Bourke - Cobar - Coonamble

First Nations people make up 24.2% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 3.2%. The area is also home to a higher number of children under 15 and seniors over 65 than most other regions.

The community is very homogenous, with only 6.0% of people born overseas, far below the New South Wales average of 29.3%. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.

English is the primary language for nearly 80% of the population. Only 3.9% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure.

Over half of the population identifies as Christian, while 25.6% report no religion. This lack of religious affiliation is far below the national figure, though it has risen 14 points since 2011.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 10.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree. Year 12 completion is also far below the state average at 32.9%.

Typical incomes are much lower than across the nation, with the usual family earning $1,717 a week. However, the number of households earning over $3,000 weekly rose 9.4 points since 2011.

About 27.5% of people live with a long-term health condition, which is about the same as the national figure. Mental health conditions are reported much less often than in most other areas.

Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 16.1% of people giving their time. Conversely, far fewer people provide unpaid care or do housework compared to the state average.

The First Nations community is large and relatively young, with a typical age of 28. However, they face significant gaps in outcomes, including much lower personal incomes and lower Year 12 completion rates.

One-parent families and people living alone are much more common here than in most other areas. Households are generally smaller than average, with 2.3 people per home.

Detached houses are very common, and 37.7% of homes are owned outright. Rents are among the lowest in the country, with a typical weekly rent of just $180.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.9% of people using public transport to get to work. Public transport access is very poor, with a typical 44-minute walk to the nearest stop.

People here are less likely to have moved in the last five years than those in most other areas. Interestingly, 21.8% of the population are recent arrivals from overseas, which is well above the national average.

Full-time employment is very high at 67.4%, well above the national figure. The workforce is concentrated in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining.

The region continues to struggle with growth, as the population fell 2.1% since 2021, which is well below the state growth rate of 6.1%.

This is a hot and dry region with an average maximum temperature of 27.7 degrees. Annual rainfall is very low at 381mm, well below the New South Wales average.

The area is only somewhat walkable, as many homes are far from groceries, schools, and health services. However, there are more walkable amenities per 1,000 residents than the state average.