Tamworth - Gunnedah

The area has a strong First Nations presence, with 13.4% of people identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a figure that rose 4.3 points since 2011. It is also a place for families, as 20.2% of residents are children under 15, which is much higher than most similar areas.

The community is very traditional in its roots, with 84.4% born in Australia and only 7.5% born overseas, which is far below the national figure. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.

English is the primary language for 87.2% of the population. Only 5.0% of people use another language at home, a rate that is far below both the state and national averages.

Christianity remains the most common faith at 57.8%, though the number of people reporting no religion rose 19 points since 2011 to reach 31.2%.

Educational attainment is lower than the national average, with only 13.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the number of people completing Year 12 rose 7.6 points since 2011 to reach 39.5%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,412, which is well below the New South Wales figure. While 15.0% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, this is still lower than most similar areas.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 32.6% of people. This includes a higher than usual rate of mental health conditions at 10.1%.

Local residents are more likely to volunteer than those in most other areas, with 16.1% participating. Unpaid care is also common, as 12.7% of people provide unpaid support to others.

Home to 11,308 First Nations people, the community sees a typical median age of 22. Year 12 completion is much lower than the national average at 28.0%.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 17.6% of households. Meanwhile, 28.6% of people live alone, a figure well above the national average.

Large homes are the norm, with 89.1% of dwellings being separate houses and 80.3% having three or more bedrooms. Typical weekly rent is $300, which is well below the state and national figures.

Cars are essential, as 62.1% of people drive to work and only 0.6% use public transport. Most homes have multiple vehicles, with 37.5% owning two.

While 38.7% of residents moved in the last five years, there has been a striking increase in recent arrivals from overseas, which rose 12 points since 2011 to 25.2%.

The job market is strong, with 63.2% of the workforce in full-time employment, well above the national figure. The most common industries are healthcare, retail, and education.

The population grew by 3.8% since the last census, though this is a little below the New South Wales growth rate of 6.1%.

The area is warmer than usual with a maximum average of 25.2 degrees, and it receives more rainfall than the state average, totaling 747mm annually.

Daily life is less walkable than in most of the state, with only 40.8% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries. Most essential services, including health and schools, are far less accessible on foot than the state average.