Lachlan Valley

The area has a much higher First Nations population than most, at 11.0%, a figure that has risen since 2011. Residents are also noticeably older than the state and national average, with a typical age of 44.

Most people were born in Australia, and the area has among the lowest proportions of overseas-born residents at 5.7%. This is far below the New South Wales figure of 29.3%.

English is the dominant language, with only 3.1% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%, and very few residents speak little or no English.

Christianity remains the most common faith at 63.4%. While the number of people with no religion has risen significantly since 2011, it remains far below the national figure of 38.9%.

Educational attainment is much lower than most areas, with only 35.4% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 58.8%.

Incomes are much lower than the state and national averages. The typical weekly household income is $1,217, which is well below the Australian figure of $1,746.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas. About 33.4% of people have a long-term health condition, and 7.0% need help with daily activities.

The community is highly active in giving back, with a volunteer rate of 20.0% that is well above the national figure. Unpaid care for others is also more common than in most areas.

Lachlan Valley has one of the largest First Nations populations at this level. However, these residents face disadvantages, with a Year 12 completion rate of 27.8%, well below the national figure.

Homes here tend to be smaller in occupancy, with 2.3 people per home. There is a high proportion of people living alone (31.7%) and one-parent families (16.5%) compared to most areas.

Housing is dominated by separate houses (91.4%), and 41.9% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Rents are much lower than usual, with a typical weekly cost of $220.

The area is heavily car-dependent, with 63.8% of people driving to work. Public transport use is very low, and only 0.8% of people commute using these services.

Residents are less likely to move than people in other areas, with only 31.3% moving in the last five years. Interestingly, recent arrivals from overseas have increased since 2011.

Full-time employment is much higher here than in most areas at 62.1%. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are major employers, accounting for 18.5% of jobs.

Population growth has been sluggish, with a recent decline of 1.1%, which is well below the New South Wales growth rate of 6.1%.

The region experiences a warm climate with an average maximum temperature of 25.0 degrees. Annual rainfall is 589mm, which is a little above the New South Wales average.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.9. This is well below the state average, as few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or public transport.