Urban Centre · Area profile
Boggabri
6 km²
An older population defines Boggabri, where the typical resident is 43 and nearly a quarter of the community are seniors. The town has grown by 41% since 2011, reaching a population of 885 people. It is a place where nearly 14% of residents identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which is far above the national figure. This growth and demographic shift occur in a setting where most people live in detached houses and have a strong connection to the local area.
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The community is noticeably older than the state and national averages, with 24.6% of people aged 65 and over. While the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population remains far above the national figure at 13.9%, this is a significant drop from 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has one of the lowest proportions of overseas-born people at 4.3%. Those with overseas heritage most commonly cite English, Scottish, or Irish ancestry.
English is the primary language for the vast majority of the town, with only 1.9% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure and has remained stable since 2011.
Christianity is the most common faith, with 52% of residents identifying as such. Those with no religion make up 28.9% of the population, which is well below the national figure.
Educational qualifications are lower than most areas, with only 6.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The most common qualification is a Certificate III or IV, held by 34.6% of residents.
Typical weekly household income is $1,335, which is well below the national figure. However, 12.3% of people earn $2,000 or more a week, a figure that has risen significantly since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 35.3% of people living with a long-term health condition. Nearly 10% of residents need help with daily activities, which is well above the national average.
Volunteering is strong, with 17.4% of residents volunteering, a figure well above the national average. Conversely, the number of people performing unpaid housework or childcare has fallen since 2011.
Many residents live alone—35.6% of households—which is far above the national figure. This helps explain why the average household size of 2.2 people is lower than the national typical of 2.5.
The town is dominated by separate houses, making up 94% of dwellings. Home ownership is strong, with 38.7% of homes owned outright, while the typical weekly rent of $300 is well below the state average.
Cars are the primary way to get to work, though 7% of people now commute via public transport, a figure that has risen since 2011. Only 3.1% of homes have no motor vehicle.
About a third of the population moved in the last five years. Interestingly, recent arrivals from overseas make up 39.5% of the community, which is far above the national figure.
Mining is a major local employer, accounting for 26.3% of jobs, with many residents working as machinery operators and drivers. Full-time employment is far above the national average at 68%.
Boggabri is very walkable, with 82.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of local amenities. Residents have particularly easy access to health services and groceries compared to the state average.