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Somerset vs Western Downs

Name: Somerset vs Western Downs — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Council (LGA) comparison ≈ 198 km apart · Somerset profile · Western Downs profile

Somerset Western Downs

Western Downs and Somerset are both regional Queensland areas with populations between 25,000 and 34,000. They differ most in their age and housing profiles; Western Downs is younger, with 21.4% of people under 15, while Somerset has a notably older population with 21.5% aged 65 and over. Renting is far more common in Western Downs, where 32.1% of households rent, compared to 20.7% in Somerset. Somerset also has better access to money and resources, scoring 7 out of 10 compared to 4 in Western Downs.

Both areas share a very similar typical weekly household income, around $1,300. This common ground exists alongside widening gaps in other areas, such as the age difference and the share of people who describe themselves as having no religion, which is now 10 points higher in Somerset. While Western Downs has more volunteers and a larger number of schools, Somerset has more public transport stops and a higher share of people born overseas.

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Where they differ most

Median age: 7 yrs older in Somerset Unpaid carers: 2.7 pts higher in Somerset Renting: 11.4 pts higher in Western Downs No religion: 10.0 pts higher in Somerset Separate houses: 6.6 pts higher in Somerset

Demographics & Identity

Population in Somerset in Western Downs +8,786 larger in Western Downs gap narrowing

25,057 63rd pct 33,843 68th pct

Median age in Somerset in Western Downs +7 yrs older in Somerset gap widening

45 yrs 67th pct 38 yrs 29th pct

Age structure

28.7% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +3.6 pts 25.1%

21.3% Young adults (25–44) +3.4 pts ▸ 24.7%

21.5% Seniors (65+) ◂ +4.4 pts 17.1%

18.3% Children (0–14) +3.1 pts ▸ 21.4%

10.2% Youth (15–24) +1.5 pts ▸ 11.7%

Marital status

49.3% Married ◂ +3.1 pts 46.2%

30.1% Never married +4.9 pts ▸ 35.0%

10.8% Divorced ◂ +2.0 pts 8.8%

5.4% Widowed +0.3 pts ▸ 5.6%

4.4% Separated ◂ +0.1 pts 4.3%

Age & sex structure

Somerset Western Downs

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

79.3% Australia +2.6 pts ▸ 81.9%

3.4% England ◂ +2.2 pts 1.2%

2.7% New Zealand ◂ +1.4 pts 1.4%

2.5% Philippines ◂ +1.0 pts 1.5%

0.4% South Africa +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% India +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.3% Vietnam ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.2% China ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.0% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.0% Italy even 0.0%

Ancestry

40.8% Australian +2.1 pts ▸ 42.9%

41.5% English ◂ +3.6 pts 37.8%

10.7% Scottish ◂ +1.2 pts 9.5%

10.1% Irish +0.3 pts ▸ 10.4%

10.2% German ◂ +1.4 pts 8.8%

2.7% Filipino ◂ +0.9 pts 1.7%

1.7% Dutch ◂ +0.7 pts 1.0%

1.3% Italian ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

0.6% Chinese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.3% Indian +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.4% Vietnamese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.3% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

88.3% English only ◂ +2.2 pts 86.1%

0.7% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

0.3% Vietnamese ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.3% Mandarin ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.0% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.1% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

0.1% Cantonese even 0.1%

0.0% Italian even 0.0%

0.0% Arabic even 0.0%

0.0% Greek even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

49.1% Christianity +7.8 pts ▸ 56.9%

40.7% No religion ◂ +10.0 pts 30.6%

8.8% Not stated +2.5 pts ▸ 11.3%

0.7% Buddhism ◂ +0.4 pts 0.3%

0.5% Other religions ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

0.1% Hinduism +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.2% Islam even 0.2%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Somerset in Western Downs +13 more in Western Downs

