Howlong

The area is far older than the national average, with 30.2% of residents aged 65 and over. While the number of children has fallen slightly since 2011, there are more people in de facto relationships here than in most similar areas.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 85.9% born here and only 8.2% born overseas, which is far below the New South Wales figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for almost everyone, with only 2.2% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national average and has barely changed over the last decade.

A large number of residents report no religion at 43.3%, which is well above the national figure. This represents a significant increase from 2011, when only 13.4% identified this way.

Educational qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 9.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree. However, more people have completed Year 12 now than in 2011.

Typical weekly household income is $1,271, which is well below the national figure. High earners are rare here, with only 4.1% of people earning $2,000 or more a week.

Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in other areas, affecting 40% of the population. This is consistent with the older age of the community, with arthritis being the most reported condition.

The town has a strong history of service, with a much higher proportion of Defence Force veterans than most areas. Volunteers make up 16.2% of the community, though this is down from 2011.

Family sizes are typical for the region, and 47.4% of households are couples with children. The number of people living alone has fallen by 11 points since 2011.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 93.1% of dwellings. Many are large, with 84.4% having three or more bedrooms, and 41.9% of homes are owned outright.

Car dependency is total, as 0% of people commute by public transport. Most homes are well equipped, with 42.2% owning two vehicles.

The area has seen significant movement, with 40.3% of residents arriving in the last five years. However, the number of recent overseas arrivals has fallen sharply since 2011.

A good proportion of the workforce is employed full-time at 57.8%. The local economy is driven by manufacturing, health care, and construction.

The town is somewhat walkable, and almost all homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park. However, access to groceries and public transport is lower than the state average.