Snowy Monaro Regional

The typical resident is 43, making the area noticeably older than the state and national figures. About 19.7% of people are seniors, and there has been a recent rise in those in de facto relationships, now at 14.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 13.7% of the population, which is far below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, each at 39.8%.

English is the main language for 85.8% of residents, with only 6.2% using another language at home. This is far below the state and national averages, and very few people speak little or no English.

People with no religion make up 42.2% of the community, a figure that rose 12 points since 2016 and is well above the national average. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 45.8%.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 19.1% of the population, a figure that rose 4.2 points since 2016. Over half of residents have completed Year 12, which is higher than in most similar areas.

Typical weekly family income is $2,092, which is about the same as the national figure. High earners are more common here than in most similar areas, with 19.4% of households earning over $3,000 a week.

About 29.3% of people have a long-term health condition, and arthritis is the most common at 10.8%. The proportion of people needing help with daily activities is 4.9%, which is lower than most areas.

Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 20.7% of people pitching in, though this fell since 2016. The region also has a much higher rate of former Defence Force members than most areas.

First Nations households earn a typical $1,850 weekly, which is a little above the national figure. The unemployment rate for this group is 4.2%, among the lowest for similar areas.

About 29.7% of people live alone, which is well above the national average. Most families are couples with children (53.4%) or couples without children (33.9%).

Detached houses are far more common here than nationally, making up 87% of homes. Many residents have high security in their housing, with 40.2% owning their home outright.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 59.6% of workers driving to work and very few using public transport. Only 4% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well below the national average.

The region is seeing a steady influx of new residents, with 37.7% moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas also rose significantly to 16.8% since 2016.

The unemployment rate is a very low 2.8%, much lower than most similar areas. Many people work in accommodation and food services (13.3%) or construction (9.9%).

The region is quite advantaged, scoring an 8 out of 10 for overall advantage. This is higher than about 80% of similar areas, supported by a strong base of 2,915 businesses.

The climate is much cooler than the state average, with an average minimum temperature of 4.4 degrees. Annual rainfall is 591mm, which is a little above the New South Wales figure.

The area is very safe, with a recorded offence rate that is much lower than most areas. Rates of assault, burglary, and theft are all significantly below the norm for similar regions.

Most of the area is car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.6. Many homes are far from essential services, such as groceries and health providers, compared to the state average.