Yamba

Yamba is an older community where the typical resident is 57, and 37.7% of people are aged 65 or over, which is far above the national figure of 17.2%. Conversely, children under 15 make up only 13.0%, well below the Australian average of 18.2%.

Most of the 6,405 residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 12.3% of the population, far below the New South Wales figure of 29.3%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for 90.5% of residents. Only 3.4% use another language at home, which is far below the state and national figures.

About 40.2% of residents report having no religion, which is well above the New South Wales figure of 33.2%. Nearly half the population identifies as Christian.

Educational attainment is lower than the national average, with only 16.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the state figure, at 40.8%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,106, which is far below the New South Wales figure of $1,829. Only 9.4% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, much lower than most other areas.

Health challenges are more common here, with 38.9% of people reporting a long-term condition, far above the national figure of 27.7%. Arthritis is the most frequent condition, affecting 16.9% of residents.

Volunteerism is relatively high at 17.4%, well above the national figure of 14.1%. Additionally, 5.0% of residents have served in the Defence Force, which is much higher than most similar areas.

There are 289 First Nations people in Yamba, and the typical age for this group is 22, which is a little younger than the national figure of 24.

Homes here are smaller than usual, with 2.1 people per home compared to the Australian average of 2.5. This is consistent with a high number of people living alone, who make up 31.4% of households.

Home ownership is very high, with 51.2% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. While separate houses are common, the typical weekly rent of $400 is higher than in most similar areas.

Most people rely on cars, with 59.1% driving to work. Only 0.3% use public transport for commuting, and just 13.3% of the workforce work from home, far below the state figure of 31.0%.

Yamba has seen significant movement, with 42.6% of residents moving in the last five years, a little above the national average of 40.7%.

Working life is lower here than elsewhere, with only 41.8% of adults working or looking for work, far below the national figure of 61.1%. Many residents work in accommodation, food, or health care.

The area is somewhat walkable, with 82.3% of homes within a 15-minute walk of basic amenities. Residents have particularly good access to health services, with 72.6% of homes within 15 minutes of care.