Urban Centre · Area profile
Dungog
6 km²
A high number of seniors and a strong Indigenous presence define the daily life of Dungog. The population has more than doubled since 2011, yet the typical resident is now 50, making it far older than most of the country. It is a place where many people live alone and a large proportion of homeowners own their houses outright. This shift toward an older population is reflected in the community's higher need for health support and daily assistance.
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The community has a much higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than the state average, rising to 9.5% in 2021. Seniors make up 30.7% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 17.2%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has among the lowest proportions of overseas-born people at this level. Australian and English are the most common ancestries, accounting for 47.4% and 45.8% respectively.
English is the primary language for almost everyone, with only 0.7% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
Religious affiliation is common here, as 58.7% of people identify as Christian. Those reporting no religion make up 33.6% of the population, which is well below the Australian average of 38.9%.
Educational attainment is lower than in most similar areas, with only 31.4% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the state and national figures of around 59%.
Incomes are well below the national average, with a typical household earning $1,076 a week. Only 8.2% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the New South Wales figure of 25.2%.
Health needs are much higher here than in most areas, with 40.5% of people living with a long-term health condition. Around 10% of residents require help with daily activities, which is well above the national figure of 5.8%.
Volunteerism is strong, with 19.4% of people volunteering, which is well above the national average. Unpaid care is also common; 14.2% of people provide unpaid care, and 27.2% spend 15 or more hours a week on housework.
The area has a high number of people living alone at 35.4%, which is far above the state average. One-parent families also make up 18% of households, a figure well above the national average of 14.1%.
Most residents live in separate houses, and 43.1% own their home outright, which is far above the national figure. While typical rents are well below the national average at $300 a week, the proportion of renters rose to 25.5% since 2011.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with 61.9% of workers driving to work. Working from home is less common here than in the rest of the state, at 11.9%.
The community is relatively stable, as the proportion of people who moved in the last five years is lower than in most areas. There were no recent arrivals from overseas in 2021.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas, at 49.1%. The most common industries for those employed are health care and social assistance, followed by retail trade and construction.
The area is somewhat walkable, with a score of 5.0. While most homes are within a short walk of a park or school, only 23.7% are within 10 minutes of public transport, which is far below the state average.