Lakewood

Seniors aged 65 and over make up 38.8% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 17.2%. This explains why the area has much fewer children under 15 than most other communities.

The community is predominantly Australian born at 83.7%, with English, Irish, and Scottish ancestries being the most common. Only 9.8% of residents were born overseas, which is far below the New South Wales figure.

English is the primary language for the vast majority, with 91.9% of people using it only. Only 2.4% of residents use another language at home, a figure far below the state and national averages.

Christianity is the most common faith at 57.0%, while 34.1% of residents report no religion. This proportion of non-religious residents is well below the national figure of 38.9%.

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 32.1% of residents completing Year 12, compared to 58.8% nationally. Only 11.2% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Incomes are much lower than most areas, with a typical weekly household income of $1,036. This is far below the national figure of $1,746, and only 6.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Health challenges are common here, with 43.9% of people living with a long-term health condition, far above the national figure of 27.7%. This includes a high rate of arthritis and mental health conditions.

Unpaid care is a notable part of local life, as 14.5% of people provide this support. There is also a much higher proportion of former Defence Force members compared to most areas.

First Nations people make up 5.7% of the population, which is a little above the national average. This group is noticeably younger than the general community, with a typical age of 21.

Homes tend to be smaller in occupancy, with 2.2 people per home. This is lower than most areas, and 27.4% of people live alone.

The area is dominated by detached houses, with 91.8% of homes being separate dwellings. Home ownership is very high, as 56.7% of residents own their home outright, far above the national figure.

Most residents rely on cars, with 73.7% driving to work. Very few people use public transport, and only 9.0% of the workforce works from home, which is far below the national average.

Movement into the area is steady, with 37.9% of residents having moved house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are rare, at just 2.4%.

The number of adults working or looking for work is among the lowest at this level at 37.6%. The unemployment rate of 6.1% is a little above the national figure.

Lakewood is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 2.4. While many residents can walk to groceries, almost no one is within a 15-minute walk of a park, school, or health service.