Metford

The community is noticeably younger than the state and national figures, with 20.1% of the population being children. First Nations people make up 10.3% of residents, which is well above the national average of 3.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas roots are far fewer than in the state or nation. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Irish and Scottish.

English is the primary language for 88.4% of the population. While 7.0% of people use another language at home, this is far below the state and national levels.

About 39.5% of people report having no religion, a figure that is about the same as the national average but well above the New South Wales figure. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 51.2%.

Educational attainment is far below the state and national averages, with only 38.8% of residents completing Year 12. However, the area has a high number of schools within 3 km, totaling 17.

Typical weekly household income is $1,484, which is a little below the national figure. High-income households earning over $3,000 a week are far less common here than in most other areas.

Health challenges are much more common here than in similar areas, with 38.1% of people living with a long-term condition. Mental health conditions are particularly high, affecting 17.1% of residents.

Unpaid care is common, with 29.3% of people caring for children, which is well above the national average. Interestingly, volunteering is much lower here than in most other areas.

Metford has one of the largest First Nations populations at this level, and this group is noticeably younger than the state and national averages. Year 12 completion among First Nations residents is well below the national figure.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, at 22.2%. Homes are generally larger than usual, with an average of 2.6 people per household.

Detached houses are far more common here than across the state, and 87.3% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Renting is much more prevalent than usual, affecting 37.8% of households.

Public transport is highly accessible, with 100% of homes within a 10-minute walk of a stop. Despite this, most people still rely on cars, and the number of people working from home is far below the national average.

The area has seen a fair amount of movement, with 34.5% of residents moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 10.3% of the population.

Full-time employment is a little above the national average at 60.2%, though the unemployment rate of 6.9% is also higher than in most areas. Many residents work in health care and social assistance.

While residents can easily walk to parks, schools, and public transport, they are far less likely to have groceries or health services within a 15-minute walk compared to the state average.