Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Gunnedah
90 km²
A significant First Nations presence defines Gunnedah, where 17.3% of the population is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. This is a young and growing community, with a typical resident aged 36 and a higher proportion of children than the national average. While the area faces some challenges with education and access to resources, it is a place of high full-time employment and a strong culture of volunteering. The town serves as a regional hub with a population of 9,745 people.
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The population is noticeably younger than the state average, with 22.7% of residents being children under 15. There is also a strong presence of de facto relationships at 14.1%, which is well above the national figure.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has among the lowest proportions of overseas-born people at 5.7%, far below the New South Wales average of 29.3%.
English is the dominant language, with only 3.8% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
Over half the population identifies as Christian, while 33.4% report no religion. This latter figure has risen by 20 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is much lower than most areas, with only 36.5% of residents completing Year 12. Just 11.4% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national average.
Typical weekly household income is $1,535, which is a little below the national figure. However, incomes have risen since 2011, with the typical household earning $614 more per week.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 30.3% of residents. About 6.7% of people need help with daily activities, which is higher than the state average.
Community spirit is high, with 16.1% of people volunteering, well above the national average. There is also a higher rate of unpaid childcare at 28.7%.
The First Nations community is large and young, with a typical age of 21. While personal incomes are a little above the national figure, Year 12 completion is far below at 26.0%.
One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, at 17.5%. Additionally, 30.3% of people live alone, which is well above the state average.
The area is dominated by separate houses, with 87.3% of homes being detached. Rents are well below the national figure, with a typical weekly rent of $300.
Most people rely on cars to get to work, as only 6.6% work from home—far below the national figure of 21.0%. Public transport use is low, though it has risen since 2011.
The community is quite mobile, with 40.1% of people having moved in the last five years. Interestingly, 19.7% are recent arrivals from overseas, which is well above the national average.
Full-time employment is a strong suit, with 64.4% of the workforce in full-time roles, well above the state average. Mining is a key industry, employing 16.5% of the population.
Overall advantage is low, ranking in the bottom 20% of all areas. This is linked to the area's low standing in education and job skills.
The climate is warmer than the state average, with an average maximum temperature of 26.0°C. Rainfall is also higher than the New South Wales average.
Walkability is low, as only 25.5% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries—far below the state average of 67.7%.