Urban Centre · Area profile
Greta
5 km²
Greta is a rapidly growing community in the Cessnock region that has seen its population jump by 170% since 2011. It is now a much younger area, with a typical resident aged just 33 and a high proportion of children. This shift is reflected in the local housing, where large family homes dominate and the number of people per household has risen significantly. The community is also notable for its strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence, which is well above the state and national figures.
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The area is noticeably younger than most, with 23.1% of residents being children under 15. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 9.3% of the population, a figure that has risen steadily since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia (89.0%), and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (7.3%) compared to the rest of the state.
English is the primary language for 93.5% of the community. This is consistent with the low number of people using another language at home, which is far below the national figure.
About 41.8% of people report no religion, a figure that has risen by 24 points since 2011. This is well above the New South Wales average.
Typical qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 8.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Certificate III or IV is the most common qualification at 56.1%.
Typical incomes are much higher than in similar areas, with the usual family earning $2,208 a week. Weekly personal income has also risen significantly since 2011 to reach $807.
While the need for daily help is lower than average, mental health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 11.9% of residents.
A high number of people provide unpaid childcare (34.3%), which is well above the national figure and aligns with the large number of children in the area.
Families with children make up 63.3% of households. Homes are larger than usual, with 2.8 people per home, while those living alone are fewer than in most areas.
Large detached houses are the norm, with 95.7% of homes being separate houses and 86.7% having three or more bedrooms. Home ownership is common, though those owning their home outright have fallen to 24.6%.
The community is heavily reliant on cars, as 65.7% of people drive to work and only 0.2% use public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle.
Greta is a high-movement area, with 44.8% of residents having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas have also increased to 8.5% since 2011.
A high proportion of adults are working or looking for work (68.9%). Employment is concentrated in mining, health care, and retail, with technicians and trades being the most common jobs.
The area is only somewhat walkable, as it is far below the state average for access to health services, schools, and groceries within a 15-minute walk.