Walcha

The community is far older than the national figure, with nearly 30% of people aged 65 and over. First Nations people make up 6.7% of the population, which is well above the state and national averages.

Cultural roots are predominantly traditional, with 83.9% of people born in Australia. Only 5.5% of residents were born overseas, a figure far below the national average.

English is the primary language for 88.4% of the population. Very few people use another language at home, and only 0.1% speak little or no English, which is well below the national figure.

Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 62.1%. While the number of people with no religion rose by 14 points since 2011, this figure is still far below the national average.

Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 38.7% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the national figure, though that rate has risen by 6.1 points since 2011.

Incomes are generally lower than in most areas, with a typical household earning $1,224 a week. This is well below the national figure, though typical incomes have risen since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 32.5% of people. Arthritis is the most reported condition, appearing in 13.1% of the population.

Volunteering is very common, with 26.1% of people volunteering, which is far above the national average. This high level of community effort exists alongside a high rate of unpaid housework.

First Nations residents are noticeably older than those in other areas, with a typical age of 26. While 10.4% speak a First Nations language, unemployment is much higher than most areas at 16.7%.

Homes tend to be smaller, with 2.2 people per household. This is a little below the national average, consistent with a higher number of people living alone.

Housing is overwhelmingly detached, with 94.8% of homes being separate houses. Home ownership is very high, with 47.9% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as 0% of people commute via public transport. However, working from home is common, with 28.3% of the workforce doing so, which is well above the national average.

The population is very stable, and the number of people who moved in the last five years is far below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas are also among the lowest in the country.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries, employing 40% of the workforce. Full-time employment is well above the national average, and the unemployment rate is very low at 3.0%.

The area has an overall advantage score of 7, which is higher than about 70% of similar areas. However, population growth has been negative since 2021, falling by 1.0%.

The local climate is cooler and wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall far above the New South Wales figure. Both average maximum and minimum temperatures are among the lowest for its level.

Recorded offences are lower than in most areas, with very low rates of burglary, theft, and drug offences. However, the rate of sexual offences is much higher than most areas.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Only 49.8% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of local amenities.