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Toowoomba vs Wide Bay

Name: Toowoomba vs Wide Bay — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 223 km apart · Toowoomba profile · Wide Bay profile

Toowoomba Wide Bay

Wide Bay and Toowoomba are two distinct Queensland regions with very different demographic profiles. Wide Bay is far older, with a typical resident aged 49 compared to 37 in Toowoomba. Home ownership is also more common in Wide Bay, where 42.5% of homes are owned outright, 11.4 percentage points higher than in Toowoomba. In contrast, Toowoomba is much more connected and diverse; it has a higher share of people with bachelor degrees (20.1% versus 10.8%) and far more recent overseas arrivals at 26.4% compared to 9.5% in Wide Bay.

Everyday life shares some similarities in both places, such as similar rates of people living alone and a nearly identical share of the population that has served in the Defence Force. However, many of the gaps between them are widening. Since 2011, the age difference has grown and the gap in Year 12 completion has increased, with Toowoomba now 15.2 percentage points higher. While Wide Bay is mostly car-dependent, Toowoomba is somewhat walkable, a contrast reflected in its far higher number of public transport stops and services within walking distance.

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Where they differ most

Population: 145,686 larger in Wide Bay Median age: 12 yrs older in Wide Bay Recent arrivals: 16.8 pts higher in Toowoomba Year 12: 15.2 pts higher in Toowoomba Participation: 13.8 pts higher in Toowoomba

Demographics & Identity

Population in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +145,686 larger in Wide Bay gap steady

162,059 37th pct 307,745 71st pct

Median age in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +12 yrs older in Wide Bay gap widening

37 yrs 29th pct 49 yrs 97th pct

Age structure

23.3% Older adults (45–64) +4.2 pts ▸ 27.5%

18.4% Seniors (65+) +8.9 pts ▸ 27.3%

25.5% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +6.3 pts 19.2%

19.6% Children (0–14) ◂ +3.6 pts 16.1%

13.1% Youth (15–24) ◂ +3.3 pts 9.9%

Marital status

47.4% Married ◂ +0.2 pts 47.2%

34.6% Never married ◂ +5.0 pts 29.6%

8.9% Divorced +3.0 pts ▸ 11.9%

5.6% Widowed +1.4 pts ▸ 6.9%

3.5% Separated +0.8 pts ▸ 4.4%

Age & sex structure

Toowoomba Wide Bay

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

79.8% Australia ◂ +0.1 pts 79.7%

1.9% England +1.8 pts ▸ 3.7%

1.5% New Zealand +1.0 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.4% India ◂ +1.1 pts 0.3%

0.9% Philippines ◂ +0.1 pts 0.7%

0.7% South Africa ◂ +0.2 pts 0.5%

0.5% China ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.4% Nepal ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.1% Italy +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Vietnam even 0.1%

Ancestry

38.6% English +4.6 pts ▸ 43.2%

37.7% Australian +1.9 pts ▸ 39.5%

12.6% Irish ◂ +2.2 pts 10.3%

11.0% German ◂ +2.6 pts 8.4%

10.8% Scottish ◂ +0.3 pts 10.6%

1.7% Italian +0.2 pts ▸ 1.9%

1.6% Chinese ◂ +0.8 pts 0.7%

1.4% Dutch even 1.5%

1.4% Indian ◂ +0.9 pts 0.5%

1.1% Filipino ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%

0.2% Greek even 0.2%

0.2% Vietnamese even 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

84.6% English only +4.4 pts ▸ 89.0%

1.0% Mandarin ◂ +0.7 pts 0.3%

0.6% Arabic ◂ +0.5 pts 0.1%

0.5% Punjabi ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.3% Tagalog ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

0.2% Hindi ◂ +0.2 pts 0.1%

0.2% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Italian even 0.2%

0.1% Vietnamese even 0.1%

0.0% Greek even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

54.7% Christianity ◂ +6.5 pts 48.2%

32.9% No religion +7.8 pts ▸ 40.7%

6.6% Not stated +2.6 pts ▸ 9.2%

2.1% Other religions ◂ +1.6 pts 0.5%

1.5% Hinduism ◂ +1.2 pts 0.3%

1.2% Islam ◂ +0.9 pts 0.3%

1.0% Buddhism ◂ +0.2 pts 0.7%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +93 more in Wide Bay

70 16th pct 163 88th pct

Schools/1k kids in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +1.09 more in Wide Bay

2.20 51st pct 3.29 72nd pct

Students in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +15,169 more in Wide Bay

30,536 30th pct 45,705 56th pct

Avg size in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +154 larger in Toowoomba

436 49th pct 282 29th pct

ICSEA in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +40 higher in Toowoomba

