Dubbo

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is 16.3%, which is far above the national figure of 3.2%. Residents are generally younger than the state and national average, with children under 15 making up 21.6% of the community.

Most residents were born in Australia (80.8%), and the number of people born overseas is lower than in most areas at 10.9%. However, this figure has risen by 5.3 percentage points since 2011.

While 82.1% of people speak only English at home, the proportion using another language has risen to 9.5% since 2011. This is still far below the New South Wales average of 26.6%.

Religious affiliation is more common here than in most similar areas, with 56.6% identifying as Christian. The share of people with no religion is 27.8%, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%.

About 19.1% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, a figure that has risen by 6.9 percentage points since 2011. Those who completed Year 12 make up 46.2% of the population, which is far below the state average.

Typical weekly family income is $2,027, which is about the same as the national figure. Incomes have grown significantly since 2011, with the typical household now earning $1,658 per week.

A long-term health condition affects 30.9% of residents, which is well above the New South Wales figure of 27.0%. However, the proportion of people needing help with daily activities is lower than most areas.

Unpaid childcare is very common here, with 28.9% of people providing this care, a figure well above the national average. Meanwhile, the proportion of volunteers has fallen to 13.6% since 2011.

Families with children are common, making up 54.2% of households, and there are more people per home (2.5) than in most similar areas. One-parent families are also more common than the national average at 18.2%.

Separate houses are the norm for 82.3% of residents, far above the national figure. Renting is more common than usual at 35.4%, while the proportion of homes owned outright is much lower than in most areas.

Cars are the primary way to get around, with 70.6% of people driving to work. Very few people use public transport to commute (0.4%), and only 7.4% of the workforce works from home.

The area is quite mobile, with 42.9% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas have increased significantly, now making up 24.8% of the population.

Employment is strong in Dubbo, with 63.1% of adults working or looking for work, which is much higher than most similar areas. The unemployment rate is also much lower than most areas at 3.5%.

Most homes are within a short walk of public transport (92.4%) and parks (94.2%). However, the area is far less walkable for groceries and health services compared to the state average.