Lower Murray

The community is older than most, with a typical age of 44 and 21% of people aged 65 or over, a figure that has risen since 2011. There is a significant First Nations population at 7.8%, which is well above the New South Wales figure.

This is an area with very few overseas-born residents, at just 7.2%, which is far below the state and national averages. Most people identify with Australian (38.8%) or English (36.7%) ancestry.

English is the dominant language, with only 5.3% of people using another language at home—far lower than the national figure of 22.3%. Consequently, very few residents speak little or no English.

About half the population identifies as Christian, while 35.3% report no religion. The number of people with no religion has risen sharply by 16 percentage points since 2011.

Educational attainment is among the lowest for its level, with only 9.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the state average at 34.5%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,351, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 13.3% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, though this has risen since 2011.

Long-term health conditions are slightly more common here than in the rest of the state, affecting 29.2% of people. Arthritis and asthma are the most reported conditions.

Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, with 18.4% of people pitching in, although this is down from 2011. Unpaid care for others is also a little above the national average.

First Nations people make up a significant part of the population, though they face challenges with a 16% unemployment rate and a typical personal income of $455, both well below national figures.

Family sizes are typical for the region, with 2.4 people per home. About 27.4% of people live alone, which is a little above the state average.

Housing is very affordable and stable, with a typical weekly rent of $200 and a high 40.9% of homes owned outright. Most homes are large, with 77% having three or more bedrooms.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.5% of people commute via public transport. Public transport infrastructure is very limited, with far fewer stops and departures than the state average.

The population is quite stable, with far fewer people moving house in the last five years compared to the rest of Australia. Interestingly, recent arrivals from overseas have risen to 23.5%.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries, employing 22% of the workforce. Full-time employment is well above the national average at 62.9%.

The population is small and grew by 3.5% since 2021, which is a slower pace than the New South Wales average of 6.1%.

The region is very dry, with an average annual rainfall of 332mm, which is well below the state average. Temperatures are typically warm, with an average maximum of 25.6 degrees.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a low walkability score of 3.9. Many residents live far from basic services, as only 38.3% are within a 15-minute walk of health services.