Merimbula

The typical resident is 54, making the area far older than the New South Wales average. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 32.9% of the population, while children under 15 are well below the national figure at 11.7%.

Most residents were born in Australia, though 16.4% were born overseas, which is higher than in most similar areas. English is the most common ancestry at 46.1%, followed by Australian at 35.3%.

English is the main language for 88.8% of people. While 5.1% use another language at home—which is higher than in most similar areas—this is still far below the New South Wales average.

A large proportion of the community has no religion at 47.5%, a figure well above the national average. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 42.1%.

About 19.9% of adults have a bachelor degree or higher, which is more than in most similar areas but well below the state average. Around 48% of residents completed Year 12.

Typical weekly household income is $1,146, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 10.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, a rate far below the state average.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 37.5% of people. Arthritis is the most reported condition at 14.3%, and 6.8% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is very common, with 20.5% of people helping out, which is well above the national figure. This is a community where a slightly higher number of people have served in the Defence Force.

There are 84 First Nations people in the area, and 10.7% speak a First Nations language, which is well above the state average. The unemployment rate for this group is 0.0%, far below the national figure.

People living alone are very common here at 41.1%, which is far above the national average. This helps explain why the typical home is small, with only 2.0 people per household.

Outright home ownership is well above the national figure at 40.8%. Renting is also common at 31.6%, with typical weekly rents of $310, which is a little below the national figure.

Most people commute by car, and only 13.2% work from home, which is far below the state average. While there are 11 public transport stops, the typical walk to the nearest stop takes 22 minutes.

The community is quite mobile, with 46.2% of people moving in the last five years, which is well above the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 7.2% of the population.

Only 51.4% of adults are working or looking for work, which is much lower than most areas. The most common industries for those employed are health care, social assistance, and accommodation and food services.

The area is somewhat walkable, with nearly all homes within 15 minutes of a park. However, fewer people are within a short walk of a school or groceries compared to the state average.