Wombat

Wombat is far older than the state and national averages, but it also has a much higher proportion of children under 15 at 21.4%. About 3.6% of the population identifies as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which is higher than in most similar areas.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 82.9% born here. This is far below the New South Wales average of 29.3% for people born overseas, and the most common ancestries are Australian and English.

English is the main language for 81.1% of residents, though 10.7% use another language at home, which is much higher than in similar areas. This is reflected in the 7.5% of people who speak Arabic.

Religious affiliation is common here, with 61.8% identifying as Christian. Far fewer people report having no religion (21.8%) compared to the national figure of 38.9%.

Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 34% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the state average of 58.9%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,261, which is well below both the state and national figures. Personal incomes are also much lower than usual, with 47.1% of people earning under $650 a week.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 30.7% of people living with a long-term condition. Arthritis and asthma are the most frequent issues reported.

Residents are very active in unpaid work, with 18.8% providing unpaid care and 30% doing significant housework, both of which are well above the national figures.

The First Nations community is small but older, with a typical age of 56. Personal income for First Nations residents is $900, which is far above the national figure of $540.

Homes tend to be larger, with 2.6 people per dwelling. About 61.7% of families are couples with children, while 26.7% of people live alone.

Housing is dominated by separate houses (98%), and nearly half (49.5%) are owned outright, which is far above the national average. Rent is also much lower here, with a typical weekly payment of $220.

The area is entirely car-dependent, as no one uses public transport to commute and every single home has at least one motor vehicle.

The population is relatively stable, with only 26% of people moving in the last five years, a figure far below the national average of 40.7%.

While full-time employment is well above the national average at 67.3%, the unemployment rate is also higher than most areas at 6.5%. Many residents work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing.

Wombat is highly car-dependent with a walkability score of 1.1. Almost no one lives within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or public transport.