Urban Centre · Area profile
Ocean Shores
11 km²
A massive shift toward non-religion has defined Ocean Shores, where 59.7% of people now claim no faith. The population has grown 53% since 2011 to reach 4,818 people, becoming a notably older community with a typical resident aged 44. This is a well-educated area where many work from home and a high proportion of families include one-parent households. It is a residential setting dominated by detached houses and a high rate of home ownership.
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The community is noticeably older than the national figure, with the typical resident aged 44 and seniors making up 19.8% of the population. De facto relationships are much more common here than in most similar areas, at 17.4%.
While 18.9% of residents were born overseas, which is much higher than most similar areas, this is still well below the national figure. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.
People using another language at home make up 8.8% of the population, a figure that is much higher than most similar areas but far below the national average. English is the primary language for 82.5% of residents.
Ocean Shores has one of the highest rates of non-religion for its level, at 59.7%. This represents a huge increase of 42 percentage points since 2011.
The area is highly qualified, with 26.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 57.7% having finished Year 12. Both figures have risen significantly since 2011.
Typical weekly family income is $1,719, which is higher than most similar areas but well below the New South Wales figure. About 11.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Residents are generally healthy, with long-term health conditions affecting 25.7% of people, which is much lower than most similar areas. Only 4.4% of people need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is common here at 17.6%, which is well above the national figure. About 13.4% of people provide unpaid care, and 26.1% care for children unpaid.
One-parent families are much more common here than in most similar areas, making up 21.1% of households. About 27.4% of people live alone.
Detached houses are very common at 82.2%, and 37.1% of homes are owned outright. While renting is more common than in similar areas, typical weekly rents of $500 are well above the national figure.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.2% of people commuting by public transport. However, 20.9% of the workforce now works from home, a sharp increase since 2011.
The community is quite mobile, with 40.6% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 10.5% of the population.
Full-time employment is among the lowest for its level at 42.2%, which has fallen sharply since 2011. The most common industries are health care, food services, and retail.
Ocean Shores is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 2.9, far below the state average. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school, park, or health service.