State Electorate · Area profile
South Coast
2,754 km²
Far older than most similar areas, South Coast is a community where nearly 30% of residents are seniors. The area has grown by 10% since 2011 and has a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, which is well above the national figure. It is a place where people generally live in their own homes and enjoy a slower pace of life, though typical incomes are much lower than the state average.
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The community is notably older than the rest of Australia, with a typical resident aged 49 and 29% of people aged 65 or over. An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of 6.5% is much higher than in most areas and has risen since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (13.3%) compared to the state. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the dominant language, with only 5.2% of people using another language at home, a figure far below the national average. Very few residents speak little or no English.
About 41.7% of people report having no religion, which is well above the New South Wales figure. This has seen a large increase of 22 percentage points since 2011.
Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 14.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the proportion of people who completed Year 12 rose by 10 percentage points since 2011.
Typical incomes are well below state and national figures, with the typical household earning $1,195 a week. Only 10.7% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is among the lowest for its level.
The area faces significant health challenges, with 37.7% of people reporting a long-term health condition. This is far above the state average, and 8.5% of residents need help with daily activities.
Unpaid care is common here, as the proportion of people providing unpaid care is higher than in most areas. There is also a notably high rate of former Defence Force members at 6.0%.
Homes tend to be smaller, with 2.3 people per household. About 29% of people live alone, which is well above the national figure.
The area is dominated by separate houses (87.9%), and a high 45.1% of homes are owned outright. This helps explain why typical monthly mortgage payments are lower than the state average.
Car use is essential, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. While there are many bus stops, only 11.8% of the workforce works from home.
About 38.8% of residents moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are much less common here than in most other areas, at 7.1%.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work (47.5%) compared to the state average. Health care, construction, and retail are the most common industries for those employed.
The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.3. Many homes are far from essential services, as only 33.2% are within a 15-minute walk of health services.