# Rathmines

Suburb / Locality · Area profile

Located in: New South Wales › Rest of NSW › Lake Macquarie › 2283, NSW

Area: 4 km²

Separate houses are the norm in Rathmines, where 92.6% of homes are detached. This is an older community with a typical resident aged 47, which is far older than the national figure. Most residents were born in Australia, and the area is characterized by a high proportion of homeowners who own their place outright. It is a quiet residential pocket where many people are now retired or caring for others in their homes.

## Demographics & Identity

Rathmines is far older than most of Australia, with a typical age of 47 and over a quarter of residents aged 65 or over. About 4.2% of the population are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, which is higher than in most similar areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 2,076 | +7.0% since 2011 |
| Median age | 47 yrs | +4.4% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 4.2% | +154.1% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 25.1% | +21.3% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 17.7% | +0.8% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 10.5% | +26.8% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Older adults (45–64) 26.9%, Seniors (65+) 25.1%, Young adults (25–44) 18.9%, Children (0–14) 17.7%, Youth (15–24) 11.2%

**Marital status** — Married 52.8%, Never married 28.0%, Divorced 10.7%, Widowed 5.1%, Separated 3.4%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

The community is predominantly Australian-born, with only 11.3% born overseas, a figure far below the state and national averages. English, Australian, and Scottish are the most common ancestries.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 11.3% | +11.5% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 84.5%, England 2.8%, New Zealand 1.5%, China 0.5%, Philippines 0.3%, South Africa 0.1%

**Ancestry** — English 45.8%, Australian 41.9%, Scottish 13.8%, Irish 11.3%, German 4.7%, Dutch 1.6%, Chinese 1.4%, Italian 1.3%, Greek 0.9%, Filipino 0.5%, Indian 0.2%

## Language

English is the main language for 91.8% of residents. Only 4.3% use another language at home, which is far below the New South Wales and Australian figures.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 4.3% | +105.1% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.8% | +389.4% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 91.8%, Mandarin 0.7%, Cantonese 0.2%

## Religion

Over half the population identifies as Christian, while 41.0% report having no religion, which is well above the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 41.0% | +108.3% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Christianity 51.8%, No religion 41.0%, Not stated 5.3%, Buddhism 1.2%, Hinduism 0.2%, Islam 0.1%

## Education & Qualifications

About 17.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, though this is well below the state average. Many residents have a Certificate III or IV, and 43.8% completed Year 12, which is far below the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 43.8% | +21.6% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 17.7% | +45.0% since 2011 |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 2.72 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 9 | — |
| Average school size | 273 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 977 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 43.8%, Year 10 31.0%, Year 9 or below 12.1%, Year 11 8.2%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 38.9%, Bachelor degree 19.4%, Advanced diploma / diploma 15.2%, Postgraduate degree 4.9%, Graduate diploma / certificate 2.9%, Certificate I / II 2.7%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 20.0%, Management & commerce 17.7%, Society & culture 12.0%, Health 11.1%, Education 8.6%, Architecture & building 5.9%, Food, hospitality & personal services 5.4%, Creative arts 3.0%, Natural & physical sciences 2.6%, Agriculture & environment 1.5%, Information technology 1.1%

## Income

Typical weekly household income is $1,517, which is a little below the national figure. While nearly 20% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, this is well below the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $728 | +40.5% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,517 | +33.9% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $1,809 | +30.2% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 8.8% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 19.6% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $650–$1,499 34.9%, $1,500–$2,999 28.2%, Under $650 11.2%, $3,000–$3,999 10.4%, $4,000 or more 9.1%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 42.4%, $650–$1,499 33.1%, $1,500–$2,999 16.6%, $3,000 or more 2.5%

## Health & Disability

Health challenges are common here, with 37.5% of people living with a long-term health condition, far above the state average. This includes high rates of arthritis and mental health conditions.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 37.5% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 11.8% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 6.8% | -5.8% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 13.2%, Mental health 11.8%, Asthma 10.9%, Other condition 10.9%, Heart disease 5.7%, Diabetes 5.5%, Cancer 4.3%, Lung condition 2.3%, Stroke 1.0%, Dementia 0.7%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 53.9%, One condition 24.9%, Two conditions 8.4%, Three or more 4.4%

## Community Participation

Residents are very active in unpaid work, with 15.4% providing unpaid care and 27.9% doing significant housework, both well above national levels. There is also a higher-than-usual number of Defence Force veterans.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 13.6% | -19.8% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 15.4% | +12.0% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 27.2% | -13.3% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 3.8% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 27.9% | +0.6% since 2011 |

## First Nations

The First Nations community is noticeably younger than the state average, with a typical age of 20. While household incomes for this group are well above the national figure, the unemployment rate is higher than in most areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 87 | — |
| First Nations median age | 20 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 38.8% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 13.5% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $630 | — |
| First Nations household income | $2,036 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 0.0% | — |

