Urban Centre · Area profile
Lithgow
24 km²
Walking to local shops, parks, and transport is a standard part of daily life in Lithgow. This regional centre is an older community where the typical resident is 47, far older than the national figure. It has a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population and a high number of seniors. While the population shrank by 33% since 2011, the area remains a highly walkable hub for those who live there.
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The area is far older than the state and national averages, with over a quarter of residents aged 65 or over. It also has a much higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than most areas at 7.9%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the community has far fewer overseas-born people than the national figure. Australian and English are the most common ancestries, though the proportion of people born overseas rose to 10.8% since 2011.
English is the main language for 88.1% of the community. While the share of people using another language at home rose to 5.3% since 2011, this is still far below the national average.
Over half of the population identifies as Christian, while 35.9% report no religion. This last figure has risen sharply by 19 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than the state and national figures, with only 10.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, more residents have completed Year 12 since 2011.
Typical incomes are well below the national figures, with the typical household earning $1,043 a week. There are far fewer high-income earners here compared to the rest of the state.
Residents face higher health challenges than most areas, with 38.8% having a long-term health condition. This is far above the national figure, and a higher-than-usual 9.1% of people need help with daily activities.
Volunteer rates have fallen by 5.2 points since 2011 to 13.4%. The proportion of people providing unpaid care is about the same as the national average.
This is a community of small households, with a typical size of 2.1 people. Far more residents live alone (39.5%) or in one-parent families (22.6%) than in other similar areas.
Separate houses are very common at 84.5%, and 38.3% of homes are owned outright. Typical weekly rent is $270, which is well below the national figure.
Most people drive to work, and 12.3% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is much higher than most areas. Very few people use public transport to commute.
The area has seen fewer people move in over the last five years compared to the state average. The share of recent overseas arrivals also fell to 7.0% since 2011.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work here than in most areas, and the unemployment rate of 6.8% is higher than the national figure. Many residents work in health care, social assistance, or public safety.
Lithgow is very walkable, with 99.6% of homes within 15 minutes of a park and 96.5% near public transport. This makes it much more accessible on foot than the state average.