Moree Surrounds

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 13.9% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 3.2%. The community is relatively young, with 21.1% being children under 15, which is higher than most similar areas.

The area is very traditional in its roots, with only 4.0% of people born overseas—far below the New South Wales average of 29.3%. Most residents claim Australian (32.1%) or English (31.6%) ancestry.

English is the dominant language, with only 2.4% of people using another language at home, a figure far below the state average. Very few people—just 0.3%—report speaking little or no English.

About half of the community identifies as Christian. Those with no religion make up 22.6%, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%.

Formal qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 10.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 34.9% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national average of 58.8%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,627, which is about the same as the national figure. While the typical personal income of $820 matches the state average, the proportion of high earners is lower than most areas.

Residents report better health than most areas, with a long-term health condition affecting 19.6% of people—well below the national figure of 27.7%. Only 4.6% of people have a mental health condition.

Volunteer rates are higher than most areas at 16.8%, although this is a drop from 2011. Fewer people provide unpaid care or do housework compared to the state average.

First Nations people make up a significant part of the community, but they face tougher conditions with an unemployment rate of 15.7% and a typical personal income of $457, both well above or below the national figures.

Homes here are typically larger than average, with 2.6 people per dwelling. One-parent families are slightly more common here than in most areas, at 15.6%.

The area is dominated by separate houses (90.6%) and large homes, with 80.5% having three or more bedrooms. Rent is very affordable, with a typical weekly cost of $175, far below the national figure.

Car dependence is very high, as only 0.7% of people use public transport to commute. Very few people—just 5.9%—live in homes without a motor vehicle.

The population is very stable, with 22.9% moving in the last five years, which is far below the national average. Interestingly, recent arrivals from overseas are far more common here than in most similar areas.

Full-time employment is very high at 68.9%, well above the national average. However, the number of adults working or looking for work is much lower than most areas.

The area has a modest overall advantage score of 969, slightly below the national average. Local population growth has been negative since 2021, falling by 2.7%.

The climate is hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 28.8 degrees, which is higher than most areas. Annual rainfall is also much lower than in most other regions.

The area is heavily car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.9. Only 23.4% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, far below the New South Wales figure of 67.7%.