Molong

The population is noticeably older than the national average, with a typical resident aged 43. It is also a diverse community in terms of heritage, as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is 7.1%, which is well above the state and national figures.

The community has very deep roots in Australia and the UK, with 47.4% of people claiming Australian ancestry and 41.8% English. This is reflected in the fact that only 4.6% of residents were born overseas, a figure far below the national average.

English is the dominant language here, spoken by 91.5% of the population. Very few people use another language at home, at just 1.4%, which is far below the state and national figures.

Christianity is the most common faith at 63.0%. Those reporting no religion make up 27.2% of the community, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%.

A smaller proportion of adults have a bachelor degree or higher (14.7%) compared to the state. Year 12 completion is also far below the national average, with 40.8% of residents finishing school.

Typical household incomes are well below the national figure, sitting at $1,376 a week. Similarly, only 14.2% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the state average.

About 30.2% of people have a long-term health condition, which is a little above the national figure. Mental health conditions are also more common here than in most similar areas, affecting 9.2% of residents.

Local residents are very active in their community, with 21.0% volunteering—a rate well above the national figure. Unpaid housework is also more common here than in the rest of the state.

There are 184 First Nations people in the area, and they are noticeably younger than the state average with a typical age of 20. Unemployment among this group is 12.7%, which is a little above the state rate.

Family structures vary, with 57.4% being couples with children, while 28.6% of people live alone—a rate well above the national average.

Homes here are typically large, with 78.8% having three or more bedrooms, and far more separate houses than the state average. Rent is also well below the national figure, with a typical weekly rent of $270.

Most people rely on cars, with 67.8% driving to work and only 0.4% using public transport. Working from home is also far less common here than in the rest of the state.

The area has seen some movement, with 35.5% of people moving house in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas are very few (3.3%), which is far below the national average.

Full-time employment is high at 62.3%, which is well above the national figure. The local workforce is mainly employed in health care and social assistance, followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing.

The area is considered somewhat walkable, though many homes are far from basic needs. For example, only 48.2% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, which is far below the state average.