Tweed

Tweed is far older than most of Australia, with a typical age of 47 and 27.1% of people aged 65 and over. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is 4.6%, which is a little above the national figure and has risen since 2011.

The community is predominantly Australian born, with 77.7% born here and only 15.9% born overseas, a figure far below the national average. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for 88.6% of residents. Only 5.1% of people use another language at home, which is far below the New South Wales and national figures.

Nearly half the population identifies as Christian, while 41.6% report no religion. This lack of religious affiliation is well above the state average and has risen by 21 points since 2011.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with 46.4% of residents completing Year 12. However, the proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher has risen to 17.8% since 2011.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national figure, with a typical household earning $1,317 a week. Only 14.5% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is well below the state average.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 32.7% of people living with a long-term health condition. About 7.5% of residents need help with daily activities, which is a little above the national figure.

Providing unpaid care is more common here than elsewhere, with 13.2% of people doing so. There is also a higher proportion of Defence Force veterans compared to the state average.

Single living is common, with 28.8% of people living alone, well above the national figure. While couples with children make up half of households, one-parent families are slightly more common than in most areas.

A striking 41.8% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure. While typical weekly rents are $420, the area has fewer detached houses and fewer large three-bedroom homes than is typical across Australia.

Cars are essential for the 62.2% of workers who drive to work, as only 0.5% of people use public transport for their commute. This reliance is reflected in the fact that 37% of homes have two vehicles.

About 39.8% of residents moved house in the last five years. New arrivals from overseas make up 7.9% of the population, which is well below the national figure and has fallen since 2011.

The workforce is smaller than in most areas, with only 53.1% of adults working or looking for work. Health care, construction, and retail are the main industries for the 50.3% who are employed full-time.

Tweed is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 5.1. Many residents lack easy access to essential services, as only 37.3% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.