Wallerawang

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 9.3% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%. The community is also younger than usual, with children under 15 making up 21.7% of residents.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 88.2% born here. Only 7.2% of residents were born overseas, a figure far below the New South Wales average of 29.3%.

English is the main language for 92.1% of people at home. The proportion of people using another language is 3.7%, which is far below the national average of 22.3%.

More than half of the community identifies as Christian, while 41.8% report no religion. This lack of religious affiliation is a little above the national figure of 38.9%.

Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 9.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 31.7% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the state average of 58.9%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,424, which is well below the state figure of $1,829. Personal incomes are also lower than usual, with the typical person earning $666 a week.

Health challenges are more common here, as 34.4% of people have a long-term health condition, which is well above the national figure of 27.7%. People needing help with daily activities also make up 6.8% of the population.

Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 14.5% of people providing unpaid care, well above the state average. However, only 12.8% of residents volunteer, which is much lower than most areas.

First Nations residents are notably younger than in other areas, with a typical age of 20. While household incomes for this group are well above the national average, Year 12 completion is among the lowest at 17.5%.

Families are often larger here, with 2.6 people per home. One-parent families make up 17.4% of the community, which is well above the national average of 14.1%.

Separate houses are the dominant dwelling type at 94%. Homes tend to be large, with 83.6% having three or more bedrooms, far above the New South Wales average of 68.6%.

Cars are essential for most, as 71.1% of workers drive to work and only 0.0% use public transport for commuting. This is consistent with a very long drive time of 121 minutes to the city.

The population is relatively stable, with 31.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%. Recent arrivals from overseas are also far below the state average.

Full-time employment is a little higher than the national average at 60.2%. The most common industries for locals are health care, social assistance, and public administration.

The area is somewhat walkable, with 92.1% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park. While groceries and health services are accessible for many, only 50.7% of homes are within 15 minutes of a school.