekly cost of $510.

The area is heavily dependent on cars, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. However, 26.1% of people work from home, which is well above the national average.

The community has seen significant movement, with 53.1% of people moving in the last five years, a rate far above the state and national averages.

A much lower proportion of adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas. Those who are employed often work in health care, social assistance, or public administration.

While almost everyone is within a 15-minute walk of a park or health service, there are no groceries within that distance. This contributes to a walkability score that is well below the state average.