Narrabri Surrounds

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 14.3% of the community, which is far above the national figure and has risen since 2011. The typical resident is 42, making the area noticeably older than most across Australia.

The area is very homogenous, with 81% of people born in Australia and only 3.8% born overseas, a figure far below the New South Wales average.

English is the primary language for the vast majority of residents, with only 1.6% using another language at home, which is far below the national average.

While 59.5% of residents identify as Christian, those with no religion make up 25% of the population, though this is still well below the state and national figures.

Educational attainment is much lower than most areas, with only 36% of people completing Year 12 and 10.5% holding a bachelor degree or higher, both far below the national average.

Typical weekly household income is $1,434, which is a little below the national figure. Higher earners are less common here, with only 15.5% of households earning $3,000 or more a week.

Long-term health conditions are slightly more common here than in the rest of the state, though the rate of mental health conditions is much lower than in most other areas.

Local residents are far more likely to volunteer than people in most other areas, with 18.5% of the community participating in this activity.

First Nations people make up a significant part of the area, though they face challenges with a Year 12 completion rate of 30.9%, which is well below the national average.

Family life is typical for its level, with 56.5% of households consisting of couples with children and about 25.8% of people living alone.

The housing stock is dominated by separate houses (93.8%) and large homes, with 79.2% having three or more bedrooms. Rent is very affordable, with a typical weekly cost of $200, which is far below the national figure.

The community is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.5% of people commute by public transport and 61.3% drive to work.

People in this area are less likely to move, with only 25.1% having changed homes in the last five years, far below the national average.

The local economy is driven by the land, with 36.7% of the workforce in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Full-time employment is much more common here than in most other areas.

Overall advantage is lower than in 60% of similar areas, and population growth has fallen by 1.1% since 2021, well below the state average.

The region is warmer than most of New South Wales, with an average maximum temperature of 27.5 degrees and annual rainfall slightly above the state average.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.2, as very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or public transport.