Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Lakemba
2 km²
Walking to shops, parks, and transport is a part of daily life for everyone in Lakemba, where a walker's paradise layout defines the neighbourhood. It is a young, populous community with a typical resident aged 32 and nearly a quarter of all people being children. This high number of young families is reflected in the large households and crowded apartments that characterise the area. Much of the population was born overseas, creating a diverse hub where most residents speak a language other than English at home.
Lakemba's schools draw a more advantaged community than local incomes would suggest.
Lakemba has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
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The area is noticeably younger than the national figure, with 24.7% of people being children under 15. In contrast, seniors aged 65 and over make up only 10.6%, which is well below the state average.
Born overseas, 59.9% of the community hail from another country, a figure far above the national average. The most common ancestries are Indian, Australian, and English.
Language diversity is very high, with 72.9% of people using a language other than English at home. This is far above the national figure, and 14.6% of residents speak little or no English.
Faith plays a central role here, as 61.2% of the population is Muslim. Only 6.9% of residents report no religion, which is far below the New South Wales figure.
Educational attainment is high, with 30.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is well above the national average, and 63.7% of residents have completed Year 12.
Household incomes are much lower than in most other areas, with a typical family earning $1,285 a week. This is far below the state figure of $2,185.
Residents generally report fewer long-term health issues than the national average. Only 16.8% have a long-term health condition, and 4% have a mental health condition, which is well below the state figure.
Unpaid care for children is common at 26.2%, which is about the same as the national figure. However, volunteering is among the lowest at this level, with only 6.8% of people volunteering.
First Nations residents are few, making up 0.3% of the population. Among this group, 13.0% speak a First Nations language, which is well above the state average.
Homes are larger than usual, with 3.1 people per household. This is a little above the national figure, and 73.7% of families are couples with children.
Rental living is very common, with 58.1% of households renting, far above the national figure. Apartments dominate the landscape, and 63.2% of homes have only two bedrooms, leading to high density with 1.4 people per bedroom.
Public transport use is high, and 15.9% of homes have no motor vehicle. The area is well connected, with every single home located within a 10-minute walk of a transit stop.
The community is quite mobile, with 42% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 21.4% of the population, which is well above the national figure.
Job market challenges are evident, as the unemployment rate is 13.9%, well above the national figure. Only 42.7% of adults are working or looking for work, among the lowest at this level.
Lakemba is a walker's paradise with a score of 8.6. Every resident lives within a 15-minute walk of groceries, schools, and parks, and 98.4% are within 15 minutes of health services.