State Electorate · Area profile
Blue Mountains
1,423 km²
A significantly older population sets the Blue Mountains apart from the rest of the state. It is a well-educated community where the typical resident is 45, and seniors make up over 22% of the people. This area is more likely to be home to people who own their houses outright and work from home than in most other parts of Australia. The region is marked by a high number of detached family homes and a strong culture of volunteering.
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The community is noticeably older than the national figure, with a typical age of 45 and a senior population that is well above the state average. This trend has grown over time, with the proportion of people aged 65 and over rising by 6.5 percentage points since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people compared to New South Wales. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.
Language diversity is far below the state and national levels, with only 6.6% of people using a language other than English at home. Very few people here speak little or no English.
The area is much more likely to have no religion than most other places, a figure that rose by 21 percentage points since 2011. Nearly half of residents report no religious affiliation.
Residents are well-qualified, with a bachelor's degree or higher held by 32.1% of adults, which is well above the national figure. Year 12 completion has also risen significantly since 2011.
Typical weekly family income is $2,194, which is about the same as the state average. The number of households earning $3,000 or more a week has risen by 13 percentage points since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, particularly mental health conditions, which are well above the state and national figures.
Volunteering is far more common here than in most of Australia, with 19.3% of people helping out. The area also has a higher rate of people providing unpaid care and doing housework than the state average.
About 27.3% of people live alone, which is a little above the national figure. Household sizes are slightly smaller than usual, with 2.4 people per home.
The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 91.9% of homes. Home ownership is very strong, with 40.4% of homes owned outright—well above the state and national averages.
Working from home is far more common here than across Australia, with 36% of the workforce doing so. While there are many public transport stops, only 1.3% of people use them to commute.
The population is relatively stable, as fewer people have moved in the last five years compared to most other areas. Recent arrivals from overseas are also among the lowest for this level.
Full-time employment is well below the state and national figures, though the unemployment rate of 3.9% is also much lower than most areas. Many residents work in health care, social assistance, and education.
The terrain is steeper than the state average, and many homes are far from groceries and health services. However, nearly 92% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park.