Murwillumbah

The population is noticeably older than the New South Wales average, with 24.8% of residents aged 65 and over. While the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is about the same as the national figure at 3.6%, this figure has fallen 6.0 points since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 12.4% of the population, which is far below the national figure. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for 87.7% of the community. While a higher share of people use another language at home than in similar areas, at 4.9%, this is still far below the state and national averages.

A large number of residents report no religion (41.6%), a figure that is well above the state average and has risen 22 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 43.2%.

Education levels have risen since 2011, with 15.4% of adults now holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, this is still far below the national figure of 26.3%.

Weekly incomes are well below the state and national averages, with the typical household earning $1,169. Only 8.6% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, which is lower than in most similar areas.

Health challenges are more common here than in other areas, with 33.5% of people having a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are reported by 11.7% of residents, which is well above the state average.

Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 14.3% of people providing unpaid care and 26.1% caring for children. Volunteering has fallen 5.9 points since 2011 to 15.6%.

One-parent families make up 22.0% of households, which is well above the national average. There is also a higher proportion of people living alone (30.6%) compared to the rest of the state.

Separate houses are very common here at 79.3%, far above the state average. While 34.8% of homes are owned outright, the typical weekly rent of $350 is much higher than in most similar areas.

Most people rely on cars, with 66.2% driving to work and only 0.4% using public transport. Working from home is less common here than across the nation, at 10.0%.

The area is quite mobile, with 39.3% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 3.9% of the population, which is far below the national figure.

The workforce is smaller than the national average, with 51.6% of adults working or looking for work. Full-time employment is much lower than in most similar areas, at 50.1%.

The area is somewhat walkable, though 42.6% of homes are in a 15-minute-city walkshed, which is far below the state average. Most homes are within a short walk of a park or public transport, but far fewer are near health services.