2844, NSW

The population is far older than most areas, with 30.3% of residents aged 65 or over. This is a community with a strong Indigenous presence, as 9.0% of people identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a figure that has risen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 5.8% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure. Those with overseas heritage most commonly identify as English, Irish or Scottish.

English is the primary language used at home for 88.3% of people. Very few residents use another language, and no one in the area reported speaking little or no English.

Christianity is the most common faith at 64.7%. While 23.1% of residents have no religion, this is far below the national figure, though it has risen by 14 points since 2011.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 34.4% of residents having completed Year 12. Those with a bachelor degree or higher make up 10.5% of adults, which is far below the state average.

Weekly incomes are well below the national figure, with the typical household earning $1,020. Only 10.7% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 36.8% of residents. Arthritis and asthma are the most reported conditions, and 6.9% of people need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is very high at 24.6%, which is far above the national figure. However, fewer people are providing unpaid childcare compared to most other areas.

Living arrangements are dominated by small households, with 33.8% of people living alone. This is much higher than the state average and helps explain why there are only 2.2 people per home.

Separate houses make up 97.3% of all dwellings, and 48.8% are owned outright. Both typical weekly rents ($200) and monthly mortgage payments ($1,083) are far below the national figures.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as 0% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have multiple vehicles, and the walk to the nearest transport stop takes about 69 minutes.

The population is relatively stable, with far fewer people moving in the last five years than the national average. Interestingly, recent arrivals from overseas have risen to 15.8% since 2011.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the dominant industry, employing 34.4% of the workforce. Only 49.0% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure.

The area ranks low for overall advantage, scoring a 3 out of 10. It is smaller than about 70% of similar areas in terms of access to money, resources, and job skills.

This is a mostly car-dependent area with a walkability score of 3.1, far below the state average. Only 41.0% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.