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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Walgett - Lightning Ridge is $300k. House values have moved 4.1% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Walgett - Lightning Ridge has an estimated 5,712 residents, up from 5,534 at the 2021 Census — a change of 178 people, or 3.2%. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to research conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Walgett - Lightning Ridge is close to 5,712 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 178 individuals (3.2%) from the 2021 Census, which registered 5,534 people. This adjustment is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 5,708 alongside 11 validated new addresses identified after the Census. With this population level, the density stands at 0.20 persons per square kilometer, indicating a spacious environment for residents. This 3.2% rise since the 2021 census outpaced both the SA3 area (1.3%) and the SA4 region, establishing the locality as a regional leader in population growth.
The expansion was chiefly fueled by natural increase, which accounted for approximately 64.5% of the total population gains in recent times. For each SA2 area, AreaSearch incorporates projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024, using 2022 as the base year. Where this data is unavailable, projections at the SA2 level from the NSW State Government released in 2022 with a 2021 base year are applied. Age cohort growth rates derived from these sources are also used for the years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead at demographic changes, this method projects a contraction in the overall population, with a loss of 1,520 persons by 2041. Despite the general decline, certain age groups are set to expand, particularly individuals aged 85 and over, who are expected to increase by 46 people. <i>See the age section for more details.</i>
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
23 new dwellings have been approved in Walgett - Lightning Ridge over the past five years, an average of 4 a year. That is 0.8 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 16, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Walgett - Lightning Ridge averages approximately 4 residential building approvals annually, resulting in 23 dwellings approved over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 15 during FY-26 so far. Because the population has decreased in recent times, this new supply has likely matched local demand, providing purchasers with suitable options while new properties are built at an average value of $301,000. Furthermore, commercial building approvals worth $18.3 million have been registered in the current financial year, demonstrating ongoing commercial investment. In comparison to the Rest of NSW, Walgett - Lightning Ridge registers roughly 59% of the per capita construction volume, placing it in the 10th percentile of analyzed localities across the country, which limits choices for buyers and helps sustain interest in established homes.
This level of building is also below the national average, highlighting the established state of the local market and pointing to possible planning constraints. Newly approved construction consists of 67.0% detached dwellings and 33.0% medium and high-density housing, showing a growing diversity of attached dwellings that provide options across different price points, ranging from large family residences to compact homes. Since the population is projected to remain stable or contract, Walgett - Lightning Ridge is likely to experience less pressure on its housing market, which could present favorable options for home buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Walgett - Lightning Ridge
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 42 current infrastructure and development projects close to Walgett - Lightning Ridge, worth an estimated $8.15 billion. 9 are already under construction and 15 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans transport & logistics, energy and environmental & disaster management. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Changes to local infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning decisions can significantly affect the performance of an area. AreaSearch has identified 0 projects that are expected to influence the locality. Key initiatives include the Inland Rail - Narromine to Narrabri, the Macquarie-Castlereagh Alluvium Water Resource Plan, the Castlereagh Country Regional Drought Resilience Plan, and the Newell Highway Upgrade, with details provided below for those of greatest local relevance.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Inland Rail - Narrabri to North Star - Phase One
Upgrade of approximately 171km of existing rail track and construction of new track to accommodate double-stacked freight trains as part of the broader Inland Rail project. This phase is now complete and operational.
Narrabri Gas Project
The Narrabri Gas Project involves the progressive development of up to 850 coal seam gas wells across 95,000 hectares in the Pilliga State Forest and surrounds, targeting the Gunnedah Basin approximately 600km north-west of Sydney. The project, 100 per cent committed to the domestic market, could supply up to half of NSW's natural gas needs at up to 200 terajoules per day over an estimated 25-year field life. Operations will occupy around 1,000 hectares, primarily on state land.The NSW IPC approved the project in August 2020, followed by federal environmental approval. The National Native Title Tribunal ruled in Santos' favour in May 2025 subject to 23 conditions; the Gomeroi people have lodged a further appeal with a Federal Court hearing scheduled for March 2026. The Environmental Impact Statement for the Narrabri Lateral Pipeline was publicly released in late 2025 with submissions closing December 2025. Santos has signed MOUs with ENGIE, Orica, and Narrabri Shire Council for domestic gas supply. A final investment decision is expected in 2026, subject to resolution of outstanding native title and pipeline approvals.
Moree Water Treatment Plant Upgrades
Planned upgrades to the Moree water treatment system to improve drinking water security, treatment reliability, monitoring and capacity. Current Moree Plains Shire planning documents continue to identify water treatment works under the Integrated Water Cycle Management program, alongside other water infrastructure upgrades across the shire.
Aboriginal Housing Development Program - Moree
Affordable housing program led by the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) to deliver culturally appropriate homes for Aboriginal families in Moree, with community-oriented features and design. Recent AHO activity in Moree includes delivery of modular duplex homes via contracted builders; this record tracks a broader 45-dwelling program across the township.
