Richmond Valley - Hinterland

The area is notably older than most, with 22.5% of people aged 65 and over, a figure well above the national average. First Nations people make up 6.5% of the population, which is much higher than in most other similar areas.

Most residents were born in Australia (82%), and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people than New South Wales. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, each accounting for about 40% of the population.

English is the primary language here, with only 4.3% of people using another tongue at home, far below the state figure. Very few residents speak little or no English, at just 0.4%.

A large number of residents report no religion at 40.4%, a figure that has risen by 18 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 46.7%.

Qualification levels are lower than most areas, with only 16.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Despite this, the number of people who finished Year 12 rose to 41.5% since 2011.

Incomes are much lower than the national average, with the typical household earning $1,224 a week. Only 10.6% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this has risen since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 33.9% of people living with a long-term health condition. About 11.7% of residents have a mental health condition, which is well above the state average.

Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 16.9% of people helping out, despite a drop since 2011. Unpaid care is also more frequent, with 14.1% of residents providing such support.

There is a significant First Nations community of 4,665 people, and 6.8% speak a First Nations language. This group is younger than the general population, with a typical age of 23.

Single-person households are common at 30.2%, well above the national figure. One-parent families also make up a higher share of the community (19.3%) than in most similar areas.

Housing is dominated by separate houses (86.5%) and high rates of outright ownership at 39.8%. Rents are lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly rent of $300.

The area is heavily car-dependent, with 61.5% of people driving to work and only 0.3% using public transport. Very few homes lack a motor vehicle (5.3%).

The population is relatively stable, as fewer people moved here in the last five years (34.9%) compared to the state average. Recent overseas arrivals are also far less common at 8.8%.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work (54.4%) than in most similar areas. The most common industries for employment are health care, retail, and education.

The area has seen very low population growth since 2021, falling by 0.3%, which is well below the New South Wales growth rate of 6.1%.

The climate is wetter and warmer than the state average, with annual rainfall of 1,121mm and a typical maximum temperature of 27.4 degrees.

Most of the area is car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.8. Many homes are far from essential services, with only 38% of residents within a 15-minute walk of groceries.