Urban Area · Area profile
Taree
187 km²
Most people in Taree rely on their cars to get around a community where older residents and families are common. The population has grown by 87% since 2011 to reach 26,519 people. It is a place with a strong Indigenous presence, as 11% of residents identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. While the area has a high proportion of retirees, it also has a significant number of one-parent families.
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The community is noticeably older than the national figure, with a typical resident aged 46 and over a quarter of the population aged 65 or more. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen significantly since 2011 to 11%, which is well above the state average.
Taree is predominantly Australian or English in ancestry and has one of the lowest proportions of overseas-born residents at 8.1%, far below the national figure of 27.7%.
English is the primary language for almost all residents, with only 3.9% using another language at home, which is far below the state average.
Over half of the population identify as Christian, while 37.3% report no religion, a figure that has risen by 18 points since 2011.
Education levels are among the lowest for similar areas, with only 9.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 32% completing Year 12, both far below state figures.
Typical weekly household income is $1,037, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 7.2% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, though this has risen since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 39.2% of people reporting a long-term health condition and 10.1% needing help with daily activities.
Unpaid care is a common part of life, as 14.6% of people provide unpaid care, among the highest rates for similar areas. However, volunteering has fallen by 8.5 points since 2011.
Living arrangements are diverse, with 33% of people living alone and 24% of families being one-parent households, a rate far above the state average.
The area is dominated by separate houses, with 39.1% owned outright, which is well above the national figure. Typical weekly rent is $300, well below the national figure of $375.
Car use is the primary way to travel, with 70.5% of people driving to work and only 0.4% using public transport. About 8.4% of homes have no motor vehicle.
The population is relatively stable, as 36.4% of people moved in the last five years, which is well below the national average of 40.7%.
Only 46.1% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure. The unemployment rate is 8.0%, among the highest for similar areas.
The area is somewhat walkable, though it is far below the state average for access to health services and groceries within a 15-minute walk.