Moree - Narrabri

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 17.3% of the population, which is far above the national figure of 3.2%. Children under 15 are also more common here at 20.5%, a little above the national average.

The area has very low overseas birth rates, with only 5.1% born abroad compared to 27.7% nationally. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.

English is the dominant language, with only 3.1% of people using another language at home, far below the national average of 22.3%. Consequently, very few people—just 0.3%—speak little or no English.

Christianity is the most common faith at 56.5%. Those with no religion make up 25.3% of the community, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%.

Educational attainment is much lower than most areas, with only 11.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree and 36.1% completing Year 12, both far below the national averages.

Typical weekly household income is $1,523, a little below the national figure of $1,746. High-earners are less common, with only 8.4% of people earning $2,000 or more per week.

Mental health conditions are much less common here than in most areas, affecting 6.6% of residents. Long-term health conditions are reported by 27.1% of people, which is about the same as the national average.

Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 16.1% of people pitching in. However, fewer people provide unpaid care for children or do heavy housework compared to the state average.

The First Nations community is a significant part of the area, though they face challenges with a 13.2% unemployment rate and a Year 12 completion rate of 26.9%, which is far below the national figure.

Families tend to be larger than average, and one-parent families are much more common at 17.5%. Interestingly, people living alone are also more frequent here than in the rest of the state.

Separate houses are very common, making up 87.3% of homes, far above the national average. Housing is much more affordable, with typical weekly rents at $220, far below the national figure of $375.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with only 1.0% of people using public transport to get to work. Very few people work from home, at 10.9%, which is far below the national average.

The population is quite stable, as few people have moved in the last five years compared to the rest of Australia. Despite this, recent overseas arrivals make up a surprisingly high 20.6% of the community.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the main employers for 22.4% of the workforce. Full-time employment is much more common here at 66.7%, well above the national average.

The population has shrunk by 0.8% since 2021, which is among the lowest growth rates for similar areas and well below the New South Wales average.

The climate is hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 28.1 degrees, which is a little above the state average. Annual rainfall is 578mm.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.3, far below the state average of 6.2. Most homes are far from groceries, health services, and public transport.