Council (LGA) · Area profile
Hay
11,326 km²
Far older than the national average, Hay is a rural community where the typical resident is 48. The population has shrank slightly since 2011 and is now 2,882 people. It is a place of contrasts, with a much higher proportion of First Nations people than most areas, alongside a workforce heavily tied to agriculture. The community is characterized by a high rate of home ownership and a slower pace of life in a dry, warm environment.
Plenty of schools here relative to how few children live in the area.
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The typical resident is 48, which is far older than the national figure of 38. This ageing trend is evident in the 23.1% of people aged 65 and over, a figure well above the Australian average.
The area is overwhelmingly Australian born, with 80% of residents born here. Consequently, the proportion of people born overseas is far below the national figure.
English is the main language for 84% of the community. Only 4.1% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national average of 22.3%.
While 61% of residents identify as Christian, those with no religion make up 24.3%. This is far below the national figure of 38.9%, though the number has risen 13 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is much lower than most areas, with only 35.4% of people completing Year 12. This is far below the national average of 58.8%.
Typical weekly household incomes are well below the national figure, sitting at $1,236. Only 9.5% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, which is far below the national rate of 22.6%.
Health challenges are more common here, as 33.3% of people have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average of 27.7%.
Volunteering is a strong point for the area, with 22.1% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure of 14.1%.
The First Nations community is a significant part of the area, with a median age of 25. While personal incomes are a little above the national average, Year 12 completion is well below the national figure.
Homes tend to be smaller, with just 2.2 people per household. There is also a much higher proportion of people living alone compared to the rest of Australia.
Most people live in separate houses, and 43% own their home outright, which is far above the national figure. Rents are also much lower than usual, with a typical weekly cost of $175.
Cars are essential as public transport use is virtually non-existent at 0%. Almost everyone relies on vehicles, with 63.8% of people driving themselves to work.
The community is relatively stable, with far fewer people moving in the last five years than in most other Australian areas.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing employ 22.8% of the workforce. Full-time employment is higher than the national average, while the unemployment rate is a little below.
The area ranks lower than most for overall advantage and access to resources, with a population growth rate that is well below the state average.
The climate is dry and warm, with annual rainfall of 386mm, which is well below the New South Wales average.
While burglary rates are among the lowest for its level, drug offences and motor vehicle thefts are much higher than in most similar areas.
Walkability is low, as only 2.4% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport. However, 77.2% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park.