Mudgee

The town is younger than the national figure, with 21.3% of residents being children under 15. Around 7.5% of the population is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, which is well above the New South Wales average, though this figure has fallen since 2011.

The community is predominantly Australian and English in ancestry, with 86% of residents born in Australia. Only 8.5% were born overseas, a figure far below the state and national averages.

English is the primary language for almost 90% of the population. While the 4.6% who use another language at home is higher than in similar areas, it remains far below the New South Wales average of 26.6%.

Over half of the population identify as Christian, while 38.3% report no religion. This latter group has grown significantly, rising 24 points since 2011 to match the national figure.

Qualifications have risen since 2011, with 43.3% now completing Year 12 and 15.1% holding a bachelor degree or higher. These figures are both higher than in similar areas, although they remain far below state averages.

Typical weekly family income is $2,117, which is about the same as the national figure. The area has seen a sharp increase in wealth since 2011, with the share of households earning $3,000 or more per week rising 18 points.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in the state average, affecting 30.7% of residents. Mental health is the most reported condition at 9.9%.

Unpaid care for children is a common activity for 29.2% of residents, which is a little above the national figure. Volunteering is lower than in most similar areas, with 14.4% of people taking part.

Families with children are common, making up 54.6% of households. About 28.7% of people live alone, and the typical home holds 2.4 people.

Detached houses are far more common here than in the state average, and 81.3% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Renting is more common than usual at 35.5%, with a typical weekly rent of $361.

Cars are the primary way to get around, with 67.3% of workers driving to work. Only 0.3% use public transport for commuting, and just 5.9% work from home, which is far below the national figure.

Mudgee is a highly mobile community, with 48.2% of people having moved in the last five years. This trend is well above the national average, alongside a rise in recent overseas arrivals to 15%.

The workforce is strong, with 62% of adults working or looking for work. Employment is concentrated in mining (18.1%), health care (12%), and retail (10.4%), and the unemployment rate of 3.6% is lower than the national figure.

The area is somewhat walkable, with nearly all homes within a 15-minute walk of a park. However, access to health services and groceries is far below the state average.