Urban Area · Area profile
Lithgow
120 km²
Daily life in Lithgow is shaped by a mature population and a strong connection to the land. The town is far older than the national average, with a typical resident aged 46 and over a quarter of the community aged 65 or more. It is a place where most people were born in Australia and have lived for a long time, creating a stable but ageing community. With a population of 12,385, it maintains a quiet, residential feel in the heart of New South Wales.
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Lithgow is noticeably older than most areas, with the typical resident aged 46. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is much higher than the state average at 8.3%, a figure that has risen since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up only 10.5% of the population, which is far below the national figure. English, Irish, and Scottish are the most common ancestries alongside Australian.
English is the primary language for 86.5% of the community. Only 4.9% of people use another language at home, which is far lower than in New South Wales and across Australia.
Over half the population identifies as Christian. Those reporting no religion make up 34.9% of the community, a figure that has risen by 19 percentage points since 2011.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 10.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. About 34% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the state average.
Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with the usual household earning $1,088 a week. Only 11.7% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this has risen since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 37% of people living with a long-term health condition. Arthritis and mental health issues are the most reported, and 8.5% of residents need help with daily activities.
Unpaid care for children is much lower than most areas, but 22.2% of people spend 15 or more hours a week on unpaid housework. Volunteering has fallen slightly since 2011 to 13.5%.
The community has a high number of people living alone (38.1%) and one-parent families (21.2%). Because of this, the typical home is smaller, with 2.2 people per household.
Most people live in separate houses, and 39% of homes are owned outright, which is well above the national figure. Typical weekly rents are much lower than the state average at $270.
Cars are the main way to get around, with 63.9% of workers driving to work. Very few people use public transport for commuting, at just 0.4%.
The population is very stable, as only 31.9% of people have moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are also much lower than in most other areas.
Working or looking for work is much less common here than in other areas, at 47.8%. The unemployment rate is 6.5%, which is a little above the national figure.
The town is very walkable, with a score of 6.5. Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park, groceries, and public transport.