Coolamon

The community has aged significantly, with the typical resident now 8 years older than in 2011. This is seen in the high proportion of seniors, who make up 27% of the population, a figure well above the national average of 17.2%.

Almost 90% of residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people than the state average. This is consistent with the very low number of people who use a language other than English at home.

English is the primary language for 93.4% of the community. Only 1.5% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

Religious affiliation remains common here, with 63.1% of people identifying as Christian. This helps explain why the 29% of residents reporting no religion is well below the national average of 38.9%.

A higher than usual proportion of adults hold bachelor degrees or higher at 15.6%, though this remains far below the state average. Many residents have a Certificate III or IV as their highest qualification.

Typical weekly household incomes are $1,306, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 10.3% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most similar areas, with 37.9% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is far above the national average of 27.7%, and 8.5% of people need help with daily activities.

The area has a strong culture of service, with 18.9% of people volunteering and a much higher rate of former Defence Force members than most areas. Unpaid care is also common, with 13.9% of people providing help to others.

Homes are often shared by more people than in other areas, averaging 2.4 per dwelling. While 28.1% of people live alone, there is a higher than average rate of one-parent families at 17.9%.

Separate houses are the norm for 95.8% of residents, and 82.7% of homes have three or more bedrooms. Home ownership is strong, with 39.9% of houses owned outright.

Cars are essential for most, as 71.4% of workers drive to work and only 0.5% use public transport. Very few people work from home compared to the state average.

The population is quite mobile, with 38.6% moving in the last five years. Interestingly, recent arrivals from overseas have risen to 14.0% since 2011.

Full-time employment is much higher than most areas at 62.4%, and the unemployment rate of 3.7% is lower than the national average. Many residents work in health care, social assistance, or public administration.

Most homes are within a short walk of schools, parks, and health services, though no homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries. Overall, the area is considered somewhat walkable.