Garah

The community is noticeably older than the state and national figures, with 25.8% of residents aged 65 or over. About 12% of the population identifies as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which is well above the national average of 3.2%.

Almost everyone here was born in Australia, and the number of overseas-born residents is far below the national figure. Most people claim English, Australian, Irish, or Scottish ancestry.

English is the primary language used at home for over 70% of residents. Only 1% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the national average.

About 44% of residents identify as Christian. Those with no religion make up 25.1% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%.

Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 31.9% of people completing Year 12 compared to 58.8% nationally. Bachelor degrees are also far less common here than across the state.

Typical personal weekly income is about $829, which is similar to the national figure. However, typical household incomes are well below the state and national averages, and only 12.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Residents report fewer long-term health conditions than most other areas, with only 20.3% affected. Similarly, the rate of mental health conditions is well below the national average.

Volunteer rates are a little above the national figure, at 16.9%. However, far fewer people provide unpaid care or do significant housework compared to most other areas.

First Nations residents have a typical personal income of $624, which is a little above the national figure. Year 12 completion for this group is 30%, which is well below the national average.

A high number of people live alone, at 33.7%, which is well above the national figure. Other households are mostly couples with children, who make up 56.2% of the community.

Every single home in Garah is a separate house, and 82.6% have three or more bedrooms. Rent is far below the national average, and typical monthly mortgage payments are among the lowest in the region.

The area is entirely dependent on cars, with no public transport available. This is reflected in the fact that 51.6% of workers drive to work, while 27.9% work from home.

The population is very stable, with only 20.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national average.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the main industry, employing 63.9% of the workforce. While full-time employment is well above the national average, the overall number of adults working or looking for work is much lower than in most areas.

Garah is highly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. There are no grocery stores or health services within a 15-minute walk for any resident.