## Family & Households

Families are larger than usual, with 2.6 people per home and a high rate of one-parent families at 18.2%. Conversely, far fewer people live alone compared to the rest of the state.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.6 | +4.0% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 18.2% | +16.9% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 18.6% | -14.4% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 49.0%, Couples without children 32.2%, One-parent families 18.2%, Other families 0.7%

**Household size** — 2 people 40.8%, 1 person 18.6%, 3 people 17.7%, 4 people 14.6%, 5 people 5.9%, 6 or more 2.5%

## Housing & Dwellings

Home ownership is very strong, with 44.3% of homes owned outright, far above the national average. Most homes are large, with 84.6% having three or more bedrooms.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $400 | +52.1% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,733 | +1.9% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.70 | -36.4% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 13.7% | -15.3% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 44.3% | +4.1% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 92.6% | -0.9% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 84.6% | +1.6% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned outright 44.3%, Owned with a mortgage 40.5%, Rented 13.7%, Not stated 1.6%, Other tenure 0.4%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 92.6%, Townhouse / semi-detached 7.0%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 42.5%, 4 bedrooms 34.2%, 2 bedrooms 12.4%, 5 or more 8.0%, 1 bedroom 1.4%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $350–$549 57.1%, $200–$349 23.8%, $550–$749 14.3%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,800–$2,999 35.7%, $1,000–$1,799 31.2%, Under $1,000 17.4%, $3,000 or more 8.0%

## Transport & Vehicles

Almost every home has a car, and 59% of workers drive to work. While public transport stops are plentiful, only 1.2% of people use these services to commute.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 1.7% | -35.7% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 18.2% | +430.4% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 1.2% | +16.0% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 16 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 7.71 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 294.3 | — |
| Public transport routes | 1 | — |
| Walk to nearest stop (min) | 6 | — |
| Drive time to the city (min) | 85 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 59.0%, Worked at home 18.2%, Car (passenger) 3.1%, Bus 0.8%, Train 0.4%, Walked 0.4%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 38.3%, 1 vehicle 29.4%, 3 vehicles 19.1%, 4 or more 10.6%, No vehicle 1.7%

## Migration & Movement

The area is relatively stable, with only 3.0% of residents being recent arrivals from overseas, which is far below the state and national figures.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 31.2% | -0.3% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 3.0% | -35.1% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

Working or looking for work is less common here than in most areas, with 55.1% of adults in the workforce. The most common industries are health care, education, and construction.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% | +14.1% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 55.1% | -0.6% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 57.6% | -6.3% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Health care & social assistance 19.8%, Education & training 10.8%, Construction 10.4%, Retail trade 8.0%, Manufacturing 6.3%, Accommodation & food 6.3%, Public administration & safety 5.5%, Other services 4.4%, Mining 3.9%, Transport & warehousing 3.9%, Administrative & support 3.9%, Professional & technical 3.8%, Finance & insurance 2.8%, Electricity, gas & water 2.1%, Wholesale trade 2.0%, Rental & real estate 1.9%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 0.9%, Media & telecommunications 0.8%, Arts & recreation 0.7%

**Occupations people work in** — Technicians & trades 19.2%, Professionals 19.1%, Community & personal service 15.1%, Clerical & administrative 11.8%, Managers 8.8%, Machinery operators & drivers 8.8%, Sales workers 8.7%, Labourers 7.2%

## Walkability

While 98.5% of homes are within a short walk of public transport, the area is generally less walkable than the state average. There are no health services within a 15-minute walk.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 4.4 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 4.3 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 62.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 60.5% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 98.5% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 75.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 68.8% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 0.0% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 12.5 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 32 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 9.1% | — |

## Schools serving Rathmines

9 schools, 2,461 students, average ICSEA 977.

By sector: Government 7, Catholic 1, Independent 1

By type: Primary 8, Secondary 1

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rathmines Public School | Government | Primary | 1.1 km | 311 |
| St Joseph's Primary School | Catholic | Primary | 1.4 km | 194 |
| Toronto Adventist School | Independent | Primary | 1.7 km | 43 |
| Arcadia Vale Public School | Government | Primary | 2.4 km | 171 |
| Coal Point Public School | Government | Primary | 2.9 km | 245 |
| Toronto High School | Government | Secondary | 3.3 km | 952 |
| Biraban Public School | Government | Primary | 3.4 km | 163 |
| Toronto Public School | Government | Primary | 3.7 km | 201 |
| Wangi Wangi Public School | Government | Primary | 3.8 km | 181 |

## Nearby areas

[Balmoral](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL10167/balmoral) · [Buttaba](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL10721/buttaba) · [Kilaben Bay](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL12133/kilaben-bay) · [Toronto](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL13936/toronto) · [Fishing Point](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL11529/fishing-point) · [Arcadia Vale](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL10074/arcadia-vale) · [Carey Bay](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL10811/carey-bay) · [Wangi Wangi](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL14153/wangi-wangi)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL13332/rathmines