Lake Cathie

The community is far older than the state and national averages, with 31.6% of residents aged 65 and over. About 4.8% of the population is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which is a little above the national figure.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born residents than the state average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, each accounting for around 46% of the population.

English is the primary language for 94.6% of people, meaning far fewer residents use another language at home compared to the national figure. Only 0.3% of people speak little or no English.

About 38.4% of residents have no religion, which is about the same as the national figure. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation at 55.5%.

Education levels are well below the national average, with only 16.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The most common highest qualification is a Certificate III or IV, held by 40.4% of residents.

Typical household incomes are well below those in New South Wales and Australia, with a typical weekly household earning $1,275. Only 13.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 37.4% of residents. This is consistent with the older population, as 7.0% of people need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is common, with 18.4% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure. There is also a higher rate of former Defence Force members than in most other areas.

First Nations people in Lake Cathie have a much lower unemployment rate at 4.0% compared to the national figure of 12.3%. Their typical personal income of $806 is also well above the national average.

The area is mostly made up of couples, with 45.8% having children and 40.7% without. About 23.1% of people live alone, which is a little below the state average.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, and 51.8% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Most homes are large, with 75.7% having three or more bedrooms.

The area is heavily dependent on cars, with 66.8% of people driving to work. Only 1.0% use public transport, and it takes about 29 minutes to walk to the nearest stop.

The community has seen a lot of movement, with 43.6% of people moving house in the last five years. This is well above the state average, while recent overseas arrivals remain low at 4.1%.

Far fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the national average, at 49.1%. The most common industries for those employed are health care, construction, and education.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. While most people live near a park, only 35.5% can walk to groceries or public transport within 15 minutes.