Lightning Ridge

The community is far older than the national figure, with 29.2% of people aged 65 or over. First Nations people make up 20.3% of the population, which is far above the 3.2% seen across Australia.

Most residents were born in Australia, though 15.2% were born overseas. Australian and English are the most common ancestries, accounting for 27.7% and 26.6% respectively.

English is the main language for 69.9% of the community. While 9.1% use another language at home, very few people—just 1.0%—speak little or no English.

Christianity is the most common faith at 39.1%. A large portion of the population, 36.2%, reports having no religion, which is a little below the national figure.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 27.9% of residents completing Year 12. Only 8.1% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, far below the national average of 26.3%.

Incomes are among the lowest in the region, with a typical weekly household earning just $792. This is far below the national typical figure of $1,746.

Health challenges are common here, as 34.8% of people live with a long-term health condition. Those needing help with daily activities make up 10.3% of the population, which is well above the state figure of 5.8%.

Unpaid care for others is more common than usual, with 14.0% of people providing this support. However, fewer people care for children unpaid (15.6%) compared to the national figure.

The First Nations community is large, with 395 people. This group faces significant challenges, including a much lower typical personal income of $455 and an unemployment rate of 20.4%, which is far above the national rate.

Living arrangements are unusual, with 44.3% of people living alone and one-parent families making up 25.1% of households. Both figures are far above the national average.

Housing is more affordable than in most areas, with typical weekly rents at $200. Many residents own their homes outright (49.1%), which is far above the state figure of 31.5%.

Most people rely on cars, as 59.5% drive to work. Public transport is very limited, with only one stop serving the area and 0.7% of people using it to commute.

The population is relatively stable, with only 28.2% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Job opportunities are scarce, with only 37.3% of adults working or looking for work. The unemployment rate is 11.0%, which is well above the national average of 5.1%.

The town centre is quite accessible, with 85.1% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services. Despite this, a low number of homes are within easy walking distance of public transport.