Urban Centre · Area profile
Clunes
1 km²
Situated in the Lismore region of New South Wales, Clunes is a small, well-off rural community that has grown increasingly professional since 2011. The area is distinguished by a high proportion of residents with university degrees and an unusually high level of non-religious residents. It is a family-oriented place where children under 15 are much more common than in most similar areas. This shift towards a more educated and higher-earning population is reflected in the typical household incomes, which now sit well above the national figure.
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The typical resident is 41 years old, making the area younger than most similar places. Children under 15 make up 21.1% of the population, while seniors over 65 have fallen to 14.4%, which is well below the state average.
English, Australian, and Irish ancestries are the most common. While 14.7% of people were born overseas—a figure that has risen significantly since 2011—this is still far below the national average.
English is the main language for 88.7% of residents. Those using another language at home make up 4.8% of the community, which is higher than most similar areas but far below the state figure.
A striking 62.1% of residents report having no religion, which is among the highest rates for this type of area and far above the national figure. This has risen by 47 points since 2011.
The community is highly qualified, with 31.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is well above the national average, and 59.3% of residents have completed Year 12.
Typical weekly household income is $1,906, which is much higher than in most similar areas. This represents a significant increase since 2011, when the typical household earned $804.
Residents are generally healthy, with only 2.7% needing help with daily activities—among the lowest rates for its level. Long-term health conditions are also much lower than the national average.
Volunteering is common at 19.4%, well above the national figure. There is also a high rate of unpaid care, with 30.1% of people caring for children, which is well above the state average.
Families with children are common, making up 60.3% of households. This helps explain why people per home is higher than most areas, and why only 17.6% of people live alone.
Almost every home is a separate house (99.5%), and 85.3% have three or more bedrooms. Rent is quite high, with a typical weekly cost of $520, which is well above the national figure.
Car use is essential, as every single home has at least one motor vehicle. However, 24.6% of workers now work from home, a figure that has risen sharply since 2011.
The area has seen significant movement, with 42.3% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 4.8% of the population.
The workforce is very active, with 67.2% of adults working or looking for work, which is well above the national figure. Many residents work as professionals or in health and education.
Clunes is somewhat walkable, with 91.8% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries. However, there is no access to health services within a 15-minute walk.