Wentworth

Seniors make up 34.3% of the population, while children under 15 are much fewer than in most areas at 13.0%. The community is also diverse, with 10.8% of residents identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia (76.3%), and those with overseas birthplaces make up only 7.0% of the population, far below the national average of 27.7%. Common ancestries include Australian and English, both at around 36%.

English is the primary language for 82.2% of the community. Only 1.8% of people use another language at home, which is far below the New South Wales figure of 26.6%.

About 38.2% of residents have no religion, which is about the same as the national figure. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation at 44.0%.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 26.4% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national average of 58.8%. Only 8.6% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Typical incomes are far below the national figure, with the usual household earning $952 a week. Only 7.0% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is much lower than the state average of 25.2%.

Health challenges are common here, as 38.2% of people have a long-term health condition, far above the national figure of 27.7%. This is reflected in the 11.0% of residents who need help with daily activities, among the highest for similar areas.

Volunteerism is common at 17.1%, which is above the national average. Unpaid care is also more frequent than usual, with 15.1% of people providing support to others.

First Nations people are a significant part of the community, though they face challenges with a 23.3% unemployment rate and a typical personal income of $392, both much lower than the state and national averages.

Many people live alone here, accounting for 34.7% of households, which is well above the national figure. The typical home is small, with just 2.1 people per dwelling.

Home ownership is high, with 47.6% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. Rents are also much lower than usual, typically costing $200 a week.

Cars are the primary way to get around, with 60.2% of people driving to work. Public transport use is almost non-existent at 0.0%, and 12.0% of the workforce works from home.

Movement into the area is steady, with 32.0% of people moving in the last five years. Interestingly, recent arrivals from overseas make up 15.3% of the population, which is about the same as the national average.

Only 40.9% of adults are working or looking for work, which is among the lowest for similar areas. Many of those employed work in health care and social assistance (17.3%) or agriculture and forestry (13.7%).

The area is somewhat walkable, with a score of 5.4. While 67.6% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services—far above the state average—only 53.7% are within 10 minutes of public transport.