Lachlan

The area has a high proportion of both children and seniors, with 21.3% under 15 and 21.4% aged 65 and over. While the population shrank by 5.9% since 2011, the number of people identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rose to 18.3%, which is far above the national figure of 3.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 4.9% were born overseas, which is far below the national average of 27.7%. Australian and English are the most common ancestries, accounting for 41.6% and 33.5% respectively.

English is the primary language for 84.5% of the community. Only 3.6% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the New South Wales average of 26.6%.

Christianity is the most common religion at 63.7%. Those with no religion make up 21.6% of the population, which is far below the national figure, though this has risen by 12 points since 2011.

Schooling levels are lower than most areas, with only 35.7% of residents completing Year 12. Just 10.2% hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the state average of 27.8%.

Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with the typical household earning $1,218 a week. Only 10.3% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this rose by 6.6 points since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.1% of people. Arthritis and asthma are the most frequent reports, while mental health conditions are slightly lower than the national figure.

Volunteering is very high here, with 23.8% of people pitching in, far above the national rate of 14.1%. Unpaid care for children is also more common than in most areas.

First Nations people make up a significant part of the community, though they face higher unemployment at 16.4% and lower Year 12 completion rates compared to the state.

About 30.8% of people live alone, which is well above the national figure. Families with children are common, making up 53.2% of households.

Separate houses make up 94.3% of dwellings, and 42% of homes are owned outright, far above the national average. Rent is also much lower than usual, with a typical weekly cost of $180.

The community is heavily reliant on cars, with 62.9% of workers driving to work. Public transport use is very low, and the area has far fewer transport stops per person than the state average.

Residents are less likely to move than those in other areas, with only 28% moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas have risen significantly to 37.2%.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the biggest industries, employing 28.1% of the workforce. Full-time employment is higher than the national average, though the overall number of people working or looking for work has fallen since 2011.

The area is ranked lower than most for overall advantage, with an overall score of 936. Population growth has also been much lower than the state average, falling by 0.6% since 2021.

The area is generally warmer than the state average, with a typical maximum temperature of 25.2 degrees. Annual rainfall is slightly above the New South Wales figure at 565mm.

Recorded offences are much higher than in most areas, particularly for assault and property damage. Motor vehicle theft is also among the highest for similar areas.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.7, far below the state average. Only 49.7% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of basic amenities.