Hay

The population is notably older than most areas, with 23% of residents aged 65 and over. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 8.3% of the community, which is well above the state and national figures.

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 6.8% were born overseas, which is far below the national average. The most common ancestries are Australian and English.

English is the dominant language, with only 4% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure, and very few residents speak little or no English.

Christianity remains the most common religion at 61%. While those with no religion make up 24.1% of the community, this is far below the national figure.

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 35.4% of residents completing Year 12. Only 8.4% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the state average.

Typical weekly household income is $1,236, which is well below the national figure. High-income earners are rare here, with only 9.5% of households earning $3,000 or more a week.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 33% of the population. This is well above the state and national figures.

Volunteering is very high, with 22.3% of people giving their time, well above the national figure. However, fewer people provide unpaid childcare compared to most other areas.

There are 240 First Nations people in the area. Their typical personal income is $604, which is a little above the national figure, though Year 12 completion is well below the national average.

Homes are smaller than usual, with just 2.2 people per home. There is a high number of people living alone, at 33.6%, which is well above the national figure.

The area is dominated by detached houses, with 91.2% of homes being separate dwellings. Home ownership is strong, as 42.7% of homes are owned outright, far above the national average.

Cars are essential here; 63.5% of people drive to work and no one uses public transport for their commute. Public transport infrastructure is very limited, with only one stop for the whole area.

The community is relatively stable, as 28.1% of people moved in the last five years, which is far below the national figure. However, recent overseas arrivals are much more common here than in most areas.

Full-time employment is high at 62.4%, well above the national average. Many people work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which accounts for 23.1% of jobs.

The area is ranked low for overall advantage and access to resources. Population growth has been very slow, rising by just 1.0% since 2021, well below the state average.

Hay is a dry region with average annual rainfall of 382mm, which is well below the state average. Summer temperatures are typically higher than most other areas.

While the town is somewhat walkable, only 52.7% of homes have a full 15-minute-city walkshed. Access to public transport within a 10-minute walk is very low, affecting only 2.4% of homes.