1,007 46th pct 967 18th pct

Highest year of school

53.3% Year 12 ◂ +15.2 pts 38.1%

23.8% Year 10 +7.5 pts ▸ 31.3%

10.8% Year 9 or below +3.7 pts ▸ 14.5%

5.9% Year 11 +1.7 pts ▸ 7.6%

Highest qualification level

33.3% Certificate III / IV +6.9 pts ▸ 40.2%

22.9% Bachelor degree ◂ +8.3 pts 14.5%

14.7% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +0.9 pts 13.8%

7.0% Postgraduate degree ◂ +4.1 pts 2.9%

3.7% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.3 pts 2.4%

2.8% Certificate I / II +0.5 pts ▸ 3.3%

Field of qualification

16.6% Management & commerce ◂ +3.1 pts 13.5%

14.4% Engineering & related +2.1 pts ▸ 16.5%

13.0% Health ◂ +2.3 pts 10.7%

12.1% Society & culture ◂ +0.6 pts 11.5%

9.9% Education ◂ +1.3 pts 8.6%

5.8% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.5 pts ▸ 6.3%

5.3% Architecture & building +0.9 pts ▸ 6.2%

3.1% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.1 pts 3.0%

2.4% Creative arts ◂ +0.8 pts 1.6%

2.0% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.7 pts 1.3%

1.9% Information technology ◂ +0.8 pts 1.1%

Income

Personal income in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +$201 higher in Toowoomba gap widening

$758 43rd pct $557 0th pct

Household income in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +$406 higher in Toowoomba gap widening

$1,502 35th pct $1,096 0th pct

Family income in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +$542 higher in Toowoomba gap widening

$1,892 40th pct $1,350 0th pct

Household income distribution

29.7% $650–$1,499 +6.1 pts ▸ 35.9%

30.5% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +7.3 pts 23.3%

16.5% Under $650 +6.7 pts ▸ 23.2%

8.5% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +3.3 pts 5.3%

7.3% $4,000 or more ◂ +3.4 pts 3.9%

Personal income distribution

41.1% Under $650 +10.3 pts ▸ 51.4%

34.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +5.7 pts 28.3%

15.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +6.2 pts 9.7%

2.7% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.1 pts 1.6%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

10.4% Arthritis +4.6 pts ▸ 15.0%

11.1% Mental health +0.9 pts ▸ 12.1%

8.9% Other condition +1.4 pts ▸ 10.2%

9.7% Asthma +0.1 pts ▸ 9.8%

4.6% Heart disease +2.0 pts ▸ 6.6%

5.1% Diabetes +1.6 pts ▸ 6.6%

3.3% Cancer +1.2 pts ▸ 4.5%

2.0% Lung condition +2.1 pts ▸ 4.1%

1.1% Stroke +0.5 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.9% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 1.1%

Number of long-term health conditions

60.3% None ◂ +7.9 pts 52.4%

20.8% One condition +1.7 pts ▸ 22.5%

7.2% Two conditions +2.1 pts ▸ 9.2%

4.0% Three or more +2.1 pts ▸ 6.1%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +9,101 larger in Wide Bay

7,739 63rd pct 16,840 86th pct

Median age in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +3 yrs older in Wide Bay

20 yrs 0th pct 23 yrs 29th pct

Median income in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +$119 higher in Toowoomba

$595 52nd pct $476 17th pct

Household income in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +$280 higher in Toowoomba

$1,492 45th pct $1,212 8th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +0.2 larger in Toowoomba gap widening

2.5 57th pct 2.3 14th pct

Family composition

54.3% Couples with children ◂ +9.8 pts 44.5%

28.8% Couples without children +8.4 pts ▸ 37.2%

15.8% One-parent families +1.5 pts ▸ 17.3%

1.2% Other families ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

Household size

35.5% 2 people +5.6 pts ▸ 41.1%

27.1% 1 person +0.9 pts ▸ 28.0%

14.4% 3 people ◂ +1.7 pts 12.7%

13.1% 4 people ◂ +2.8 pts 10.3%

6.2% 5 people ◂ +1.3 pts 4.9%

3.8% 6 or more ◂ +0.7 pts 3.1%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +$30 higher in Toowoomba gap widening

$310 35th pct $280 25th pct

Mortgage in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +$217 higher in Toowoomba gap steady

$1,517 29th pct $1,300 14th pct

People / bedroom in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +0.10 higher in Wide Bay gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

31.1% Owned outright +11.4 pts ▸ 42.5%

33.0% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +4.9 pts 28.1%

32.9% Rented ◂ +7.8 pts 25.1%

1.7% Other tenure +0.6 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.3% Not stated +0.8 pts ▸ 2.1%

Types of homes

81.3% Separate house +6.5 pts ▸ 87.8%

14.1% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +7.8 pts 6.3%

4.1% Flat or apartment ◂ +0.4 pts 3.7%

0.3% Other dwelling +1.4 pts ▸ 1.7%

Bedrooms per home

40.0% 3 bedrooms +3.1 pts ▸ 43.2%

33.1% 4 bedrooms ◂ +5.6 pts 27.5%

15.5% 2 bedrooms +1.2 pts ▸ 16.7%

7.4% 5 or more ◂ +2.0 pts 5.4%

2.5% 1 bedroom +1.8 pts ▸ 4.3%

0.2% Studio / none +0.7 pts ▸ 0.9%

Weekly rent distribution

55.7% $200–$349 +0.4 pts ▸ 56.1%

29.0% $350–$549 ◂ +7.2 pts 21.8%

10.6% Under $200 +6.5 pts ▸ 17.1%

1.5% $550–$749 ◂ +0.6 pts 0.9%

0.4% $750 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

44.4% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +0.9 pts 43.5%

17.6% Under $1,000 +11.5 pts ▸ 29.2%

26.1% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +9.3 pts 16.8%

7.0% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.6 pts 4.4%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +143 more in Toowoomba

