2333, NSW

The population is notably young, with children under 15 making up 21.7% of the community. This is much higher than most areas and helps explain why the typical age of 36 is lower than the national figure of 38. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 12.6% of the population, a figure that has risen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 8.6% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English, Irish, and Scottish ancestries are the most common alongside Australian heritage.

English is the primary language for 87.4% of the community. Only 4.5% of people use another language at home, which is far below the state and national figures.

Over half of the population identifies as Christian. The number of people reporting no religion has risen by 21 points since 2011 and now stands at 34.9%, which is slightly above the New South Wales figure.

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 8.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure of 26.3%, and only 32.9% of residents have completed Year 12.

Typical weekly household income is $1,640, which is about the same as the national figure. While 19.4% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, the typical personal income of $761 is roughly in line with the state average.

Health challenges are more common here than in other areas. Long-term health conditions affect 31.7% of people, and 11% of residents have a mental health condition, both of which are well above national levels.

A higher than average 28.4% of people provide unpaid childcare. However, the proportion of volunteers is much lower than most areas, falling to 11% since 2011.

Families here tend to be larger, with a typical 2.5 people per home. One-parent families are much more common than in most areas, making up 18.5% of households.

The area is dominated by separate houses, with 88.2% of homes being detached. These homes are typically large, as 84% have three or more bedrooms, far above the national figure of 73.8%.

Most people rely on cars, with 67.3% of workers driving to work. Very few people use public transport to commute (0.2%), and only 8.6% of the workforce works from home.

The community is quite mobile, with 40.7% of people having moved house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 14.6% of the population, though this is down 12 points from 2011.

Mining is a major employer, accounting for 22.5% of jobs. Full-time employment is well above the national average at 63.3%, though the unemployment rate of 5.7% is slightly higher than the national figure.

The area faces significant disadvantage, particularly regarding education and job skills, where it ranks among the lowest 10% of all areas. Its overall advantage score of 900 is well below the national average.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.9. Many homes lack easy access to essentials, with only 41% within a 15-minute walk of groceries and 27.1% near health services.