State Electorate · Area profile
Cessnock
4,413 km²
A significant population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in Cessnock, where 9.3% of residents identify as such. The community is generally younger than the national average, with a typical resident aged 37 and a high proportion of children under 15. It is a largely Australian-born area where people often live in large, detached family homes. While the population has grown by 19% since 2011, the area faces challenges with higher-than-average rates of long-term health conditions.
Families are well catered for: 38 schools serve Cessnock.
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Cessnock has a much higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than most areas, a figure that rose by 9.0 points since 2011. The community is slightly younger than the state and national averages, with 20.5% of residents being children under 15.
The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 87.5% of people born here. The proportion of overseas-born residents is among the lowest at this level, falling sharply from 38.3% in 2011 to 8.1% in 2021.
English is the primary language for the vast majority of the community, with 89.7% using it at home. Only 4.1% of residents use another language, a figure that has fallen significantly since 2011.
About 41.8% of people report having no religion, which is well above the New South Wales figure. This represents a 24 point increase since 2011.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most similar areas, with only 36.2% of residents completing Year 12. Just 10.9% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, a significant drop from 2011.
Typical household incomes are lower than the national figure, with the usual household earning $1,605 per week. Only 17.5% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is well below the state average.
Long-term health issues are common, with 34.9% of people reporting a condition and 12.9% specifically mentioning mental health. This is well above the national average, and 7.5% of people need help with daily activities.
More people provide unpaid care here than in most areas, including 30.5% who care for children. However, the volunteer rate has fallen by 11 points since 2011 to reach 10.0%.
Families tend to be larger, with 2.6 people per home. One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 18.8% of households.
The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 91.5% of homes. Most of these are large, with 82.1% having three or more bedrooms, far above the state average.
Most people rely on cars, with 61.6% driving to work and only 0.3% using public transport. While there are many bus stops, only 13.9% of people work from home.
About 39.5% of residents moved house in the last five years, which is typical for the state. Recent arrivals from overseas are much less common here than in other areas, at just 8.1%.
About 59.1% of adults are working or looking for work, with a typical split between full-time roles and various industries. Health care, retail, and construction are the most common employers.
Cessnock is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Only 31.4% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, and just 14.9% are near health services.