Council (LGA) · Area profile
Oberon
3,625 km²
A far older population than most similar areas defines Oberon, where the typical resident is 47. This rural community has grown by 11% since 2011, reaching a population of 5,580. It is a place of high home ownership and traditional roots, with a strong lean toward separate houses and a workforce tied to manufacturing and agriculture. The area is notably cooler and wetter than the state average, contributing to its distinct regional character.
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The community is significantly older than the national figure, with 24.9% of people aged 65 and over. While children under 15 make up 17.1% of the population, this figure has fallen by 3.1 points since 2011.
Australia and England are the most common ancestries, though the area is less diverse than the state average, with only 10.3% of people born overseas.
English is the dominant language, used by 82.7% of residents. Only 4.7% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
Christianity remains the most common faith at 56.4%, while those with no religion make up 27.1% of the population, though this has risen 11 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is lower than the state average, with only 36.0% of residents completing Year 12. Those with a bachelor degree or higher make up 13.3% of the population.
Typical weekly household income is $1,441, which is a little below the national figure. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 11 points since 2011 to 15.8%.
Long-term health conditions are reported by 30.4% of residents, which is well above the state average. Arthritis and asthma are the most common conditions listed.
Volunteerism is much lower than in most similar areas at 13.9%, a drop of 7.1 points since 2011. Unpaid care for children is also well below the national figure at 22.3%.
First Nations people make up 4.7% of the population, and while the unemployment rate is higher than average at 13.0%, their median personal income is a little above the national figure.
Living arrangements are varied, with 28.8% of people living alone. This is well above the national figure of 25.6%.
Housing is dominated by separate houses (93.9%), and 41.9% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Typical weekly rent is well below the national average at $280.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, as 65.0% of workers drive to work and only 0.2% use public transport. Very few homes (3.0%) have no motor vehicle.
The population is relatively stable, with 32.2% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%.
Full-time employment is higher than most areas at 63.5%. The local economy relies heavily on manufacturing and agriculture, forestry, and fishing.
The area ranks in the middle for overall advantage, though it performs better than 80% of similar areas regarding access to money and resources.
Oberon is much wetter and colder than the state average, with annual rainfall of 1,031mm and an average maximum temperature of only 16.5 degrees.
Recorded offences are much lower than in most areas, particularly for burglary and theft. However, the sexual offences rate is higher than most areas.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.8. Only 32.0% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, far below the state figure of 67.7%.