Goonellabah

The typical resident is 42, making the area noticeably older than the national figure. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 22.5% of the population, which is well above the Australian average. Additionally, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is 7.4%, much higher than most areas.

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 9.7% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure. English, Irish, and Scottish ancestries are the most common after Australian.

English is the main language here, with only 6.1% of people using another language at home, far below the state and national averages. Very few people speak little or no English, at just 0.6%.

Over half the population identifies as Christian, while 38.6% say they have no religion. This last figure has risen by 21 points since 2011.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with 45.2% of people completing Year 12, which is far below the national figure. Those with a bachelor degree or higher make up 18.5% of adults.

Typical weekly household income is $1,325, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 11.8% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, a figure much lower than most areas.

Health challenges are common here, with 36.9% of people living with a long-term health condition and 13.4% with a mental health condition, both among the highest figures for similar areas. About 8.6% of people need help with daily activities.

Community spirit is high, with 16.6% of people volunteering, which is well above the state average. More people provide unpaid care (14.2%) than in most other areas.

The area has a large First Nations community of 1,004 people, with 8.5% speaking a First Nations language, well above the state average. Unemployment for this group is 12.3%.

The area has a high number of people living alone (31.0%) and one-parent families (19.9%), both of which are much higher than in most areas. The typical home holds 2.4 people.

Housing is mostly detached houses (78.1%) and many are owned outright. Typical weekly rent is $320, which is well below the state average of $420.

Cars are the main way to get around, as only 0.4% of people use public transport to commute. However, there are many public transport stops available, with 97 across the area.

The community is quite mobile, with 40.4% of residents moving in the last five years. About 12.1% of people have arrived from overseas recently.

About 57.3% of adults are working or looking for work, which is well below the national figure. The most common industries for workers are health care and social assistance.

The area ranks lower than most similar places for overall advantage, with a score of 3 out of 10. There are 728 businesses operating in the community.

Goonellabah is quite wet and warm, with an average annual rainfall of 1,573mm, which is far above the New South Wales average.

The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.5. While many people live near public transport, far fewer are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or schools compared to the state average.