Richmond Valley

The area is far older than the national figure, with 25.1% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population has grown, adding 5.5 percentage points since 2011. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 7.9% of the community, which is well above the state average.

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 6.0% were born overseas, a figure far below the national average. English, Irish, and Scottish ancestries are the most common alongside Australian heritage.

English is the primary language for nearly 88% of the community. Only 2.4% of people use another language at home, which is far below the state and national figures.

Over half the population identifies as Christian. Those with no religion make up 33.9% of the community, a figure that has risen 17 percentage points since 2011.

Education levels are much lower than in most similar areas, with only 9.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 31.2%, though this has risen since 2011.

Typical incomes are well below the national average, with the typical household earning $1,137 a week. Only 8.8% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the state average.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 35.3% of residents. This is reflected in a higher-than-average 7.9% of people who need help with daily activities.

Unpaid care is common, with 14.2% of people providing such support, which is a little above the national figure. However, volunteering has fallen 5.5 percentage points since 2011 to 14.0%.

There are 1,858 First Nations people in the area, and 6.6% speak a First Nations language, which is a little above the state average. The typical age for this group is 23, slightly younger than the national figure.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 18.4% of households. About 29.2% of residents live alone, which is well above the national average.

Detached houses are far more common here than in the rest of the state, making up 84.5% of homes. While 40.5% of homes are owned outright, typical weekly rents are well below the national figure at $295.

The area is heavily dependent on cars, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. Very few people work from home, at 9.7%, which is far below the state and national figures.

The community is relatively stable, with 33.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas are also few, at 8.5%.

Working or looking for work is much less common here than in most similar areas, at 49.7%. The most common industries are health care and social assistance, followed by manufacturing and retail.

The area ranks low for overall advantage and job skills compared to other regions. Population growth has also been slow, rising only 1.9% since 2021, which is well below the state average.

The region is much wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall of 1,101mm. Both the average maximum and minimum temperatures are higher than the state figures.

Recorded offences are higher than in most areas, particularly for property damage, sexual offences, and motor vehicle theft. However, the theft rate is much lower than in most similar areas.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 4.0. Many residents live far from essential services, with only 32% within a 15-minute walk of health services.