State Electorate · Area profile
Vaucluse
16 km²
Staggering levels of wealth and education set Vaucluse apart from the rest of the country. This is a highly affluent community where over half of adults hold a university degree and typical incomes are far above the national figures. The area is predominantly made up of professionals and managers, many of whom now work from home. It is a sophisticated, international pocket of Sydney with a high proportion of overseas-born residents and a strong preference for apartment living.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
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The population is a little younger than the state average, with a typical resident aged 37. It is a growing community of 80,036 people, and there has been a notable rise in those in de facto relationships since 2011.
Overseas birth is much more common here than in most areas, with 39.3% of people born abroad. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries, and this international character has grown since 2011.
English is the main language for 75.5% of the community, though 19.1% use another language at home. This is higher than most areas, although it remains well below the New South Wales average.
A little over a third of residents report no religion, a figure that has risen by 16 points since 2011. Judaism is a significant faith here, accounting for 19.8% of the population.
Educational attainment is among the highest in the country, with 52.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This high level of qualification is reflected in the local workforce, which is dominated by professionals and managers.
Incomes are far above the national figure, with nearly half of all households earning $3,000 or more a week. The typical weekly family income is $3,973, which is far above the New South Wales average of $2,185.
Residents enjoy better health than most areas, with a much lower rate of long-term health conditions (20.4%) and mental health conditions (5.4%) compared to the state and national figures.
Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, though the number of people providing unpaid care or doing housework is quite low. The rate of volunteers is well above the national figure.
Homes tend to be smaller than average, with just 2.3 people per dwelling. This is consistent with a high number of people living alone, who make up 29.7% of households.
Apartments are the dominant housing type, making up 66.4% of homes. Renting is much more common here than in most areas, and typical weekly rents of $680 are far above the national average.
Working from home is extremely common, with 55.3% of the workforce doing so. This has contributed to a sharp fall in public transport commuting since 2011, although 15.4% of homes now have no motor vehicle.
The area is quite mobile, with 47.9% of people having moved house in the last five years. This is well above the national figure and is linked to a high proportion of recent overseas arrivals.
Employment rates are much higher than most areas, with 66.0% of adults working or looking for work. The unemployment rate is 3.6%, which is lower than both the state and national figures.
Vaucluse is a walker's paradise with a score of 8.8, and almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park, school, and health services. This high accessibility is despite the area's relatively steep terrain.