19 72nd pct 32 82nd pct

Schools/1k kids in Somerset in Western Downs +0.28 more in Western Downs

4.13 54th pct 4.42 57th pct

Students in Somerset in Western Downs +2,954 more in Western Downs

3,403 59th pct 6,357 70th pct

Avg size in Somerset in Western Downs +26 larger in Western Downs

179 42nd pct 205 46th pct

ICSEA in Somerset in Western Downs +5 higher in Somerset

953 38th pct 948 35th pct

Highest year of school

40.5% Year 12 +0.8 pts ▸ 41.2%

29.6% Year 10 ◂ +1.9 pts 27.8%

13.8% Year 9 or below ◂ +0.9 pts 12.9%

7.4% Year 11 ◂ +1.0 pts 6.4%

Highest qualification level

40.4% Certificate III / IV ◂ +2.6 pts 37.9%

13.6% Bachelor degree +2.2 pts ▸ 15.7%

14.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +2.2 pts 12.4%

3.3% Certificate I / II +0.4 pts ▸ 3.7%

2.6% Postgraduate degree ◂ +0.8 pts 1.8%

2.5% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.4 pts 2.0%

Field of qualification

17.5% Engineering & related ◂ +0.5 pts 17.1%

13.5% Management & commerce +0.4 pts ▸ 14.0%

11.1% Society & culture ◂ +2.9 pts 8.2%

9.6% Health ◂ +1.6 pts 8.1%

7.7% Education +0.9 pts ▸ 8.6%

6.4% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.8 pts 5.6%

3.7% Agriculture & environment +2.6 pts ▸ 6.3%

5.8% Architecture & building ◂ +1.3 pts 4.5%

1.8% Creative arts ◂ +0.7 pts 1.1%

1.2% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%

1.2% Information technology ◂ +0.3 pts 0.9%

Income

Personal income in Somerset in Western Downs +$96 higher in Western Downs gap steady

$620 20th pct $716 43rd pct

Household income in Somerset in Western Downs +$62 higher in Western Downs gap narrowing

$1,312 41st pct $1,374 48th pct

Family income in Somerset in Western Downs +$196 higher in Western Downs gap narrowing

$1,517 25th pct $1,713 44th pct

Household income distribution

32.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.6 pts 30.0%

27.3% $1,500–$2,999 +0.7 pts ▸ 28.0%

18.4% Under $650 +0.4 pts ▸ 18.7%

7.0% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +0.1 pts 6.9%

5.2% $4,000 or more +1.0 pts ▸ 6.3%

Personal income distribution

47.3% Under $650 ◂ +6.4 pts 40.9%

30.8% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.5 pts 30.2%

11.6% $1,500–$2,999 +2.6 pts ▸ 14.2%

1.7% $3,000 or more +1.1 pts ▸ 2.8%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

13.1% Arthritis ◂ +3.5 pts 9.5%

12.0% Mental health ◂ +2.2 pts 9.8%

10.7% Asthma ◂ +0.5 pts 10.2%

9.5% Other condition ◂ +2.3 pts 7.2%

6.4% Diabetes ◂ +1.0 pts 5.4%

5.5% Heart disease ◂ +1.1 pts 4.4%

4.0% Cancer ◂ +1.0 pts 3.0%

3.4% Lung condition ◂ +1.3 pts 2.1%

1.3% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

0.7% Dementia ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

Number of long-term health conditions

55.0% None +2.3 pts ▸ 57.3%

21.7% One condition ◂ +2.3 pts 19.4%

8.4% Two conditions ◂ +1.7 pts 6.7%

5.6% Three or more ◂ +1.5 pts 4.1%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Somerset in Western Downs +1,413 larger in Western Downs

1,172 67th pct 2,585 85th pct

Median age in Somerset in Western Downs +3 yrs older in Somerset

23 yrs 29th pct 20 yrs 7th pct

Median income in Somerset in Western Downs +$21 higher in Western Downs

$507 36th pct $528 43rd pct

Household income in Somerset in Western Downs +$80 higher in Somerset

$1,419 55th pct $1,339 46th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Somerset in Western Downs +0.1 larger in Somerset gap widening

2.6 79th pct 2.5 71st pct

Family composition

51.4% Couples with children +2.5 pts ▸ 53.9%

32.1% Couples without children ◂ +3.5 pts 28.6%

15.6% One-parent families +0.8 pts ▸ 16.3%

0.9% Other families +0.3 pts ▸ 1.2%

Household size

39.0% 2 people ◂ +3.1 pts 35.8%

23.0% 1 person +4.2 pts ▸ 27.2%

13.6% 3 people ◂ +0.1 pts 13.5%

13.4% 4 people ◂ +0.9 pts 12.5%

6.6% 5 people +0.2 pts ▸ 6.7%

4.5% 6 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 4.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Somerset in Western Downs +$60 higher in Somerset gap widening

