Urban Centre · Area profile
Wardell
1 km²
A strong presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people distinguishes Wardell, where 10.1% of the population identifies as such. The community has grown by 26% since 2011 and has become notably younger, with the typical resident now 42 years old. Many families here are led by single parents, and there is a high proportion of de facto couples. It is a largely residential area of detached houses where most people rely on cars for their daily travel.
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The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents is well above the national figure of 3.2%. Children under 15 make up 19% of the population, while the number of seniors has fallen significantly since 2011.
The area is less diverse than the state average, with only 8% of people born overseas. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.
English is the primary language for 90.6% of residents. Only 2.7% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
About 42.9% of the community has no religion, a figure that is well above the national average. Christianity remains the most common faith at 47.4%.
Qualifications are lower than in most similar areas, with only 8.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Around 36.6% of residents have completed Year 12.
Typical weekly household income is $1,370, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. High earners are rare, with only 3.7% of people earning $2,000 or more a week.
Mental health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 11.3% of residents. This is well above the New South Wales average of 8%.
Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 17% of people providing unpaid care, which is among the highest for similar areas. However, volunteering has fallen sharply since 2011.
Single-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 21.3% of households. Homes are generally larger, with an average of 2.5 people per dwelling.
Detached houses are the dominant style, making up 88.6% of homes. Renting is much more common than in similar areas, and the typical weekly rent is $365.
The community is almost entirely car-dependent, with 0% of people commuting by public transport. Most homes have at least two vehicles.
About 35.4% of residents have moved in the last five years. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.
The unemployment rate is 2.8%, which is much lower than most areas. Many residents work in health care, social assistance, or the hospitality industry.
While nearly every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park or school, there is no access to groceries or health services on foot. This makes the area mostly car-dependent.