Council (LGA) · Area profile
Clarence Valley
10,429 km²
Typical weekly household incomes in Clarence Valley are much lower than the national figure, falling well below both the state and Australian averages. This is an older community where the typical resident is 49 and over a quarter of the population are seniors. While the area has grown by 9% since 2011, it remains a predominantly residential space with a high proportion of homeowners. A significant First Nations presence and a strong trend toward retirement define the region's character.
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The area is far older than most, with a typical age of 49 and seniors making up 27.4% of the population. This aging trend is clear, as the proportion of people aged 65 and over rose 6.1 points since 2011.
Australia and England are the most common ancestries, while only 8.3% of residents were born overseas. This is far below the national figure of 27.7%.
English is the primary language for the vast majority, with only 2.8% of people using another language at home. This is far below the state and national averages.
About half the population identify as Christian, while 38.5% report no religion. This last group has grown by 19 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 34.7% of residents having completed Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 58.8%.
Typical weekly family incomes are much lower than most areas at $1,398, which is well below the national figure of $2,120. Weekly personal income also sits well below the national average at $578.
Health challenges are common here, as 36.6% of people have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure, and 8.5% of residents need help with daily activities.
Unpaid care is a strong feature of the community, with 14.2% of people providing unpaid care and 25% doing significant housework. Military service is also more common here than in most areas.
First Nations people make up 8.1% of the population, which is well above the national average. Unemployment is higher than most areas at 14.0%.
One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, at 17.5%. About 28.9% of people live alone.
Home ownership is very high, with 45.2% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%. Most homes are separate houses, though typical weekly rents are higher than most areas at $310.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 64.9% of workers driving to their jobs. Very few people—just 0.3%—commute using public transport.
Migration is moderate, with 34.6% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals are lower than most areas at 7.0%.
The local workforce is smaller than usual, with only 46.4% of adults working or looking for work. The unemployment rate is 6.2%, which is a little above the national average.
Overall advantage is lower than in 70% of similar areas. The region's overall advantage score is 910, which is below the national average of 1,000.
The region is much wetter than the rest of the state, with average annual rainfall of 1,186mm. Temperatures are also higher than the New South Wales average.
Crime rates are higher than most areas across several categories, including motor vehicle theft and sexual offences. Recorded offences per 100,000 people are higher than in most similar areas.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.7. Many homes are far from essential services, with only 40.1% within a 15-minute walk of groceries.