Urban Centre · Area profile
Smiths Lake
5 km²
A shrinking population has marked the last decade for Smiths Lake, which saw its total number of residents fall by 72% since 2011. It is now a predominantly older community where the typical resident is 49, far older than the national figure. The area is characterized by a strong preference for detached housing and a notable shift toward secularism, with over half of residents now reporting no religion. This quiet coastal pocket is largely car-dependent but maintains a high rate of outright home ownership.
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The community is far older than the state and national averages, with a quarter of residents aged 65 or over. There has been a rise in de facto relationships since 2011, now accounting for 16.2% of the population, which is well above most similar areas.
Most residents were born in Australia, though those born overseas make up 12.4% of the population, a figure that has risen since 2011. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Irish and Scottish.
English is the primary language for 89.3% of the community. Only 3.5% of people use another language at home, which is far below the New South Wales and national figures.
A significant majority of the population now identifies as having no religion, at 50.8%. This is far above the national figure and represents a sharp 32 point increase since 2011.
Education levels have risen since 2011, with 17.2% of adults now holding a bachelor degree or higher. While this is much higher than most similar areas, it remains well below the state and national averages.
Typical incomes are well below the state and national figures, with the usual weekly household income sitting at $1,210. However, there has been an increase in high earners, with 11% of households now earning $3,000 or more per week.
The area has a higher rate of long-term health conditions than the state average, most commonly arthritis and asthma. Despite this, the proportion of people needing help with daily activities has fallen since 2011 to 3.9%, which is much lower than most similar areas.
Unpaid housework is a common activity here, with 28.8% of people doing 15 or more hours a week, a figure well above the national average. This is alongside a higher than usual proportion of former Defence Force members.
Families with two parents and children make up 43.4% of households, while 26.7% of people live alone. The usual household size is 2.3 people, which is slightly lower than the national figure.
The area is almost entirely made up of detached houses (99.6%), with 86.6% of homes having three or more bedrooms. Home ownership is strong, with 46.7% of residents owning their home outright, far above the national figure.
Car use is essential, as 0.0% of residents commute via public transport and very few homes lack a motor vehicle. About 16.8% of the workforce now works from home, an increase of 11 points since 2011.
The area has seen significant movement, with 39.7% of residents having moved house in the last five years. However, the proportion of recent arrivals from overseas has fallen since 2011 to 3.0%.
About half of the adults are working or looking for work, though full-time employment is far below the national average at 44.9%. Local jobs are concentrated in construction, health care, and the hospitality sector.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 3.8, partly due to the steep terrain. While most homes are within a short walk of groceries and public transport, there are no schools or health services within a 15-minute walk.