Southern Cross

The area is far older than the state and national average, with 22.9% of people aged 65 and over. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 15.0% of the population, which is well below the national figure.

About 18.2% of residents were born overseas, a figure higher than most similar areas. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, while New Zealand is the most frequent overseas birth place.

English is the main language for 82.7% of the community. While 7.7% of people use another language at home, this is far below the state and national averages.

Christianity is the most common faith at 48.4%. Those reporting no religion make up 38.6% of the population, which is about the same as the national figure.

Educational attainment is much lower than most areas, with only 33.9% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 58.8%.

Typical household income is $1,244 a week, which is well below the national figure. However, 11.9% of people earn $2,000 or more weekly, a rate higher than most similar areas.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.1% of residents. This is well above the national figure, with arthritis being the most reported condition.

Volunteerism is very high at 25.2%, which is far above the national average. This contrasts with unpaid care for children and general unpaid care, which are both well below state levels.

There are 16 First Nations people in the area. The typical personal income for this group is $524, which is a little above the state average, and the typical age is 29, making them noticeably older than the state average.

A very high 42.8% of people live alone, which is far above the national average. Because of this, homes are smaller than usual, with only 2.0 people per home.

Rent is much lower than most areas, with a typical weekly cost of $150. Most homes are separate houses, and 33.1% are owned outright, which is a little above the national figure.

The town is very car-reliant, as only 1.1% of people use public transport to get to work. While there are a few public transport stops, it takes a typical resident 48 minutes to walk to the nearest one.

The community is quite mobile, with 38.8% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 19.2% of the population, which is well above the national average.

Full-time employment is well above the national average at 65.1%. The workforce is concentrated in mining, public administration, and safety.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.9. However, 58.7% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services, which is far above the state average.