State Electorate · Area profile
Lake Macquarie
478 km²
A much older population than the national average defines Lake Macquarie, where the typical resident is 44. This community has seen a significant shift since 2011, with a sharp rise in seniors and a shrinking total population. It is a place where most people were born in Australia and own their own homes, creating a stable but ageing residential character. These trends contribute to a higher need for health and disability support across the area.
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The area is noticeably older than the state and nation, with seniors making up 24.1% of the population. This has grown quickly, as the typical age rose by 10 years since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 fell to 17.0%.
Most of the 79,707 residents were born in Australia, and only 11.3% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure. This is a sharp drop from 2011, when over 47% of the population was born abroad.
English is the primary language for 91.1% of the community. Only 4.6% of people use another language at home, a figure that has fallen steeply since 2011 and is far below the state and national averages.
About 41.1% of people report having no religion, which is well above the New South Wales average. This reflects a strong trend, as the number of people with no religion rose by 32 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than in most other areas, with only 16.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion also fell to 42.6%, which is far below the national figure.
Typical weekly household incomes are a little below the state and national figures at $1,496. While incomes have risen since 2011, only 17.4% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is lower than in most areas.
Health needs are among the highest for this level, with 37.1% of people living with a long-term condition. This is far above the state average, and 7.9% of residents need help with daily activities.
Unpaid care is common here, with 14.0% of people providing care, which is much higher than most areas. This is consistent with the ageing population, and 24.1% of people also do significant amounts of unpaid housework.
About 16.5% of families are one-parent households, which is much higher than most areas. Household size is about the same as the national figure, with 2.5 people per home.
Housing is dominated by separate houses, making up 87.6% of all homes. This is far above the national average, and 37.3% of these homes are owned outright, which is well above the state figure.
Cars are essential here, as 56.7% of people drive to work and only 0.6% use public transport. While there are many transit stops, very few people actually use them to commute.
Movement into the area is moderate, with 38.8% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are much lower than in most areas at 6.4%.
The working population is much lower than in most areas, with 55.1% of adults working or looking for work. Full-time employment has fallen since 2011 and remains below the national average.
Walkability is low, with a score of 4.2, which is well below the state average. Only 35.2% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, and just 27.3% are near health services.