Moree Regional Airport Upgrades
Staged upgrades to Moree Regional Airport led by Moree Plains Shire Council to increase capacity and resilience for passenger, freight and aeromedical operations supporting the Moree Special Activation Precinct. A multi-stage apron expansion was completed in mid-2024, enabling regular Q400 aircraft operations and larger arrivals such as RAAF C130J-30 Hercules. In February 2025 the Australian Government committed 1 million AUD under the Regional Airports Program to upgrade the northern apron, taxiway and three parking bays, establishing a 24-hour aeromedical facility for emergency retrieval services.Earlier stages delivered runway, taxiway and apron lighting upgrades including a Precision Approach Path Indicator system, funded jointly by the NSW Restart NSW Fund, the Australian Government's National Stronger Regions Fund and Council. Further terminal and runway enhancements remain flagged in planning documents to align with growth from the adjoining Special Activation Precinct.
Moree Hospital Redevelopment
A 105 million AUD transformation of Moree Hospital delivering a new purpose-built Acute Services Building. Key features include an expanded emergency department, modern operating theatres, medical imaging, birthing and inpatient units, and pathology services. As of early 2026, the project has reached the structural phase with concrete pours finalized and works progressing on the roof and internal partitions, alongside the demolition of the Crane and Glennie buildings.
Inland Rail - Narrabri to North Star - Phase Two
Phase Two of the Narrabri to North Star project involves upgrading approximately 13km of existing track crossing the Mehi-Gwydir floodplain from Alice Street, Moree to the eastern side of the Moree Gun Club, plus construction of approximately 2km of new track at Camurra, north of Moree. The project includes 1,100 drainage culverts, redevelopment of nine level crossings, rebuilding of eight bridges, and a 1.3km spur to reconnect the Weemelah line. Environmental approvals are currently being finalized with DPHI, and site investigations are continuing through 2025.
Burnt and Derelict Housing Remediation Program
Program to remediate burnt and derelict housing throughout Moree, improving community safety and housing availability.
2,227 residents of Walgett - Lightning Ridge are employed, from a labour force of 2,398. Unemployment sits at 7.1%, with participation at 52.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The workforce in Walgett - Lightning Ridge is evenly distributed between white and blue collar jobs, with a solid representation in essential services, an unemployment rate of 7.1%, and an estimated job growth rate of 1.4% over the past year. As of March 2026, there are 2,227 employed residents, and the unemployment rate sits 3.0% higher than the Regional NSW average of 4.1%, showing potential for advancement, while participation in the labour force remains low at 52.4% compared to 60.6% in Regional NSW. Census data indicates that a moderate 15.1% of working locals did so from home, though this may have been influenced by pandemic lockdowns.
The primary employment fields for local residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, education & training, and health care & social assistance. The community shows a high level of specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, employing a share of workers that is 5.3 times the regional average. Conversely, construction accounts for only 3.5% of the local workforce, which is lower than the 9.7% recorded in Regional NSW. The relationship between the Census working population and resident population suggests a lack of local job opportunities. An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch shows that during the 12 months ending March 2026, employment expanded by 1.4% while the labour force contracted by 2.0%, leading to a 3.1 percentage point drop in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 0.9%, the labour force shrink by 0.4%, and unemployment rise by 0.5 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 offer additional context on future demand trends in Walgett - Lightning Ridge. These five- and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Across the nation, employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary significantly by sector. Mapping these industry-specific forecasts directly to the employment distribution of Walgett - Lightning Ridge indicates that local employment could grow by 5.2% over five years and 11.6% over ten years (note that this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustration purposes and excludes local population projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Walgett - Lightning Ridge is $991 a week (about $52,000 a year), with median personal income at $547 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $44,289 a year against an average of $51,660. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to the most recent postcode level ATO statistics released for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Walgett - Lightning Ridge SA2 earn a median income of $44,289, with an average of $51,660. These figures are below national averages, and compare to a median of $52,390 and an average of $65,215 across Regional NSW. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since the 2023 financial year, current estimated values would be around $48,860 for the median and $56,991 for the average as of March 2026. Census results place household, family, and individual incomes in Walgett - Lightning Ridge between the 3rd and 6th percentiles nationally.
Regarding income distribution, the $400 - 799 range is the most common, accounting for 28.2% of residents (1,610 people), which differs from the wider region where 29.9% earn between $1,500 - 2,999. The high proportion of lower-income earners (40.9% below $800/week) points to tight household budgets for a significant part of the community. Even though housing expenses are low with 89.9% of income being retained, total disposable income sits in only the 7th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Walgett - Lightning Ridge had 1,765 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 81% detached houses and 1% apartments. 17% are owned with a mortgage, 37% rented and 46% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $179 a week and the median mortgage repayment $852 a month. Rent absorbs 18.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 19.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the last Census, the housing stock in Walgett - Lightning Ridge consisted of 81.1% houses and 18.9% other dwelling types (including semi-detached properties, apartments, and alternative accommodation), compared to 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings in Regional NSW. Home ownership in Walgett - Lightning Ridge was notably higher than the regional average, standing at 46.0%, with the remaining properties occupied by mortgage holders (17.1%) or tenants (37.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the locality was $852, which is significantly lower than the Regional NSW average of $1,733, while the median weekly rent was $179, compared to $330 in Regional NSW.
