Urban Centre · Area profile
Moruya
6 km²
Lower typical incomes mark the character of Moruya, where the usual household earns $1,026 a week, far below the national figure. This is an aging community with a typical resident aged 49 and a significant population of seniors. A strong Aboriginal presence and a high number of people living alone suggest a diverse but fragmented social landscape. The town has shrunk by 13% since 2011, reflecting a shift toward an older, less working population.
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Moruya is far older than most areas, with a typical age of 49 and 27.7% of residents aged 65 or over. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen sharply to 8.2%, which is well above the New South Wales figure of 3.4%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people (10.5%) than the national average. Australian and English are the most common ancestries, each accounting for nearly 40% of the population.
English is the primary language for 85.5% of the community. The proportion of people using another language at home has fallen to 3.8%, which is far below the state average.
About 40.4% of people report having no religion, a figure a little above the national average. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 45.7%.
Qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 10.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure of 26.3%, and the number of people who completed Year 12 has fallen since 2011.
Weekly incomes are well below state and national levels, with the typical family earning $1,351. Only 7.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.
Health challenges are common here, as 38.6% of people have a long-term health condition. This is far above the national average, and 10% of residents need help with daily activities.
Unpaid care is a key part of local life, with 14.7% of people providing this support, which is higher than most areas. However, the number of volunteers has fallen by 12 points since 2011.
The community has a high number of people living alone (33.5%) and a higher rate of one-parent families than most areas. On average, there are 2.2 people per home.
Separate houses make up 85.5% of dwellings, far more than the national average. While 41.4% of homes are owned outright, typical weekly rents have risen to $295.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with 67.3% of people driving to work. Very few people use public transport for commuting, at just 0.6%.
The area is relatively stable, with 35.6% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals have also fallen to 4.8%.
Far fewer adults are working or looking for work (44.2%) compared to the rest of the country. The most common industries for those employed are health care, construction, and retail.
The town is somewhat walkable, with a score of 5.5. While most homes are within a short walk of a school or park, only 61.9% of homes have a full 15-minute-city walkshed.