Urban Centre · Area profile
Broadwater
1 km²
A far older population than the state average marks the character of Broadwater (L). The typical resident is 49, and nearly a quarter of the community are seniors. While the population has shrunk slightly since 2011, the area is now defined by a high number of people living alone and a significant shift towards those with no religious affiliation. This small community in the Richmond Valley is largely Australian-born and sees a high proportion of residents who own their homes outright.
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The typical resident is 49, which is far older than the national figure of 38. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 24.4% of the population, a figure that rose by 13 points since 2011.
The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 81.1% born here. Only 7.3% of people were born overseas, which is far below the national average of 27.7%.
English is the primary language for 85.7% of the community. Very few people use another language at home, at 2.9%, which is far below the New South Wales figure.
A large portion of the community has no religion, at 43.3%. This is well above the national figure and represents a 21 point increase since 2011.
Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 10.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure of 26.3%.
Typical weekly household income is $972, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 4.6% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 32.8% of people. Mental health conditions are also more frequent, at 10.7%.
The area has a notably high number of former Defence Force members, at 5.6%. This is well above the New South Wales average of 2.3%.
Living alone is very common here, with 38.2% of people in single-person homes. One-parent families are also much more common than in most areas, at 19.9%.
Many residents own their homes outright, at 37.8%. While 72.4% of homes are separate houses, the number of homes with three or more bedrooms has fallen sharply since 2011.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with 63.2% of workers driving to work. No one in the area uses public transport for their commute.
Around 35% of residents have moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 10.5% of the population, which is higher than in most similar areas.
Full-time employment is far lower than the national figure, at 45.9%. Labourers make up the largest occupational group at 24.2%.
Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park or groceries, but none are within walking distance of health services. The overall walkability score is 4.6, which is well below the state average.