Cooks Gap

The community is noticeably older than the state and national averages, with the typical resident aged 43. A striking 8.9% of the population is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up just 8.6% of the population, which is far below the national average. The most common ancestries are Australian and English.

English is the dominant language, with only 2.7% of people using another tongue at home—far below the national figure. Consequently, no residents reported speaking little or no English.

About 49.7% of the community identifies as Christian, while 38.4% have no religion, a figure that is well above the New South Wales average.

Educational qualifications are much lower than in most similar areas, with only 6.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree. Over half of those with a qualification hold a Certificate III or IV.

Typical personal weekly incomes are well below the national figure at $632. Similarly, the typical family weekly income of $1,897 is a little below the state average.

People needing help with daily activities are more common here than in most areas. However, the rate of long-term health conditions is well below the national average.

A high 6.2% of residents have served in the Defence Force, which is well above the national average. This is contrasted by a low volunteer rate of 10.3%, which is well below the national figure.

The First Nations community consists of 49 people with a typical age of 26. Typical personal income for this group is $350, which is well below the national figure.

Homes tend to be larger than usual, with 2.6 people per home. Over half of all households are couples with children.

The landscape is dominated by separate houses, making up 97.4% of all dwellings. While renting is far less common than in the state, 48.4% of residents are paying off a mortgage.

Car travel is essential, as 100% of homes own a motor vehicle and 69% of workers drive to work. There are no public transport stops or routes in the area.

The population is relatively stable, with 30.9% moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average. There were no recent arrivals from overseas.

Mining is a major local employer, accounting for 22.2% of jobs, followed by retail trade at 13.3%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%, which is about the same as the national figure.

The area is completely car-dependent, with a walkability score of 0.0. There are no parks, schools, shops, or health services within a 15-minute walk.