$300 63rd pct $240 43rd pct

Mortgage in Somerset in Western Downs +$200 higher in Somerset gap steady

$1,500 56th pct $1,300 43rd pct

People / bedroom in Somerset in Western Downs even gap steady

0.80 43rd pct 0.80 43rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

38.2% Owned outright ◂ +4.3 pts 33.9%

36.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +9.3 pts 27.5%

20.7% Rented +11.4 pts ▸ 32.1%

2.0% Other tenure +2.6 pts ▸ 4.6%

2.3% Not stated ◂ +0.3 pts 2.0%

Types of homes

96.8% Separate house ◂ +6.6 pts 90.2%

1.7% Townhouse / semi-detached +5.8 pts ▸ 7.5%

1.1% Other dwelling even 1.1%

0.2% Flat or apartment +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

Bedrooms per home

39.4% 3 bedrooms +1.7 pts ▸ 41.1%

35.5% 4 bedrooms ◂ +3.0 pts 32.5%

12.6% 2 bedrooms +0.2 pts ▸ 12.8%

7.4% 5 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 7.5%

2.5% 1 bedroom +1.0 pts ▸ 3.5%

0.5% Studio / none +0.2 pts ▸ 0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

59.4% $200–$349 +1.8 pts ▸ 61.2%

9.6% Under $200 +16.3 pts ▸ 25.8%

24.6% $350–$549 ◂ +18.5 pts 6.1%

1.3% $550–$749 ◂ +1.1 pts 0.2%

0.6% $750 or more ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

42.8% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +4.9 pts 37.9%

21.5% Under $1,000 +11.0 pts ▸ 32.4%

24.2% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +7.8 pts 16.3%

5.8% $3,000 or more +0.8 pts ▸ 6.6%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Somerset in Western Downs +18 more in Somerset

18 44th pct 0 0th pct

Stops/1k in Somerset in Western Downs +0.72 more in Somerset

0.72 25th pct 0.00 0th pct

Departures/1k in Somerset in Western Downs +8.2 more in Somerset

8.2 29th pct 0.0 0th pct

PT routes in Somerset in Western Downs +1 more in Somerset

1 29th pct 0 0th pct

Drive to city in Somerset in Western Downs

100 72nd pct —

How people get to work

62.9% Car (driver) ◂ +1.1 pts 61.7%

12.5% Worked at home even 12.5%

5.1% Car (passenger) +0.3 pts ▸ 5.5%

2.7% Walked +2.5 pts ▸ 5.2%

0.4% Bus +0.8 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.2% Bicycle +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Train ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

38.6% 2 vehicles ◂ +2.0 pts 36.6%

29.0% 1 vehicle +3.7 pts ▸ 32.7%

18.1% 3 vehicles ◂ +1.8 pts 16.3%

11.8% 4 or more ◂ +1.8 pts 10.0%

2.5% No vehicle +2.0 pts ▸ 4.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

8.4% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +10.0 pts ▸ 18.4%

12.1% Manufacturing ◂ +7.3 pts 4.8%

11.9% Health care & social assistance ◂ +3.0 pts 8.9%

8.2% Retail trade +1.3 pts ▸ 9.5%

9.1% Construction ◂ +0.5 pts 8.6%

8.4% Education & training ◂ +0.2 pts 8.1%

6.5% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.3 pts 5.2%

4.8% Accommodation & food +1.1 pts ▸ 5.9%

5.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.6 pts 4.1%

1.7% Mining +2.2 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.3% Other services +0.5 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.6% Professional & technical ◂ +0.6 pts 3.0%

Occupations people work in

13.4% Managers +5.8 pts ▸ 19.2%

16.7% Labourers ◂ +1.8 pts 14.9%

15.5% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.1 pts 15.4%

12.7% Community & personal service ◂ +3.4 pts 9.2%

11.0% Professionals +0.4 pts ▸ 11.5%

11.2% Clerical & administrative ◂ +0.3 pts 10.8%

9.3% Machinery operators & drivers +0.2 pts ▸ 9.5%

7.6% Sales workers +0.1 pts ▸ 7.7%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Somerset in Western Downs even

