Urban Centre · Area profile
Wongarbon
5 km²
Daily life in Wongarbon revolves around large family homes and a strong connection to the land. This is a young community where over a quarter of the population are children, and the typical resident is just 36. It is distinctive for its high Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, which rose to 16.7% by 2021. While the total population shrank by 29% since 2011, the area remains a hub for families and full-time workers in the Dubbo region.
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The area is much younger than most, with children under 15 making up 26.9% of the population. This is alongside a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, which is far above the national figure of 3.2%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the proportion of people born overseas is far below the national figure at only 5.3%. This has fallen from 12% in 2011.
English is the dominant language here, with only 0.8% of people using another tongue at home. This is far below the New South Wales average of 26.6%.
About 54.6% of people identify as Christian. Those with no religion make up 36.8% of the community, a figure that rose 20 points since 2011.
Educational qualifications are lower than the national figure, with only 12.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 33.6% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the state average.
Typical weekly personal income is $840, which is about the same as the national figure. However, the typical family income of $2,016 is much higher than in most similar areas.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than nationally, affecting 34.4% of people. Mental health conditions are particularly prevalent at 12.8%, which is well above the national figure.
Family responsibilities are high, with 36.2% of people providing unpaid childcare, a figure far above the state average. This is consistent with the high number of children in the area.
Homes are larger than usual, typically holding 2.9 people. One-parent families make up 18.2% of households, which is well above the national figure of 14.1%.
Every single home in Wongarbon is a separate house, and 90.8% have three or more bedrooms. While 56.8% of homes have a mortgage, the typical monthly payment of $1,509 is well below the state average.
Cars are essential here, as 73.1% of workers drive to get to their jobs and no one uses public transport to commute. Most homes have at least two vehicles.
The community is relatively stable, with only 28.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is far below the national figure of 40.7%.
More people are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas, with 65.4% employed full-time. The most common industries are health care, construction, and education.
The area is somewhat walkable, with many homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries and schools. However, there are no health services within a 15-minute walk.