Urban Centre · Area profile
Barmedman
1 km²
Far older than the national average, Barmedman (L) is a shrinking community where the typical resident is 53. The population has fallen by 31% since 2011, leaving a small group of 212 people. It is a place where many people live alone and nearly half the adults deal with long-term health conditions. While the area is very walkable for schools and parks, it lacks basic services like groceries and health clinics.
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The population is aging quickly, with the typical resident now 14 years older than the state average. A quarter of residents are seniors, and 5.7% are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, which is a little above the national figure.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas roots most commonly cite English, Australian, or Scottish ancestry. Only 10.8% were born overseas, far below the national figure of 27.7%.
English is the dominant language, with only 1.9% of people using another tongue at home, which is far below the national average. However, the number of people who speak little or no English has risen slightly since 2016.
Over half the community identifies as Christian, while 34.9% report no religion. This figure is a little above the New South Wales average and has risen by 14 points since 2011.
Educational qualifications are among the lowest in the region, with only 3.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure of 26.3%.
Incomes are very low here, with a typical weekly household earning $703, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 6.7% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health challenges are common, as 49.5% of people have a long-term health condition, far above the national average of 27.7%. This is reflected in the 15.6% who need help with daily activities.
Volunteerism is higher than most areas at 19.3%, and 15.3% of people provide unpaid care. This is well above the national figure, although the number of people caring for children has fallen since 2011.
The community has a high number of single-person homes, with 37.8% of people living alone. One-parent families make up 28.5% of the population, which is far above the national average.
Housing is dominated by separate houses, with 53.3% owned outright, far above the national figure. Rent is much lower than usual, with a typical weekly cost of $200.
Cars are essential for the 53.2% who drive to work, as no one in the area uses public transport to commute. Around 17% of the workforce now works from home.
The population is very stable, with only 24% moving in the last five years, far below the national average. No new arrivals from overseas were recorded in the latest census.
Job prospects are difficult, as the unemployment rate has risen to 20.4%, which is far above the national figure. Only 27.8% of adults are currently working or looking for work.
While every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park or school, the area is poorly served for essentials. There are no groceries or health services within a 15-minute walk.