Penrith

The population is noticeably younger than the state and national figures. Penrith has a significant First Nations community, with 6.2% of residents identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%.

Overseas born residents make up 24.5% of the community, which is much higher than most similar areas. The most common ancestries are English and Australian, each accounting for around 31%.

About 18.2% of people use a language other than English at home, a figure much higher than most similar areas. However, this is still well below the New South Wales average of 26.6%.

Religious affiliation is lower than in many other areas, with 35.8% of people reporting no religion. This is slightly above the state average, though well below the national figure of 38.9%.

Qualifications are higher than in most similar areas, with 19.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Despite this, this figure is well below the national average of 26.3%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,397, which is around the middle for its level but well below the state figure. High earners are rare here, with only 12.2% of households earning $3,000 or more per week.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 32.9% of people living with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are particularly prevalent, affecting 14% of the population.

Community participation is low, with only 7.7% of people volunteering, which is among the lowest for its level. This is also reflected in the low numbers of people providing unpaid care or doing housework.

Penrith has one of the largest First Nations populations at this level, totaling 1,116 people. The typical personal income for this group is $673, which is a little above both the state and national figures.

Homes here are smaller than usual, with only 2.1 people per home. The area has a very high number of people living alone (41.3%) and one-parent families (23.6%), both of which are far above national levels.

Renting is the dominant tenure, with 60.2% of households renting, far above the national figure of 30.6%. Detached houses are rare here, and only 15.4% of homes are owned outright.

Public transport use is much higher than in similar areas, supported by a high number of stops and routes. This makes the area very accessible, though 16.8% of homes have no motor vehicle.

The community is highly mobile, with 54.3% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals are also common, making up 15.3% of the population.

Full-time employment is slightly above the national average at 60.9%. However, the unemployment rate of 6.1% is much higher than in most similar areas.

This is a walker's paradise, with 97.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of the city's amenities. Almost every home is within a short walk of public transport, parks, and health services.