Kanwal

Kanwal is an older community where the typical resident is 45, and 27.8% of people are seniors, which is far above the national figure. There is also a significant First Nations population at 7.2%, well above the New South Wales average.

Most residents were born in Australia, though those born overseas make up 13.7% of the population. This is higher than in most similar areas, but still far below the state and national figures.

English is the main language for 81.9% of people. While 6.4% use another language at home, which is higher than in most similar areas, this is far below the national average of 22.3%.

Nearly half of the community identifies as Christian, while 36.2% of people report no religion. This figure for no religion is well above the state average but a little below the national figure.

Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 35.4% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national figure of 58.8%. Only 9.5% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Incomes are generally low, with the typical weekly household earning $1,344, which is well below the national figure. Only 13.4% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Health needs are high here, as 35.4% of people live with a long-term health condition. This includes 12.8% with a mental health condition and 10.6% who need help with daily activities, both of which are well above national levels.

Community involvement is lower than usual, with volunteering at 7.5%, which is well below the national figure. However, 3.2% of residents have served in the Defence Force, a higher rate than in most similar areas.

The First Nations community is among the largest at this level with 301 people. This group is a little younger than the state and national averages, and their unemployment rate of 8.3% is well below the national figure.

One-parent families are very common here at 22.6%, a figure well above the national average. About 26.9% of people live alone, which is higher than in most similar areas.

Housing is dominated by separate houses (85.1%), with 83.4% of homes having three or more bedrooms. While renting is more common than in similar areas, the typical weekly rent of $380 is about the same as the national figure.

The area is well served by buses, with 39 stops and a very short walk to the nearest one. Despite this, most people drive to work, and 15.5% work from home, which is well below the national figure.

Movement into the area is relatively high, with 33.9% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 7.6% of the population, which is well below the national figure.

Working life is challenging for many, with an unemployment rate of 6.2% and only 47.5% of adults working or looking for work, which is far below the national average. Health care and social assistance is the biggest employer.

The area is very walkable, especially for health services, with 94.2% of homes within a 15-minute walk. Access to schools and public transport is also far above state levels, though access to groceries is far below.