Urban Centre · Area profile
Rylstone
2 km²
Set within the Mid-Western Regional area of New South Wales, Rylstone (L) is a small town where most people live in detached houses. It has become a significantly older community, with the typical resident now 54 years old. This shift is seen in the high number of seniors and the increasing number of people living alone. While the population shrank by about 24% since 2011, the town remains a highly walkable place with a strong spirit of volunteering.
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The community is far older than the national figure, with 34.3% of residents aged 65 or over. This senior population has grown quickly, rising 18 points since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen to 14.9%.
Most residents were born in Australia, accounting for 84.5% of the population. Those born overseas make up 9.8% of the community, which is far below the New South Wales figure of 29.3%.
English is the primary language for 92.9% of the town. Very few people use another language at home (3.4%), and there are no residents who speak little or no English.
Christianity is the most common faith at 59.6%. People reporting no religion make up 34.1% of the population, a figure that has risen 15 points since 2011.
About 13.2% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is more common than in most similar areas. However, the proportion of people who completed Year 12 is far below the national figure at 34.2%.
Typical weekly household income is $978, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. This decline is reflected in the typical personal income, which fell $131 since 2011 to reach $496 per week.
Long-term health conditions are far more common here than across Australia, affecting 39.4% of people. This is consistent with the older population, as 7.5% of residents now need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, with 22.1% of people pitching in. There is also a notably high proportion of former Defence Force members at 5.1%.
Living arrangements have shifted toward smaller households, with 39.6% of people now living alone. This is far above the national figure of 25.6%.
The town consists almost entirely of separate houses, and 46.6% are owned outright. This is far above the national figure, though typical weekly rent of $280 remains well below the national average.
Cars are the main way to get around, as 61.2% of people drive to work and no one uses public transport for commuting. Only 8.9% of the workforce works from home.
The community is relatively mobile, with 37.3% of people moving house in the last five years. However, there have been no recent arrivals from overseas since 2011.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work (44.9%) compared to the national figure of 61.1%. The unemployment rate is 6.7%, which is a little above the national figure.
Rylstone is very walkable, with 91.7% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a 'city' services. Access to health services and groceries is far above the state average.