2382, NSW

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is well above the state and national figures, having risen to 10.7% since 2011. While children under 15 make up 18.4% of the area, there is a high number of seniors, and de facto relationships are much more common than in most other areas.

This is a community with very few overseas-born residents, at only 3.7%, which is far below the national figure. Most people identify as Australian or English, and the proportion of people born in Australia is 82.8%.

English is the dominant language, with only 1.2% of people using another language at home, a figure far below the national average. Very few people speak little or no English, and this has barely changed since 2016.

Christianity is the most common religion at 55.6%. The proportion of people reporting no religion is 28.7%, which is far below the national figure, though this group has grown by 15 points since 2011.

Educational qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 7.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 30% of residents have completed Year 12, and the area has a very high number of primary schools per 1,000 children.

Typical weekly family income is $1,898, which is a little below the national figure. While most personal incomes are on the lower end, the number of people earning $2,000 or more a week has risen significantly since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 33.1% of people reporting a long-term health condition. A higher than usual 7.9% of residents need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 20.4% of people participating, despite a decline since 2011. This is alongside a lower rate of unpaid childcare and housework compared to the state average.

Homes tend to be smaller than average with 2.3 people per household. A higher than usual 31.4% of people live alone, while couples with children make up 52.5% of families.

The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 94.9% of all dwellings. Rent is well below the national figure at a typical $290 per week, and home loans are also much lower than the state average.

Cars are essential as 94.9% of homes have a vehicle, and the area is mostly car-dependent. However, commuting by public transport has risen to 4.3% since 2011.

The area has seen a huge surge in recent overseas arrivals, which rose 33 points since 2011 to reach 33.3%. In contrast, the overall proportion of people moving in the last five years is lower than most other areas.

Full-time employment is very high at 70%, far above the national average. The workforce is heavily concentrated in mining and agriculture, with machinery operators and drivers being the most common occupation.

The area ranks low for overall advantage and job skills compared to other regions. It is among the bottom 20% of areas for overall advantage, with a score of 899 against the national average of 1,000.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.7, far below the state average. Most homes are far from groceries, schools, and public transport, though there are a high number of parks per resident.