612 24th pct 469 14th pct

Stops/1k in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +2.25 more in Toowoomba

3.78 26th pct 1.52 7th pct

Departures/1k in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +282.1 more in Toowoomba

346.2 31st pct 64.2 5th pct

PT routes in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +25 more in Wide Bay

9 6th pct 34 19th pct

How people get to work

69.9% Car (driver) ◂ +2.3 pts 67.6%

7.3% Worked at home +0.6 pts ▸ 7.9%

6.1% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.2 pts 5.9%

2.3% Walked +0.6 pts ▸ 2.9%

0.4% Bus +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% Bicycle even 0.5%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

37.8% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.7 pts 36.2%

35.8% 1 vehicle +1.5 pts ▸ 37.3%

13.1% 3 vehicles +0.2 pts ▸ 13.3%

7.5% 4 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 7.7%

5.6% No vehicle ◂ +0.2 pts 5.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

18.7% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.6 pts 18.1%

11.0% Education & training ◂ +2.3 pts 8.7%

9.4% Retail trade +1.1 pts ▸ 10.5%

8.4% Construction +0.3 pts ▸ 8.6%

4.6% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +3.6 pts ▸ 8.2%

6.2% Accommodation & food +0.8 pts ▸ 6.9%

6.7% Manufacturing ◂ +0.1 pts 6.7%

5.9% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.7 pts 5.2%

4.8% Professional & technical ◂ +1.7 pts 3.1%

4.2% Other services ◂ +0.2 pts 4.0%

3.9% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.4 pts 3.5%

2.5% Administrative & support +0.5 pts ▸ 3.0%

Occupations people work in

20.4% Professionals ◂ +5.8 pts 14.6%

12.1% Labourers +2.7 pts ▸ 14.8%

13.5% Community & personal service +1.0 pts ▸ 14.5%

14.2% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.3 pts 13.9%

12.5% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.5 pts 11.0%

10.7% Managers +1.1 pts ▸ 11.8%

8.7% Sales workers +0.7 pts ▸ 9.5%

6.2% Machinery operators & drivers +1.8 pts ▸ 7.9%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +159,963 higher in Wide Bay

175,707 25th pct 335,670 63rd pct

Growth in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +1.0 pts higher in Wide Bay

7.1% 63rd pct 8.0% 72nd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +72 higher in Toowoomba

707 38th pct 635 29th pct

Max temp in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +1.2 higher in Wide Bay

28.1 87th pct 29.3 89th pct

Min temp in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +1.6 higher in Wide Bay

12.6 64th pct 14.3 81st pct

Walkability

Walk score in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +2.2 higher in Toowoomba

4.8 46th pct 2.6 7th pct

Types ≤15 min in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +2.0 more in Toowoomba

4.7 47th pct 2.8 8th pct

15-min city in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +27.7 pts higher in Toowoomba

58.5% 50th pct 30.8% 8th pct

Walk to shops in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +20.6 pts higher in Toowoomba

57.3% 50th pct 36.7% 11th pct

Walk to transit in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +41.1 pts higher in Toowoomba

63.1% 36th pct 22.0% 8th pct

Walk to school in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +27.5 pts higher in Toowoomba

64.1% 50th pct 36.6% 10th pct

Walk to a park in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +26.9 pts higher in Toowoomba

84.7% 46th pct 57.8% 9th pct

Walk to health in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +18.1 pts higher in Toowoomba

40.9% 46th pct 22.8% 8th pct

Amenities/1k in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +1.8 more in Toowoomba

13.3 27th pct 11.6 13th pct

Intersections/km² in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +8 higher in Toowoomba

9 45th pct 1 20th pct

Mean slope in Toowoomba in Wide Bay +0.8 pts higher in Toowoomba

6.7% 75th pct 5.9% 59th pct

Compare Toowoomba with nearby areas

Ipswich Brisbane - West Moreton Bay - North Moreton Bay - South Brisbane Inner City Brisbane - South Brisbane - North Logan - Beaudesert Brisbane - East Sunshine Coast Gold Coast Richmond - Tweed

Compare Wide Bay with nearby areas

Moreton Bay - North Sunshine Coast Toowoomba Moreton Bay - South Brisbane - North Ipswich Brisbane - West Brisbane Inner City Brisbane - South Brisbane - East Central Queensland Logan - Beaudesert

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Toowoomba vs Wide Bay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/317/toowoomba/vs/319/wide-bay