State Electorate · Area profile
Dubbo
17,317 km²
A significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence sets Dubbo apart, with 14.3% of the population identifying as such. The community has grown 15% since 2011 to reach over 82,500 people, while remaining a family-oriented hub with a high number of children. It is a largely Australian-born population with a strong preference for detached housing. While the area is growing, it maintains a slower pace of life with typical incomes and rents that sit below the national figures.
50 schools within reach make Dubbo convenient for families.
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Dubbo has a very high Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population compared to the rest of the state. Children under 15 make up 20.9% of the community, which is a little above the national figure, while the typical resident is 38 years old.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the proportion of people born overseas is far below the national average at 8.8%. Australian, English, and Irish are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 84.4% of the community. Only 6.1% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the New South Wales average.
Christianity remains the most common faith at 56.7%. People reporting no religion make up 29% of the population, which is well below the national figure but has risen 18 points since 2011.
Qualifications are lower than in most similar areas, with only 15.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, more people have completed Year 12 than in 2011, and the area has a high number of schools per child.
Typical weekly household income is $1,583, which is a little below the national figure. While typical personal incomes are about the same as the national average, the number of households earning over $3,000 a week is well below the state average.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 30.4% of residents. Mental health conditions are also a little more frequent than the state average.
Volunteering has fallen since 2011 to 15%, though this is still a little above the state figure. A higher than average 27.6% of people provide unpaid care for children.
One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas at 16.5%. About 27.2% of people live alone, which is a little above the national average.
Separate houses are far more common here than across the state, with 87.2% of homes being detached. This helps explain why typical rents ($300) and mortgage payments ($1,560) are well below the state and national figures.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with 67.8% of people driving to work. Very few people use public transport to commute, and only 9.4% of the workforce works from home.
Recent arrivals from overseas make up 19.8% of the population, a figure well above the national average. About 38.7% of residents have moved house in the last five years.
Full-time employment is much higher here than in most similar areas, and the unemployment rate of 3.6% is a little below the national figure. Many residents work in health care, social assistance, or retail.
The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.3, well below the state average. Many homes are far from basic needs, with fewer than half of residents within a 15-minute walk of groceries.