Gwydir

The area is far older than the state and national average, with 28.4% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population has grown since 2011, while the number of children under 15 has fallen slightly.

Gwydir has a very strong connection to Australia and the UK, as 85.9% of residents were born here. Only 4.1% of people were born overseas, which is far below the national figure.

English is the dominant language, with 90% of people using it exclusively at home. Very few residents speak another language, and only 0.1% speak little or no English.

Christianity is the most common faith at 66%. While the number of people reporting no religion has risen since 2011, the 23.7% figure remains far below the national average.

The community has lower levels of formal qualifications, with only 33% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the state average, and only 10.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Incomes are much lower than in most other areas, with a typical weekly household earning $1,029. Only 8% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, though typical incomes have risen since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here, as 34.6% of people have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average, and 8.8% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is much more common here than elsewhere, with 23.6% of people pitching in. This high level of community support is seen alongside a high rate of unpaid carers.

First Nations people make up 7% of the population, which is well above the national average. This group is notably younger than the general population, though they face much lower typical incomes.

About 30.2% of people live alone, which is higher than most areas. While couples with children make up nearly half of all families, one-parent families have increased since 2011.

Housing is dominated by detached houses, and over half of all homes are owned outright. Rents and mortgage payments are far below the state average, with typical weekly rent at just $200.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 54.5% of people driving to work and very few using public transport. Almost 96% of homes have at least one motor vehicle.

Gwydir is a stable community where people rarely move; only 28.1% of residents have changed homes in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are also far fewer than the national average.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the local economy, employing 35.7% of the workforce. While full-time employment is higher than the national average, fewer adults overall are working or looking for work.

The area is ranked with a lower overall advantage score than most other regions. Population growth since 2021 has been very slow, at just 1.1%.

The local climate is warmer than the state average, with an average maximum temperature of 26.6 degrees. Annual rainfall is 676mm, which is well above the New South Wales average.

The total number of recorded offences is lower than in most areas, though the rate of assault and related crimes is higher. Theft and drug offences are much lower than usual.

Most of the area is car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Many homes are far from groceries, schools, and public transport.