Urban Centre · Area profile
Holbrook
4 km²
Daily life in Holbrook is largely defined by a retired population and a very walkable town layout. The typical resident is 53, making the community far older than most other areas in the state. It is a quiet, predominantly Australian community where many people own their homes outright and live alone. While the population has shrunk by 41% since 2011, the town remains highly accessible, with most residents able to walk to shops, parks, and health services within 15 minutes.
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The area is far older than the national figure, with over a third of residents aged 65 and over. This shift is striking, as the number of seniors rose 24 points since 2011 while the proportion of children under 15 fell by 12 points.
Holbrook is overwhelmingly Australian and English in its heritage. Only 6.6% of people were born overseas, which is far below the state and national figures.
English is the primary language for almost everyone here. Only 2.5% of residents use another language at home, a figure far below the rest of Australia.
About 54.8% of residents identify as Christian. Those with no religion make up 31.3% of the population, which is a little below the New South Wales average.
Educational qualifications are much lower than in most other areas. Only 7.5% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, and just 32.2% have completed Year 12.
Typical incomes are much lower than the national figure, with typical weekly household earnings of $964. Only 6.6% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, far below the state average.
Health challenges are common here, with 38.3% of people living with a long-term health condition. About 10.6% of residents need help with daily activities, which is well above the national average.
Volunteering is strong, with 17.5% of people pitching in, well above the national figure. The area also has a higher proportion of Defence Force veterans than most other areas.
Living arrangements have shifted toward smaller households, with 40.1% of people now living alone. This helps explain why the typical home now holds only 2.0 people, down from 2.9 in 2011.
Most people live in separate houses, and 45.7% own theirs outright, far above the national average. Rent is much lower than elsewhere, with a typical weekly cost of $185.
The town is very car-dependent, as 0% of people commute by public transport. While 63.7% of workers drive, 7.1% now work from home.
Migration is relatively low, with 32.1% moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas have risen sharply to 18.3% since 2011.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas, at 41.8%. The local workforce is primarily employed in health care, retail, and public administration.
The town is very walkable, with a score of 6.9. Almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of groceries, parks, schools, and health services.