Urban Centre · Area profile
Patonga
0 km²
Seniors make up over half the population in Patonga, creating a community that is far older than the national average. The typical resident is 66 years old, and children under 15 have almost entirely disappeared from the area since 2011. This shift towards an older demographic is reflected in the housing, where many people live alone and most homes are owned outright. It is a small, quiet residential pocket of the Central Coast with a shrinking population of just 211 people.
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The area has aged significantly, with the typical resident now 66 and the proportion of people aged 65 and over rising by 31 points since 2011. Meanwhile, children under 15 now make up just 1.4% of the population, a far lower figure than the national average.
English and Australian ancestries are the most common, and while 15.2% of residents were born overseas, this is far below the New South Wales and national figures.
English is used by the vast majority of people at home, though those using another language rose slightly to 4.3% since 2011. Very few people speak little or no English.
People with no religion make up 40.3% of the community, which is well above the state average and rose by 17 points since 2011.
Qualifications have improved over time, with the share of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher rising to 19.1% since 2011.
Typical weekly household income is $1,109, which is far below the state and national figures. However, the share of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose by 16 points since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are reported by 37.0% of residents, which is well above the national figure, with arthritis being the most common condition.
Volunteer rates are a little above the national average at 16.1%. Very few people provide unpaid care for children, consistent with the lack of young families in the area.
Homes are small, with just 1.8 people per household, and nearly 40% of people live alone. This is far above the national average and reflects the high number of older residents.
Ownership is very high, with 59.4% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. While most are separate houses, the typical monthly mortgage payment has climbed to $2,200.
A huge 44.1% of the workforce now works from home, a far higher proportion than across Australia. No one in the area commutes using public transport.
About a third of residents moved in the last five years, though there have been no recent arrivals from overseas since 2011.
The number of adults working or looking for work is much lower than most areas at 36.2%, and the unemployment rate is a little above the national figure at 6.9%.
Every home is within a short walk of a park and public transport, but no one can walk to groceries, schools or health services within 15 minutes.