Penshurst

This is a senior-heavy community where 28.3% of people are aged 65 or over, far above the national figure. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 14.7% of the population, which is well below the state average. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen significantly since 2011 to reach 7.1%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas births make up only 8.1% of the population, which is far below the national figure. The most common ancestries are Australian and English, followed by Scottish and Irish.

English is the dominant language, with only 1.8% of people using another tongue at home—a figure far below the state and national averages. No one in the community reported speaking little or no English.

About half of the community (52.7%) identifies as Christian. Those reporting no religion make up 37.7% of the population, a figure that has risen by 9.6 points since 2011, though it remains slightly below the national average.

Educational qualifications are lower than in most similar areas, with only 9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 32.7% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the state average of 61.8%.

Incomes in Penshurst are much lower than in most areas; the typical household earns $855 a week, far below the national figure of $1,746. No households earn $3,000 or more per week, and the typical personal weekly income is just $493.

Health challenges are common here, as 38.3% of people have a long-term health condition, far above the national average. This is consistent with an older population, as 12.2% of residents need help with daily activities—among the highest for its level.

Volunteerism is higher than average at 20.6%, though this is a drop from 2011. Unpaid care is also common, with 14.3% of people providing care, and 28.2% of residents spending 15 or more hours a week on housework.

The area has a high number of single-person households, with 40.8% of people living alone. This is far above the national figure and helps explain why homes are smaller, with an average of 2.1 people per house.

Home ownership is very high, with 53.7% of houses owned outright—far above the state average. Most are separate houses (95.5%), and both rents and mortgage payments are much lower than the national average.

Almost every home has a motor vehicle, and no one uses public transport to commute. While 10.3% of people work from home, the majority of workers drive their own car.

About 35.4% of residents have moved in the last five years, which is slightly below the national average. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.

Fewer people are working or looking for work here (42.2%) compared to the national figure of 61.1%. The unemployment rate is 8.6%, which is much higher than most similar areas, with many residents working in health care or agriculture.

The area is somewhat walkable, and nearly all homes are within a short walk of a park or school. However, no homes are within a 15-minute walk of a grocery store.