Balranald

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 9.6% of the population, which is well above the national figure and has risen since 2011. The community is far older than the state average, with 24.6% of residents aged 65 and over.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the proportion of people born overseas is far below the national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries reported.

While English is the main language, 7.6% of people use another language at home, a figure that has risen since 2011. However, this is still far below the state and national levels.

Christianity is the most common faith, with 55.1% of the population identifying as such. The proportion of people with no religion is far below the national figure.

Educational attainment is lower than most similar areas, with only 8.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Completion of Year 12 is also far below the state average at 31.4%.

Typical weekly household incomes are well below the national figure at $1,166. While incomes have risen since 2011, only 9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

A little more than 7% of people need help with daily activities, which is higher than the state average. Long-term health conditions are reported more often than usual, though mental health conditions are well below the national figure.

Volunteering is very common here, with 25.8% of people helping out, far above the state average. Unpaid care for children and housework is less frequent than in most areas.

Living alone is quite common, with 35.5% of people in single-person homes. One-parent families make up 18% of the community, which is well above the national figure.

Housing is very affordable, with a typical weekly rent of $200 and typical monthly mortgage payments far below the national average. Detached houses are the norm, and 42.6% of homes are owned outright.

Cars are the primary way to get around, as 66.4% of people drive to work and no one commutes by public transport. About 9.5% of homes have no motor vehicle.

The population is generally stable, with far fewer people moving in the last five years compared to the rest of the country. Interestingly, recent arrivals from overseas make up 32.6% of the population, a figure far above the state average.

Full-time employment is well above the national average at 62.2%. Many residents work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, or in health and social assistance.

The town is very walkable, with 91.4% of homes having a 15-minute-city walkshed. Almost every home is within a short walk of a park, school, or grocery store.