Balranald

The typical resident is 43, which is noticeably older than the national figure. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 20.5% of the population, a figure that has risen nearly 5 points since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 8.6% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure. Italian and English ancestries are the most common overseas heritages.

While 76.8% of people speak only English, about 9.3% use another language at home. This includes a small number of Italian and Mandarin speakers.

Religion remains common here, with 53.7% identifying as Christian. However, the proportion of people with no religion has risen sharply by 15 points since 2011 to reach 28.8%.

Qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 8% of adults holding a bachelor degree. Only 33.7% of residents have completed Year 12, which is far below the state average.

Typical weekly household incomes are $1,370, which is well below the national figure. While incomes have risen since 2011, only 11.7% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

About 24.8% of people live with a long-term health condition, though this is slightly lower than the national figure. Mental health conditions are also much less common here than in most areas.

This is a highly active community where 21.4% of people volunteer, a figure well above the national average. However, the rate of unpaid childcare and housework has fallen since 2011.

First Nations people make up a larger share of the population than in most areas. The typical First Nations resident is 30, which is noticeably older than the state average of 23.

Homes here are slightly larger than average, with 2.5 people per home. About 28.4% of people live alone, and 54% of households are couples with children.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, and 42.2% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Typical weekly rents are very low at $200.

Cars are essential here, as only 0.4% of people use public transport to get to work. About 61.5% of workers drive to their jobs.

The area is very stable, with a low percentage of people moving in the last five years. In contrast, there has been a significant increase in recent arrivals from overseas since 2011.

The workforce is heavily tied to the land, with 33.9% working in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Full-time employment is much higher here than in most other areas.

The area scores low for overall advantage, ranking below 60% of similar areas. This is consistent with lower levels of job skills and education across the community.

The climate is dry and warm, with an average annual rainfall of 357mm, which is well below the state average. Maximum temperatures are slightly higher than the New South Wales figure.

Drug offences and motor vehicle thefts are much higher than in most areas. However, the overall crime rate has fallen by 41.1% over the last five years.

The area is considered somewhat walkable, with 70% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park. However, access to health services and public transport is far below the state average.