Cowra Surrounds

The area is far older than the national average, and the number of people aged 65 and over has risen by 6.1 points since 2011. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 4.9% of the population, which is a little above the state figure.

The community is very traditional in its roots, with 81.9% born in Australia and only 6.7% born overseas, which is far below the national figure.

English is the primary language for almost everyone here, as only 2.5% of people use another language at home—one of the lowest rates in the region.

Christianity remains common at 60.8%, though the share of people reporting no religion has risen by 14 points since 2011 to reach 26.8%.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 33.7% of residents completing Year 12 and just 12% holding a bachelor's degree or higher.

Typical weekly household incomes are well below the national figure at $1,157, and only 11.2% of homes earn $3,000 or more per week.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than elsewhere, with 34.6% of people reporting a condition and 6.6% needing help with daily activities.

Volunteering is much more common here than in the rest of the state, though the share of people doing so fell by 6.2 points since 2011.

First Nations residents are younger than the national average with a typical age of 22, and they experience a much lower unemployment rate at 4.8%.

Homes are smaller than usual with 2.3 people per household, and there is a high rate of people living alone at 28.2%.

The area is dominated by detached houses, with 96.7% of homes being separate dwellings and nearly half of all homes owned outright.

The community is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.2% of people use public transport to commute and 97.4% of homes own at least one vehicle.

The population is very stable, with only 27.7% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national average.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the main industry, employing 30% of the workforce, while 18.6% of workers operate from home.

The area ranks in the bottom 30% for overall advantage, reflecting lower typical incomes and a smaller share of high-level qualifications.

The local climate is slightly cooler than the state average, with minimum temperatures typically 1.6 degrees lower.

This is a mostly car-dependent area with a walkability score of 2.0, as very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services.