Orange

The area has a much higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (6.9%) than the national figure of 3.2%. It is also a young community, with 21.3% of people under 15, which is well above the state average.

People born overseas make up only 9.3% of the population, which is far below the New South Wales average of 29.3%. Most residents claim Australian (43.1%) or English (41.1%) ancestry.

English is the main language for 88.6% of the community. Only 5.6% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the national average of 22.3%.

Christianity remains the most common faith at 58.4%. Those reporting no religion make up 31.9%, a figure that has risen significantly by 18 percentage points since 2011.

About 20.2% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, though Year 12 completion (47.2%) is far below the national figure of 58.8%. The area has a higher number of schools per 1,000 children than most similar places.

Typical weekly personal income is $831, which is higher than most areas. Meanwhile, typical family income sits at $2,116, which is about the same as the national figure.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, with 31.5% of residents affected. This includes a mental health rate of 11.1%, which is well above the state average.

Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, at 16.7%. There is also a high rate of unpaid childcare, with 29.5% of people providing this support.

The First Nations community is relatively large at 4,228 people. This group is noticeably younger than the wider population, with a typical age of just 20.

Families are common here, and homes tend to be larger, with 2.5 people per home. About 57.1% of households are couples with children.

Separate houses are very common at 88.4%, far above the national average. Most homes are spacious, with 81.9% having three or more bedrooms, and typical weekly rent is $315.

The community relies heavily on cars, as only 0.4% of people commute by public transport. While there are many bus stops, most people drive, and 39.3% of homes have two vehicles.

About 39.9% of residents moved house in the last five years, which is about the same as the state and national figures. Recent overseas arrivals make up 13.6% of the population.

Job security is strong, with a low unemployment rate of 3.4% and a high full-time employment rate of 62.9%. Health care and social assistance is the most common industry.

Since the 2021 census, the population has grown by 2.8%, which is much lower than the New South Wales rate of 6.1%.

The climate is cool and wet, with an average minimum temperature of 6.8 degrees, which is among the lowest at this level. Annual rainfall is 896mm, far above the state average.

The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.6. Many residents live far from essentials, as only 43.9% can walk to groceries within 15 minutes.