Urban Centre · Area profile
Kandos
4 km²
A typical resident in Kandos is 54, making the community far older than the national figure. This New South Wales town has a shrinking population of 1,208 people, with a high proportion of seniors and a notable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. It is a place of low incomes and small households, where most people own their homes outright. The town's character is shaped by its aging population and a high rate of people living alone.
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Kandos is far older than most areas, with 33.8% of people aged 65 and over. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen to 9.4%, which is well above the state and national figures.
Most residents were born in Australia (77.5%), and the proportion of people born overseas has fallen slightly to 9.7%, which is far below the national figure.
English is the main language for 84.5% of the community. Only 4.1% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the state and national averages.
Christianity is the most common faith at 55.7%. The proportion of people reporting no religion has risen significantly since 2011 to 29.9%, though this remains well below the national figure.
Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 6.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 26.5% having completed Year 12.
Incomes are among the lowest at this level, with a typical household earning $664 a week, which is far below the national figure of $1,746.
Health challenges are common here; 45.4% of people have a long-term health condition, and 11.8% need help with daily activities, both of which are among the highest figures for this level.
Volunteering is more common than in the state, with 16.4% of people helping out. However, the proportion of people caring for children unpaid has fallen to 16.0%.
Living arrangements are unusual, with 51.1% of people living alone and only 1.8 people per home. One-parent families make up 27.8% of households, which is far above the national average.
Housing is mostly detached houses (94.6%), and 48.3% are owned outright, which is far above the state figure. Typical weekly rent is much lower than average at $220.
The town relies heavily on cars, as 0% of people commute by public transport. About 8.5% of homes have no motor vehicle.
The community is very stable, with only 27.0% of people moving in the last five years. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.
Only 32.4% of adults are working or looking for work, far below the national figure. The unemployment rate is 10.7%, which is much higher than the national average.
Kandos is very walkable, with 91.8% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries and 96.9% near health services, far exceeding state averages.