On a national level, mortgage payments in Walgett - Lightning Ridge are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are also well below the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Walgett - Lightning Ridge counted 1,765 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.2 people each. 18% are couples with children, fewer than in 91% of areas nationally, against 27% couples without children. 37% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 59.0%, which is composed of 18.1% couples with children, 27.1% couples without children, and 12.6% single parents. The remaining 41.0% are non-family households, consisting of 37.3% single-person households and 3.5% group households. The median household size of 2.2 people is below the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
16.7% of adults in Walgett - Lightning Ridge hold a university qualification, including 13.6% with a bachelor degree and 1.4% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 81% of areas nationally. A further 32.1% hold a vocational qualification. 9 schools serve the area, with 875 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 803 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The region experiences educational challenges, with university completion rates (16.7%) sitting considerably lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This situation presents both an obstacle and a chance for focused educational development. Bachelor degrees represent the most common higher qualification at 13.6%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.7% and postgraduate degrees at 1.4%. Vocational and technical abilities are widely represented, with 43.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational qualifications, split between advanced diplomas (11.5%) and certificates (32.1%). Participation in study is quite high, with 39.3% of local residents currently participating in formal education.
This group is composed of 17.6% in primary school, 10.9% in secondary school, and 3.1% enrolled in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Walgett - Lightning Ridge reaches 243 stops on 28 routes, timetabled for about 300 services a week. The typical home sits about 1,840 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
An analysis of public transport reveals that there are 243 active transit stops in Walgett - Lightning Ridge, consisting of a combination of rail and bus services. These stops are served by 28 distinct routes, which provide a total of 296 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is considered low, with residents living an average of 1843 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential nature of the area, most workers commute to locations outside the area, with private vehicles being the primary mode of travel at 82%, followed by walking at 14%.
The average number of vehicles per household is 1.4. In the 2021 Census, 15.1% of residents reported working from home, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Service frequency across all routes averages 42 journeys per day, which translates to approximately 1 weekly trip per individual transit stop. The associated map displays the 100 closest stops relative to the center of the locality.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
63.5% of residents in Walgett - Lightning Ridge report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 89% of areas nationally. 5.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 45.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 8.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Analysis of mortality rates and the occurrence of chronic conditions by AreaSearch highlights notable health challenges in Walgett - Lightning Ridge, with common medical issues prevalent in both younger and older cohorts, alongside a very low rate of private health insurance coverage at roughly 46% of the population (~2,616 people). This compares to 51.9% in Regional NSW and a national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and asthma are the most common medical conditions reported in the locality, affecting 10.6% and 7.8% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 63.5% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, which is similar to the 63.3% rate in Regional NSW.
The workforce-aged population faces significant health challenges with elevated chronic illness rates. Residents aged 65 and over make up 23.7% of the local population (1,352 people), with national health rankings for this group being higher than the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Walgett - Lightning Ridge is largely Australian-born, at 88.9% of residents, with 6.8% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (27.0%) and English (23.2%). 20.7% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Walgett - Lightning Ridge displays lower levels of cultural diversity compared to average figures, with citizens accounting for 71.3% of the population, 88.9% of residents born in Australia, and 93.2% speaking only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, practiced by 57.7% of the local population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Looking at ancestral backgrounds (the birth countries of parents), the three most common heritages in Walgett - Lightning Ridge are Australian, representing 27.0% of the population, English, representing 23.2% of the population (which is lower than the regional average of 30.5%), and Australian Aboriginal, representing 20.7% of the population (which is higher than the regional average of 4.6%).
Furthermore, there are clear differences in the proportions of other ethnic groups: Serbian ancestry is represented at 0.8% in Walgett - Lightning Ridge (compared to 0.2% regionally), Hungarian at 0.4% (compared to 0.2%), and Croatian at 0.6% (compared to 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Walgett - Lightning Ridge is 44. 20.7% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age in Walgett - Lightning Ridge is 44 years, which is close to the Regional NSW average of 43 years and higher than the national median of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Walgett - Lightning Ridge has a larger proportion of residents aged 55 - 64 (14.8%) but fewer individuals aged 15 - 24 (9.2%). Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of people aged 75 to 84 has risen from 6.5% to 7.7%, and the 0 to 4 age group has grown from 6.2% to 7.3%, while the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 12.5% to 10.6%.
By 2041, the age profile of Walgett - Lightning Ridge is projected to undergo significant adjustments. Leading this shift, the cohort aged 85 and over is expected to grow by 36% (37 people), increasing from 102 to 140. This demographic aging trend is highlighted by the fact that residents aged 65 and older represent 100% of the expected population growth, whereas both the 75 to 84 and 0 to 4 age groups are projected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Walgett - Lightning Ridge
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 11 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (5,534 at the 2021 Census → 5,712 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (105011096). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.