Tenterfield

Tenterfield is much older than most similar areas, with 34.8% of people aged 65 and over, which is far above the national figure of 17.2%. This contributes to a smaller proportion of children under 15, at 14.8%, well below the New South Wales average of 18.2%.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 83.7% born here. Only 7.9% were born overseas, a figure far below the 27.7% national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for 89.7% of the population. Only 2.6% use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

Most residents identify as Christian (57.7%), while 32.0% report no religion. This latter figure is well below the national average of 38.9%.

Educational qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 35.7% of people completing Year 12, far below the national figure of 58.8%. Only 11.9% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Typical incomes are much lower than most areas; the usual weekly household income is $933, far below the national figure of $1,746. Just 6.0% of households earn $3,000 or more a week.

Health challenges are more common here than elsewhere, with 39.6% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is far above the national figure of 27.7%, and 8.3% of residents need help with daily activities.

The area has a strong volunteer spirit, with 21.9% of people volunteering, well above the national figure of 14.1%. There is also a higher rate of unpaid carers (14.5%) and former Defence Force members (4.3%) compared to most areas.

First Nations people make up 6.2% of the community, which is a little above the national average. This group is noticeably younger, with a typical age of 20, but faces significant challenges with an unemployment rate of 28.8%.

Living arrangements are distinct, as 35.3% of people live alone, far above the national figure of 25.6%. The typical home is small, with only 2.1 people per household.

Housing is dominated by detached houses (93.7%) and high ownership, with 51.9% of homes owned outright—far above the national figure of 31.0%. Typical weekly rents are $250, well below the national average.

The town is heavily reliant on cars, as 62.4% of people drive to work. Public transport use is very low, with only 0.3% of people commuting by bus or train.

Migration is relatively low, with 3.4% of people arriving from overseas, far below the national figure of 14.5%. However, 34.2% of residents have moved in the last five years.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work (46.1%) compared to the national figure of 61.1%. Local jobs are concentrated in health care, retail, and agriculture.

Tenterfield is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 3.8. Many homes are far from essentials, with only 45.4% within a 15-minute walk of groceries.