Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Cobar
2,186 km²
High-paying mining jobs drive the local economy in Cobar, where personal incomes are much higher than in most similar areas. This is a relatively young community with a typical resident aged 36 and a large population of children. The town has a significant First Nations presence and a high number of people in de facto relationships. Overall, it is a working-class hub with a strong focus on trades and industry.
Household incomes here are high, yet Cobar's schools draw a notably less advantaged community.
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The community is noticeably younger than the state and national figures, with 21.3% of people being children under 15. First Nations people make up 14.8% of the population, which is far above the national average of 3.2%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and only 7.7% were born overseas, a figure far below the national average. English and Australian ancestries are the most common.
English is the main language for 80% of the community. While 4.8% of people use another language at home, this is far below the state and national figures.
The community is more religious than most areas, with 53.3% of people identifying as Christian. Only 28.1% of residents report having no religion, which is far below the national figure.
Qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 10.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national average, though many residents hold a Certificate III or IV, often in engineering or trades.
Typical personal weekly incomes are $937, which is much higher than in most similar areas. About 14.3% of people earn $2,000 or more a week, a figure a little above the national average.
Health stats are slightly better than average, as the proportion of people with a long-term health condition is a little below the national figure. Mental health conditions affect 6.7% of the population.
Unpaid care and housework are less common here than in most similar areas. About 13.9% of people volunteer, which is about the same as the national figure.
The First Nations community is large and performs better than the national average in several areas, with a lower unemployment rate of 7.5% and a typical personal income that is well above the national figure.
Living arrangements vary, with 33.3% of people living alone—well above the national average. One-parent families are also much more common here than in most other areas.
Homes are typically large, with 81.6% having three or more bedrooms. Rent is far below the state and national averages, with a typical weekly rent of just $200.
The town relies heavily on cars, and only 3.9% of people work from home, which is far below the national figure. Public transport use is very low at 0.9%.
There is a fair amount of movement in the area, with 34.5% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals are well above the national average at 18.6%.
Mining is the dominant industry, employing 34% of the workforce. Full-time employment is much higher than in most areas, and the unemployment rate is a little below the national figure.
Most residents live within a 15-minute walk of a park or health services, but far fewer can walk to groceries or school compared to the state average. The overall walkability score is somewhat walkable.