Upper Murray exc. Albury

The community is significantly older than most of Australia, with a typical age of 50 and a high proportion of seniors. Children under 15 make up 16.3% of the population, which is a little below the national figure and has fallen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has one of the lowest proportions of overseas-born people at 7.0%. Australian and English are the most common ancestries, each accounting for 42.1% of the population.

English is the primary language here, with only 2.8% of people using another language at home. This is far below the New South Wales average of 26.6%, and very few residents speak little or no English.

Over half of the population identifies as Christian, while 36.9% report having no religion. This figure for people with no religion has risen sharply by 19 points since 2011.

Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 34.7% of residents completing Year 12 and 11.3% holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the area has a very high number of schools per 1,000 children.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national figure, with the usual household earning $1,208 per week. Only 11% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the state average.

Residents experience more health issues than most, as 35.1% have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national average, and 6.7% of people need help with daily activities.

Volunteerism is much higher here than in most areas, with 19.8% of people volunteering. There is also a higher rate of former Defence Force members compared to the state average.

There are 1,490 First Nations people in the area. Their typical personal income is $545, which is a little below the national figure, and their unemployment rate of 8.8% is well below the national average.

Many people live alone, accounting for 30.9% of households, which is well above the national average. Homes tend to be smaller, with a typical size of 2.3 people per dwelling.

Housing is mostly made up of detached houses, and a high 45.3% of homes are owned outright. Rents are much lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly rent of $235.

Cars are essential here, as only 0.2% of people commute by public transport. Very few homes lack a vehicle, and only 11.5% of people work from home, far below the state average.

The population is relatively stable, with 34.4% moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas account for 11.8% of the community.

The workforce is heavily tied to agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which employ 16.4% of people. The unemployment rate is 3.3%, which is much lower than in most other areas.

The population has grown by 4.8% since 2021, which is a little below the New South Wales growth rate of 6.1%.

The area is quite dry, with an average annual rainfall of 421mm, which is a little below the state average. Minimum temperatures are also much lower than in most areas.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.9. Only 49.8% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of basic amenities, far below the state average of 71.9%.