Palmers Island

The typical resident is 49, making the area far older than most of Australia. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 25.1% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 17.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, with only 8.7% born overseas, a figure far below the New South Wales average. Those with overseas roots predominantly list English, Scottish, or Irish ancestry.

English is the primary language here, with only 1.7% of people using another language at home. This is far below the state and national figures.

About 42.7% of people report having no religion, which is well above the national figure of 38.9%. Nearly half the population identifies as Christian.

Qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 10.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Far fewer people have completed Year 12 compared to the state average.

Typical weekly household income is $1,404, which is well below the New South Wales figure of $1,829. Personal incomes are also a little below the national average.

Around 29% of residents have a long-term health condition, which is a little above the national figure. Arthritis is the most common condition reported.

Caring for others is common here, with 32.1% of people providing unpaid childcare—well above the national average. However, the volunteer rate is much lower than in most areas.

There are 11 First Nations people in the area, whose typical personal income of $1,174 is far above the national figure of $540.

Families tend to be larger than usual, with 2.6 people per home. Couples with children make up 58.3% of households, while one-parent families are much less common than in most areas.

Home ownership is very high, with 52.4% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%. Most residents live in separate houses with three or more bedrooms.

The community is heavily reliant on cars, as 64.7% of workers drive to get to work. Almost no one uses public transport to commute, and very few homes lack a motor vehicle.

The population is relatively stable, with 28.9% of people moving in the last five years—far below the national figure. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.

About 59.1% of adults are working or looking for work, though the unemployment rate of 6.0% is a little above the state average. Many residents work in health care, construction, or agriculture.

The area is highly car-dependent with a very low walkability score. There are no groceries or health services within a 15-minute walk, and only a few homes are within 10 minutes of public transport.