Maitland

The community is far older than the state and national averages, with 32.6% of residents aged 65 and over. This senior population is growing, while children under 15 have fallen to 14.0%, well below the national figure of 18.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (6.4%) compared to the national figure of 27.7%. The most common ancestries are Australian and English, both at 40.9%.

English is the primary language, with only 1.8% of people using another language at home, which is far below the national average of 22.3%. No residents reported speaking little or no English.

Nearly half of the community identifies as Christian (48.9%), while 36.6% report no religion. The number of people with no religion has risen significantly by 18 points since 2011.

Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 6.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 31.0% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%.

Incomes are generally lower than the state and national figures, with a typical weekly household income of $1,027. While these figures have risen since 2011, the typical personal weekly income of $544 remains much lower than most areas.

Long-term health issues are very common here; 43.2% of residents have a long-term condition, far above the national figure of 27.7%. Consequently, 10.8% of people need help with daily activities, which is much higher than most areas.

Volunteering is a standout feature, with 25.0% of people volunteering, which is far above the national figure of 14.1%. However, far fewer people care for children unpaid (18.5%) compared to the national average of 26.3%.

The area has a high number of people living alone (33.6%) and smaller households, with 2.2 people per home. This is consistent with the high proportion of seniors and couples without children.

Housing is dominated by separate houses (94.9%), and 46.2% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. Renting is much less common here than elsewhere, at only 18.5%.

Cars are essential, as 69.1% of workers drive to work and no one uses public transport. Only 3.8% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well below the national average.

The population is very stable, with only 31.9% of people moving in the last five years, well below the national figure of 40.7%. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.

A much smaller proportion of adults are working or looking for work (40.4%) compared to the national figure of 61.1%. The most common industries for those employed are health care, agriculture, and education.

The town is moderately walkable, with a score of 5.0. Residents have excellent access to health services and groceries within a 15-minute walk, far exceeding the state averages for these amenities.