Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Armidale
275 km²
Daily life in Armidale blends a strong educational focus with a high proportion of renters and a significant First Nations presence. This larger regional center is noticeably younger than the state average, with a high number of university-qualified adults and a workforce heavily employed in education and health. While it is a hub for learning and professionals, it also faces challenges with lower typical incomes and a higher unemployment rate than most similar areas. The community is distinctive for its high volunteering rates and a population that is more mobile and diverse than nearby regions.
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The typical resident is 36, which is noticeably younger than the New South Wales average. First Nations people make up 7.9% of the population, a figure that is well above the national average and has risen since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, though the proportion of people born overseas has risen to 16.4% since 2011. English, Australian, Irish, and Scottish are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 78.6% of the community. While the number of people using another language at home is far below the state average, it has risen by 4.9 percentage points since 2011.
Christianity is the most common affiliation at 44.4%, but the number of people reporting no religion rose by 15 percentage points since 2011 to reach 36.8%.
Armidale is a highly qualified community, with 28.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This high level of education is reflected in the workforce, where many of the most common qualifications are in society, culture, and health.
Typical weekly household income is $1,432, which is well below the New South Wales figure. The proportion of households earning $3,000 or more per week is also much lower than most similar areas.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, particularly mental health conditions, which affect 10.2% of the population.
Volunteering is very common, with 20% of people giving their time, a rate well above the national figure. However, the number of people caring for children unpaid has fallen slightly since 2011.
The First Nations community is large, with a typical personal income of $486 and an unemployment rate of 13.3%, which is higher than most areas.
Living arrangements are varied, with a much higher proportion of people living alone (32.8%) or in one-parent families (17.4%) compared to the rest of the state.
Renting is very common at 37.7%, and typical weekly rent is $290, which is much lower than the national average. Most homes are separate houses, and 75.2% of them have three or more bedrooms.
Most people drive to work, and only 0.3% use public transport. However, 22% of the workforce now works from home, a significant increase from 2011.
The population is very mobile, with 45.9% of residents moving in the last five years. This includes a high number of recent arrivals from overseas, who make up 37.9% of the community.
Employment is concentrated in education and training (21.6%) and health care (16.2%). The unemployment rate is 5.7%, which is slightly higher than the state average.
The area has a strong set of job skills and a high number of businesses, though overall access to money and resources is lower than in 70% of similar areas.
Armidale is cooler than the state average, with a typical minimum temperature of 6.8°C, and it receives well more rainfall than the New South Wales average.
The area is somewhat walkable, with 89.3% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park. However, nearly 40% of homes are more than 15 minutes away from groceries.