Council (LGA) · Area profile
Armidale Regional
7,809 km²
A high proportion of people in Armidale Regional are highly qualified, with a bachelor degree or higher held by 26.6% of adults. This intellectual profile is reflected in a workforce where education and health services are the top industries. While typical incomes are a little below the national figure, the area stands out for its high volunteer rates and a significant First Nations population. It is a changing community where nearly 37% of recent arrivals have come from overseas.
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The typical resident is 37, making the area a little younger than the state and national averages. First Nations people make up 7.6% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%.
Most residents were born in Australia, though 14.9% were born overseas. This is far below the national average of 27.7%, with English, Australian, Irish and Scottish being the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 79.7% of the community. About 10.3% of people use another language at home, which is higher than most similar areas but far below the national figure of 22.3%.
Christianity is the most common religion at 46.5%. Those with no religion make up 35.6%, a figure that is well below the national average of 38.9%.
The community is well-qualified, with a much higher share of adults holding bachelor degrees or higher compared to most similar areas. This is supported by a large number of schools, with 24 operating across the region.
Typical weekly household income is $1,404, which is well below the New South Wales figure of $1,829. Only 15% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, similar to other areas of its type.
Mental health conditions are reported by 9.6% of residents, which is higher than most areas. Overall, 29.6% of people have a long-term health condition, a little above the national average.
Volunteering is very common here, with 20% of people pitching in, well above the national figure of 14.1%. However, fewer people provide unpaid childcare compared to most other areas.
The First Nations community is noticeably younger, with a typical age of 21. Weekly personal income for First Nations people is $479, which is a little below the national figure of $540.
A higher share of people live alone here (32%) compared to the national average of 25.6%. One-parent families also make up 16.1% of households, which is higher than most areas.
Detached houses are very common, making up 84.3% of homes. While 34.6% of homes are owned outright, rental rates are much higher than most areas at 34.7%.
Most people rely on cars, as only 0.4% commute by public transport. Working from home is quite common at 22.6%, which is a little above the national average.
The area is seeing significant movement, with 42.8% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are among the highest for this level at 36.9%.
Education and training is the biggest employer, accounting for 19.5% of jobs. The unemployment rate is 5.3%, which is slightly higher than the national figure of 5.1%.
The region scores very high for education and job skills, ranking better than 90% of similar areas. However, it ranks lower for overall access to money and resources.
The climate is cooler and wetter than the state average, with an average maximum temperature of 19.6°C and annual rainfall of 790mm.
The area sees much higher rates of assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft than most similar areas. Recorded offences per 100,000 people are higher than most other areas.
Walkability is somewhat low, with 59.7% of homes in a 15-minute-city walkshed, far below the New South Wales figure of 71.9%.