Chatham Valley

The area is much older than the national figure, with 39.1% of residents aged 65 and over. While children under 15 make up 18.8% of the population, there are no young adults aged 15 to 24 living here.

About 20.3% of residents were born overseas, which is much higher than in similar areas. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, German, Irish, and Scottish.

English is the dominant language, spoken by 91.3% of the community. Only 4.3% of people use another language at home, which is far below the New South Wales figure.

Nearly half of residents (49.3%) report having no religion, a figure far above both the state and national averages. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 44.9%.

Qualifications are varied, with 15.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure, and about 49.1% of residents have completed Year 12.

The typical household income is $1,437 a week, which is well below the state average. No households in the area earn $3,000 or more per week.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 37.7% of people. This includes higher rates of mental health conditions and arthritis, with 8.7% of residents needing help with daily activities.

Participation in unpaid work is very high, with 42.1% of people doing 15 or more hours of housework weekly. Volunteering is also much more common than in most areas, at 24.6%.

There are no Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in this area, which is lower than most similar areas.

One-parent families are much more common than usual at 19.2%. Conversely, only 11.1% of people live alone, which is far below the national figure.

Every single home in the valley is a separate house. Home ownership is strong, with 44.4% of homes owned outright, and no one is currently renting.

The area is entirely car-dependent, with every home owning at least one vehicle. There are no public transport stops or routes available, and the drive to the city takes about 173 minutes.

The community has seen significant movement recently, with 45.5% of residents having moved house in the last five years, which is well above the national average.

The unemployment rate is very high at 15.6%, far above the state and national figures. Those who are working are often employed in agriculture, health care, or construction.

The area is completely car-dependent, with no shops, parks, schools, or health services within a 15-minute walk. The terrain is also steeper than the state average.