Woolgoolga - Arrawarra

The community is older than most, with a typical age of 43 and a senior population that rose to 23.4% since 2011. There is also a strong First Nations presence at 5.6%, which is much higher than in most areas.

While 76.3% of people were born in Australia, there has been a rise in overseas births to 18.5%. English, Australian, Irish, and Scottish ancestries are the most common, though Indian ancestry is also present at 4.8%.

English is the main language for 79.9% of residents, but Punjabi is spoken by 9.1% of the community. The proportion of people using another language at home rose 6.1 points since 2011 to reach 14.8%.

A large number of residents report no religion at 42.9%, a figure that rose 19 points since 2011. This is well above the national figure of 38.9%.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with 46.7% of residents completing Year 12. Only 17.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the New South Wales figure of 27.8%.

Weekly incomes are much lower than most areas, with the typical family earning $1,602. Very few people earn $2,000 or more a week, though this figure has risen 4.1 points since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 32% of the population. Arthritis and mental health are the most frequently reported conditions.

Residents are more likely to provide unpaid care than in other areas, at 12.9%. Volunteering is also slightly more common than the national average, with 15.2% of people participating.

There are 811 First Nations people in the area, and those in this group are typically younger, with a typical age of 22. About 5.9% of this group speak a First Nations language.

Family structures are diverse, with 50.7% being couples with children. One-parent families are slightly more common here than in most areas, making up 15.5% of households.

Detached houses are very common at 89.4%, and 42% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Typical weekly rent is $380, which has risen $130 since 2011.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 65.9% of people driving to work. Public transport use is very low at 1.3%, and only 9.9% of residents work from home.

The population is quite mobile, with 42.8% having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas have increased significantly, now making up 24% of the community.

Full-time employment is much lower than most areas at 53.7%. The most common industries are health care, agriculture, and construction, while the unemployment rate stands at 5.7%.

The area has a lower overall advantage score than most similar places. This is reflected in the local workforce, where education and job skills are ranked lower than in 60% of similar areas.

The region is very wet, with average annual rainfall of 1,643mm, which is far above the New South Wales average. Temperatures are generally higher than the state average.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.9. Residents have far less access to groceries, health services, and schools within a 15-minute walk compared to the state average.