Urban Centre · Area profile
Grenfell
11 km²
Seniors make up a striking 36.8% of the population in Grenfell, making it far older than most similar areas. The typical resident is now 56, and the community has aged significantly since 2011. This shift is reflected in the local housing, where nearly half of all homes are owned outright. While the population has shrunk by 13% over the last decade, the town remains a highly walkable hub with easy access to essential services.
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Grenfell is far older than the national figure, with 36.8% of people aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up only 13.4% of the community, which is well below the national average of 18.2%.
The community is predominantly Australian-born, with only 6.9% of people born overseas. This is far below the New South Wales figure of 29.3%.
English is the primary language for 91.8% of residents, and very few people use another language at home. This is far below the national average of 22.3%.
Christianity is the main religion for 64.9% of residents. Those with no religion make up 27.1% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%.
Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 9.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Around 29.7% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national average of 58.8%.
Typical incomes are much lower than in most areas, with the usual weekly household earning $923 compared to the national figure of $1,746. Only 4.7% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are common here, as 41.6% of people have a long-term health condition. This is far above the national figure of 27.7%, and 10% of residents need help with daily activities.
Residents are active in their community, with 20.8% volunteering, which is well above the national figure of 14.1%. There is also a higher rate of former Defence Force members than in most areas.
People are more likely to live alone here than in most areas, with 39.3% of households consisting of one person. This helps explain why the typical home holds only 2.0 people.
Housing is very affordable, with typical weekly rents at $198, far below the national figure of $375. Nearly half of all homes are owned outright, and 90.7% of dwellings are separate houses.
Most people rely on cars, and virtually no one uses public transport to commute. Only 6.2% of the workforce works from home, which is far below the national figure of 21.0%.
The population is relatively stable, as 29.8% of people moved in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%.
A smaller proportion of adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas, at 41.7%. The unemployment rate is 6.9%, which is a little above the national figure of 5.1%.
The town is very walkable, with 84.9% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a '15-minute-city' walkshed. Most residents can easily walk to health services, schools, and groceries.