3 29th pct 3 29th pct

IRSD decile in Somerset in Western Downs even

3 29th pct 3 29th pct

IER decile in Somerset in Western Downs +3 higher in Somerset

7 64th pct 4 36th pct

IEO decile in Somerset in Western Downs +1 higher in Western Downs

2 14th pct 3 29th pct

IRSAD score in Somerset in Western Downs +9 higher in Western Downs

913 23rd pct 922 27th pct

ERP in Somerset in Western Downs +8,516 higher in Western Downs

26,936 62nd pct 35,452 67th pct

Growth in Somerset in Western Downs +2.9 pts higher in Somerset

6.1% 71st pct 3.2% 46th pct

Businesses in Somerset in Western Downs +2,832 higher in Western Downs

2,382 60th pct 5,214 74th pct

Approvals in Somerset in Western Downs +80 higher in Somerset

144 64th pct 64 53rd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Somerset in Western Downs +305 higher in Somerset

855 70th pct 551 38th pct

Max temp in Somerset in Western Downs +1.7 higher in Western Downs

26.7 72nd pct 28.4 79th pct

Min temp in Somerset in Western Downs +0.5 higher in Somerset

13.1 71st pct 12.5 66th pct

Crime & Safety

Crime rate in Somerset in Western Downs +7,054 higher in Western Downs

9,195 56th pct 16,249 86th pct

Assault/100k in Somerset in Western Downs +100 higher in Western Downs

1,050 55th pct 1,149 60th pct

Sexual/100k in Somerset in Western Downs +35 higher in Somerset

387 78th pct 352 73rd pct

Robbery/100k in Somerset in Western Downs

— 18 37th pct

Burglary/100k in Somerset in Western Downs +378 higher in Western Downs

503 49th pct 881 78th pct

Theft/100k in Somerset in Western Downs +777 higher in Western Downs

1,844 71st pct 2,621 87th pct

Vehicle theft/100k in Somerset in Western Downs +179 higher in Western Downs

243 32nd pct 423 59th pct

Property damage/100k in Somerset in Western Downs +269 higher in Western Downs

774 53rd pct 1,043 72nd pct

Drugs/100k in Somerset in Western Downs +1,496 higher in Western Downs

782 68th pct 2,278 89th pct

5-yr change in Somerset in Western Downs +31.4 pts higher in Somerset

34.5% 81st pct 3.1% 41st pct

Walkability

Walk score in Somerset in Western Downs +0.4 higher in Western Downs

1.8 11th pct 2.2 14th pct

Types ≤15 min in Somerset in Western Downs +0.5 more in Western Downs

1.9 10th pct 2.4 15th pct

15-min city in Somerset in Western Downs +8.9 pts higher in Western Downs

22.4% 12th pct 31.3% 21st pct

Walk to shops in Somerset in Western Downs +8.3 pts higher in Western Downs

23.7% 13th pct 31.9% 23rd pct

Walk to transit in Somerset in Western Downs +11.1 pts higher in Somerset

11.1% 24th pct 0.0% 0th pct

Walk to school in Somerset in Western Downs +17.1 pts higher in Western Downs

20.3% 10th pct 37.5% 23rd pct

Walk to a park in Somerset in Western Downs +8.0 pts higher in Western Downs

35.2% 11th pct 43.2% 14th pct

Walk to health in Somerset in Western Downs +7.0 pts higher in Western Downs

21.0% 20th pct 28.0% 30th pct

Amenities/1k in Somerset in Western Downs even

13.4 26th pct 13.4 25th pct

Intersections/km² in Somerset in Western Downs +0 higher in Somerset

1 45th pct 0 29th pct

Mean slope in Somerset in Western Downs +4.4 pts higher in Somerset

8.3% 89th pct 3.9% 36th pct

Compare Somerset with nearby areas

Moreton Bay Sunshine Coast Lockyer Valley Brisbane Ipswich Gympie Noosa Cherbourg

Compare Western Downs with nearby areas

South Burnett Goondiwindi Toowoomba Cherbourg North Burnett Banana Lockyer Valley Somerset

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Somerset vs Western Downs [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/lga/LGA36580/somerset/vs/LGA37310/western-downs