2648, NSW

This is an older community where 27.6% of people are aged 65 or over, a figure that has risen significantly since 2011. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 7.6% of the population, which is well above the national average of 3.2%.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 5.7% born overseas, far below the national figure of 27.7%. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.

English is the dominant language, and very few people use another language at home (2.1%), which is far below the New South Wales average of 26.6%.

About 39.5% of residents report having no religion, a figure that has risen by 17 percentage points since 2011, while 41.7% identify as Christian.

Educational attainment is among the lowest in the region, with only 27.1% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national average of 58.8%.

Typical incomes are much lower than in most areas, with the typical household earning $1,066 a week, far below the national figure of $1,746.

Residents experience higher rates of health challenges, with 32.8% having a long-term health condition and 7.7% needing help with daily activities, which is higher than most areas.

Unpaid care is common, with 13.8% of people providing such support, though the number of volunteers has fallen since 2011.

Living alone is much more common here than in most areas, with 32.1% of people in single-person households, contributing to a lower average of 2.2 people per home.

Housing is dominated by separate houses (90.5%), and a high 45.9% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.9% of people commuting by public transport and most homes owning at least one vehicle.

The population is relatively stable, as far fewer people moved here in the last five years compared to the national average, although recent overseas arrivals rose to 14.5%.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries for 24.1% of the workforce, and 60.1% of workers are employed full-time.

The region faces significant disadvantage, ranking in the bottom 20% of all areas for overall advantage, with low scores for job skills and access to resources.

The area is relatively safe, with recorded offences and theft rates that are lower than in most similar areas.

Most of the region is car-dependent, with a walkability score well below the state average and far fewer homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services.