Coonamble

The community is notably young and diverse, with 21.8% of people under 15, a figure well above the national average. De facto relationships are more common here than in most areas, and the population has decreased by 298 people since 2011.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 3.3% of people born overseas, which is far below the national figure. Australian and English are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for the vast majority, and only 2.1% of people use another language at home. This is much lower than most other areas across the country.

Christianity is the dominant faith at 62.2%. While those reporting no religion make up 21.6% of the population, this is far below the national figure and has risen 13 points since 2011.

Academic qualifications are much lower than the national average, with only 9.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 32.5% of residents have completed Year 12, which is far below the New South Wales figure.

Household incomes are well below the national figure, with a typical weekly household earning $1,231. Only 10.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here, as 31.5% of people have a long-term health condition. Additionally, 7.0% of residents need help with daily activities, which is much higher than in most areas.

Volunteering is more common here than in the state average, with 17.6% of people helping out. However, fewer people provide unpaid care or do significant housework compared to most other areas.

First Nations residents face significant hurdles, including an unemployment rate of 15.3%, which is well above the national figure. Typical household income is also much lower, at $1,089 per week.

One-parent families are very common here, making up 25.7% of households, which is far above the national average. About 32.2% of people live alone.

The landscape is dominated by separate houses, which make up 93.3% of dwellings. Housing is much more affordable than in the state, with typical weekly rents at just $190.

Residents are almost entirely dependent on cars, with only 0.2% of people using public transport to get to work. There are very few public transport stops compared to the state average.

While few people have moved into the area in the last five years, there has been a notable rise in recent arrivals from overseas, now making up 20.2% of the population.

Full-time employment is more common here than in most areas, but the overall percentage of adults working or looking for work is much lower than the national figure. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the largest industries.

The area faces significant economic disadvantage, ranking at the very bottom for overall advantage compared to other areas. Population growth since 2021 has been slow at 1.5%.

Coonamble is generally hotter than most of the state, with an average maximum temperature of 27.1 degrees. Annual rainfall is about the same as the New South Wales average.

The area has a much higher recorded offence rate than most areas, particularly for assault, burglary, and property damage. However, the overall crime rate fell by 44.2% over five years.

The town is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 4.0. Many residents live far from public transport and health services, though there are more walkable amenities per person than in the state average.