Mudgee Surrounds - West

The population is noticeably older than the national figure, with 21% of people aged 65 and over. First Nations people make up 6.7% of the community, a figure that rose 2.8 points since 2011 and is well above the New South Wales average.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian and English in heritage, with only 7.3% of people born overseas. This is far below the national figure of 27.7% and is among the lowest proportions for similar areas.

English is the primary language for almost everyone, with only 2.3% of people using another language at home. Very few residents speak little or no English, a figure that is well below the state and national averages.

Over half of the population identifies as Christian, while 31.5% report no religion. The number of people with no religion has risen sharply by 17 points since 2011, though it remains much lower than in most other areas.

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 11.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. While Year 12 completion rose 5.5 points since 2011 to reach 36.1%, this is still far below the national figure of 58.8%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,414, which is well below the New South Wales figure of $1,829. However, there has been a steady increase in earnings, with the typical personal income rising $259 since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 30.4% of residents. Arthritis is the most reported condition at 10.7%, while 5.4% of people need help with daily activities.

Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, though the rate fell 5.6 points since 2011 to 17.2%. A high proportion of residents—26.3%—spend 15 or more hours a week on unpaid housework.

There are 747 First Nations people in the area, and the typical age for this group is 26, which is noticeably older than the state average. While unemployment for this group is lower than the national figure, Year 12 completion is well below.

Families with children are common, making up 55.4% of households. About 26% of people live alone, which is roughly the same as the national figure.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 97.4% of all homes. Renting is much less common here than elsewhere, with 45% of people owning their home outright—far above the national figure of 31%.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 62% of people driving to work and only 0.2% using public transport. Most homes have multiple vehicles, and only 2.7% of households have no motor vehicle.

The community is relatively stable, with 33.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%. Recent arrivals from overseas are also much less common than in other areas.

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining are the major employers, each accounting for 13.7% of jobs. The unemployment rate is 3.9%, which is lower than both the state and national figures.

The area has a fair amount of businesses, totaling 1,552. While residents have decent access to money and resources, overall job skills are rated lower than in 70% of similar areas.

Annual rainfall is well above the state average at 723mm. The area is slightly cooler than the state average, with a typical minimum temperature of 8.6 degrees.

The region is very car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.4. Only 19% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a grocery store, which is far below the state average of 67.7%.