Urban Area · Area profile
Grafton
106 km²
A high proportion of seniors and a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community define the character of Grafton. The typical resident is 43, which is noticeably older than the national figure. Many people here live alone or in one-parent families, contributing to a community where a quarter of residents are aged 65 or over. This regional hub is predominantly Australian-born, with a population that has grown by about 900 people since 2011.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 10.4% of the population, which is well above the national figure. The area is noticeably older than most, with seniors aged 65 and over accounting for 24.5% of residents.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 5.9% of people born overseas, among the lowest rates for similar areas. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.
English is the primary language for 90.5% of the community. Only 3.1% of people use another language at home, which is far below the New South Wales average.
Over half of residents identify as Christian, while 38.2% report no religion. This last group has seen a significant increase of 22 percentage points since 2011.
Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 10.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 34.9% of residents have completed Year 12, which is far below the state average.
Typical incomes are much lower than the national figure, with the usual household earning $1,125 a week. Only 8.6% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, among the lowest standing for this level.
Health challenges are common here, with long-term health conditions affecting 38.2% of people. This is far above the national figure, and 9.7% of residents need help with daily activities.
The community has a high rate of unpaid carers at 14.4%, which is a little above the national figure. Residents who served in the Defence Force also make up a larger share of the population than in most areas.
Household structures are diverse, with a very high proportion of one-parent families at 23.9%. Additionally, 32.9% of people live alone, well above the state average.
Most people live in separate houses, and 36.6% own their home outright. While 32.9% of households rent, the typical weekly rent of $300 is well below the national figure.
Car travel is dominant, as only 0.3% of people commute by public transport. Working from home is rare, with only 7.1% of the workforce doing so.
The population is relatively stable, as 36.8% of people moved in the last five years, which is well below the national average. Recent overseas arrivals account for 11.5% of the community.
Only 49.5% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure. The unemployment rate is 7.0%, a little above the New South Wales average.
The area is somewhat walkable, though many homes are far from groceries and schools. Most residents do live within a 15-minute walk of a park.