Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Grafton
13 km²
A noticeably older population defines Grafton, where over a quarter of residents are seniors. This is a large regional community with a strong First Nations presence and a high number of people living alone. The area is characterized by lower typical incomes and higher rates of long-term health conditions compared to the rest of the state. These factors combine to create a community with a significant need for health support and accessible housing.
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The typical resident is 44, making the area noticeably older than the national figure. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 25.6% of the population, which is well above the national average of 17.2%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and only 6.4% were born overseas, a figure far below the national average of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 91.1% of the community. Only 3.6% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
More than half of the population identifies as Christian. Those with no religion make up 38.3%, a figure that is about the same as the national average.
Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 12.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 37.7%.
Incomes are generally low, with the typical household earning $1,179 a week, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 9.1% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are common here, as 38.1% of people have a long-term health condition, far above the national figure of 27.7%. This is reflected in the 10% of residents who need help with daily activities.
A higher than average 13.9% of people provide unpaid care. There is also a slightly higher proportion of former Defence Force members compared to the rest of the state.
First Nations people make up 9.1% of the population, well above the national figure. About 6.9% of the community speaks a First Nations language, which is higher than most other areas.
Living arrangements are distinctive, with 35.4% of people living alone and 22.4% of families being one-parent households, both of which are well above national averages.
Separate houses are very common at 76.1%. While typical weekly rent is $300, well below the national figure, renting is more common here than in most similar areas.
Most people rely on cars for work, and very few work from home at 7%. While there are many public transport stops, only 0.2% of people use them to commute.
The community is quite mobile, with 39.4% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 11.3% of the population.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas. The unemployment rate is 6.0%, which is a little above the national average of 5.1%.
The area is somewhat walkable, with 98.6% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park. Access to health services is also far above the state average.