Grafton Surrounds

The area has a high proportion of seniors, with 23.6% aged 65 and over, a figure well above the national average. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 8.5% of the population, which is much higher than in most other areas and has risen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (8.4%) compared to the rest of the state. English and Australian are the most common ancestries reported.

English is the primary language for almost everyone here, with only 2.1% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure and has remained steady since 2011.

Christianity remains the most common religion at 45.8%, while 37.2% of residents report no religion. The proportion of people with no religion has risen by 16 points since 2011.

Educational qualifications are much lower than average, with only 10.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 30.9% of residents have completed Year 12, which is far below the New South Wales average of 58.9%.

Typical weekly incomes are well below the national figure, with the typical household earning $1,193. Only 9.9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 33.4% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is reflected in the 7.1% of residents who need help with daily activities.

Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, as 14.5% of people provide unpaid care—well above the national average. The area also has a higher rate of former Defence Force members than most other areas.

The First Nations community is among the largest at this level, though it faces challenges with an unemployment rate of 14.5% and lower Year 12 completion rates compared to the state average.

Household sizes are typical for Australia, with an average of 2.5 people per home. About 47.8% of families consist of couples with children.

The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 95.6% of all dwellings. A striking 50% of homes are owned outright, and rental properties are far less common here than in the rest of the state.

Car dependence is very high, with 65% of people driving to work and only 0.2% using public transport. Almost every home has a vehicle, and 41.7% of households have two.

The population is quite stable, with far fewer people moving house in the last five years (27.8%) compared to the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas are also very few at 3.3%.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work (46.1%) compared to most areas. The most common industries for local workers are health care, agriculture, and construction.

The area ranks low for overall advantage and job skills, though it supports a large number of businesses (1,522) relative to similar areas.

The region is much wetter and warmer than the state average, with annual rainfall of 1,177mm and an average maximum temperature of 26.7 degrees.

Walking to amenities is very difficult, with a walkability score of 1.1, meaning the area is almost entirely car-dependent. For example, 0% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services.