Urban Centre · Area profile
Werris Creek
5 km²
A compact town in the Liverpool Plains, Werris Creek is a very walkable community with a population of 1,349. The area has aged significantly since 2011, with the typical resident now 50 and a high proportion of seniors. It is a place of contrasts, where a strong Aboriginal presence and a high rate of home ownership coexist with low typical incomes. The town's size has shrunk by 34% over the last decade, creating a quieter, older residential character.
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The area is far older than the national figure, with 30.5% of people aged 65 and over. There is a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of 23.5%, which has risen 22 points since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and very few people were born overseas, at just 4.1%. This is far below the national figure of 27.7%.
English is the primary language here, with 90.1% of people using it exclusively. Only 2.5% use another language at home, which is far below the state and national averages.
More than half of residents identify as Christian (58.4%). Those with no religion make up 31.7% of the population, a figure that rose 16 points since 2011.
Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 4.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree. Only 22.3% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure.
Typical weekly household income is $917, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. This low income is consistent with the fact that only 7.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are common here, with 42.8% of people living with a long-term condition. This includes a high rate of mental health conditions (12.5%) and 11.4% of people needing help with daily activities.
Unpaid care is a common feature of life here, with 16.0% of people providing such support, which is well above the national average. However, the proportion of people caring for children has fallen 11 points since 2011.
Living arrangements are varied, with 36.3% of people living alone. One-parent families are far more common than in most areas, making up 26.9% of households.
Housing is mostly detached houses (96.2%), and 48.3% of homes are owned outright. This high rate of ownership helps explain why the typical monthly mortgage payment is just $867, far below the state average.
Most people drive to work (62.4%), and 9.1% of homes have no motor vehicle. Only 9.2% of the workforce works from home, far below the national figure.
The population is relatively stable, with 31.7% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.
Unemployment is a significant issue at 10.0%, which is well above the national rate. Only 40.8% of adults are working or looking for work, a drop of 27 points since 2011.
The town is very walkable, with 86% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a variety of amenities. Access to health services and groceries is far above the state average.