Urban Centre · Area profile
Armidale
30 km²
The population of Armidale shrank by 32% between 2011 and 2021, yet it has become a more diverse and highly educated hub. It is a noticeably young community, with a typical resident aged 34. This youthfulness, combined with a significant rise in overseas arrivals, creates a dynamic atmosphere where a high proportion of people are now university-qualified. It is a place where traditional rural roots meet a growing, global population.
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The typical resident is just 34, making the area noticeably younger than the national figure. An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of 8.7% is well above the Australian average, and this group has grown since 2011.
People born overseas make up 17.4% of the community, a figure that has rose significantly since 2011. While this is much higher than many similar areas, it remains far below the New South Wales average.
Language diversity has increased, with 12.9% of people using a language other than English at home. This is a sharp increase from 3.5% in 2011, though it is still well below the national figure.
More than a third of residents now report having no religion, a figure that rose 21 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 42.8%.
The community is highly qualified, with 27.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is among the highest at its level and rose 14 points since 2011.
Typical weekly family incomes are $1,817, which is a little below the national figure. However, the proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 7.0 points since 2011.
About 30% of people have a long-term health condition, which is a little above the national average. Mental health is the most reported condition, affecting 10.5% of residents.
Volunteering is strong here, with 19% of people helping out, a figure well above the national average. Conversely, fewer people do unpaid childcare or housework compared to similar areas.
Living arrangements are varied, as 34.7% of people live alone, which is well above the national figure. One-parent families are also more common here than in most other areas.
Renting is very common, with 40.8% of households renting, far above the national average. Typical weekly rents are $290, which is well below the New South Wales figure.
Working from home has surged to 20.8% since 2011. While most people use a car, 9.2% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is a little above the national average.
The area is very mobile, with 47.4% of people moving in the last five years. This is well above the national figure and is consistent with a huge 27 point rise in recent overseas arrivals.
Education and training is the biggest employer, with 21.4% of the workforce in this field. The unemployment rate is 6.2%, which is a little above the national average.
The area is very walkable, with 98.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park. Most residents can also easily reach public transport, schools, and health services on foot.