West Ballina

West Ballina is a senior-heavy community where the typical resident is 54, far older than the national figure of 38. Children make up only 13.6% of the population, which is well below the state and national averages.

The area is predominantly Australian-born, with 82.3% born here. This is far below the New South Wales average of 29.3% for people born overseas.

English is the dominant language, used by 89% of the community. Very few people speak little or no English, at just 0.4%, which is well below the national figure.

Over half of residents identify as Christian, while 35.9% report no religion. This proportion of non-religious residents is a little below the national figure.

Education levels are lower than in most similar areas, with only 11.5% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the state average at 35.1%.

Incomes are much lower than the national average, with a typical household earning $1,015 a week. Only 9.1% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the state figure.

Health challenges are common here, with 39.1% of people living with a long-term condition—far above the national average. This is consistent with the high number of seniors and the 8.8% of people who need help with daily activities.

Caregiving is a prominent feature, as 14.7% of people provide unpaid care, which is well above the state average. There is also a higher rate of former Defence Force members compared to most areas.

First Nations people make up a significant part of the community, with a population of 248. This group faces higher unemployment at 15.5% and lower Year 12 completion rates compared to the rest of the state.

The area has a high number of people living alone (32.6%) and one-parent families (21.1%), both of which are well above the national average. This contributes to a lower typical household size of 2.1 people.

Home ownership is strong, with 47.5% of homes owned outright, far above the state average. While most are separate houses, typical weekly rents are $370, which is about the same as the national figure.

Most people rely on cars, though the area has a high number of public transport stops per person. Only 10.2% of the workforce works from home, far below the national figure of 21%.

The community is relatively stable, though 37.1% of residents have moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 6.9% of the population, which is well below the national average.

Working life is less common here, as only 43.3% of adults are working or looking for work, far below the national average. Many of those employed work in health care and social assistance.

Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, parks, and schools, making the area quite walkable. However, access to health services is very poor, with only 7.1% of homes within a 15-minute walk.