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Southern Downs vs Toowoomba South

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

State Electorate comparison ≈ 110 km apart · Southern Downs profile · Toowoomba South profile

Southern Downs Toowoomba South

Toowoomba South and Southern Downs are two distinct Queensland areas with very different layouts and populations. Toowoomba South is a more urban environment where 78.8% of homes are in a 15-minute-city walkshed and the typical resident is 37. Residents there are more likely to be university educated, with 23.4% holding a bachelor degree or higher, and 28.6% have arrived from overseas recently. In contrast, Southern Downs is a vast area where the typical resident is far older at 46. It is a more car-dependent region where 91.2% of homes are separate houses and 40.7% of dwellings are owned outright.

The gap in how many people have recently moved into these areas has widened since 2011, with 49.2% of Toowoomba South residents arriving in the last five years compared to 35.6% in Southern Downs. Despite these different growth paths, the two areas share several common traits. They have the same number of people per home (2.4) and very similar shares of people who do not identify with a religion, at around 31%. Both areas also have about a third of their residents living with a long-term health condition.

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Where they differ most

Separate houses: 16.4 pts higher in Southern Downs Recent arrivals: 16.4 pts higher in Toowoomba South Year 12: 15.3 pts higher in Toowoomba South Median age: 9 yrs older in Southern Downs Recent movers: 13.6 pts higher in Toowoomba South

Demographics & Identity

Population in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +7,594 larger in Toowoomba South gap narrowing

49,822 39th pct 57,416 52nd pct

Median age in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +9 yrs older in Southern Downs gap widening

46 yrs 88th pct 37 yrs 36th pct

Age structure

27.1% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +6.1 pts 21.0%

20.2% Young adults (25–44) +6.3 pts ▸ 26.5%

24.7% Seniors (65+) ◂ +4.4 pts 20.3%

17.9% Children (0–14) +1.1 pts ▸ 19.0%

10.1% Youth (15–24) +3.1 pts ▸ 13.2%

Marital status

49.0% Married ◂ +4.3 pts 44.7%

30.4% Never married +4.9 pts ▸ 35.3%

9.9% Divorced ◂ +0.4 pts 9.6%

6.8% Widowed +0.1 pts ▸ 6.9%

3.8% Separated ◂ +0.3 pts 3.6%

Age & sex structure

Southern Downs Toowoomba South

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

81.7% Australia ◂ +5.4 pts 76.3%

0.3% India +2.2 pts ▸ 2.5%

2.1% England ◂ +0.3 pts 1.8%

1.5% New Zealand ◂ +0.2 pts 1.3%

0.9% Philippines +0.3 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.0% Nepal +0.9 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.4% South Africa +0.4 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.1% China +0.5 pts ▸ 0.7%

0.4% Italy ◂ +0.3 pts 0.1%

0.0% Vietnam +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Ancestry

40.7% Australian ◂ +5.7 pts 35.0%

40.4% English ◂ +3.5 pts 37.0%

12.9% Irish ◂ +0.3 pts 12.6%

11.2% Scottish ◂ +0.6 pts 10.6%

6.9% German +2.9 pts ▸ 9.8%

3.3% Italian ◂ +1.6 pts 1.7%

0.4% Indian +2.0 pts ▸ 2.4%

0.8% Chinese +1.3 pts ▸ 2.1%

1.1% Filipino +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.1% Dutch +0.1 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.2% Greek +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Language

Language used at home

87.7% English only ◂ +7.4 pts 80.3%

0.4% Mandarin +0.8 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.0% Arabic +1.0 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.1% Punjabi +0.7 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.5% Italian ◂ +0.4 pts 0.1%

0.3% Tagalog +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Hindi +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Cantonese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.0% Greek even 0.0%

Religion

Religious affiliation

57.7% Christianity ◂ +3.9 pts 53.7%

30.9% No religion +0.6 pts ▸ 31.5%

10.1% Not stated ◂ +3.9 pts 6.2%

0.3% Hinduism +2.4 pts ▸ 2.7%

0.5% Other religions +2.2 pts ▸ 2.7%

0.1% Islam +1.8 pts ▸ 1.9%

0.4% Buddhism +0.8 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools/1k kids in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +3.85 more in Southern Downs

5.50 96th pct 1.65 35th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +31 more in Southern Downs

49 89th pct 18 43rd pct

Students in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +3,427 more in Toowoomba South

7,656 35th pct 11,083 64th pct

Avg size in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +459 larger in Toowoomba South

156 3rd pct 616 73rd pct

ICSEA in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +44 higher in Toowoomba South

956 14th pct 1,000 38th pct

Highest year of school

40.7% Year 12 +15.3 pts ▸ 56.1%

29.3% Year 10 ◂ +7.4 pts 21.9%

13.7% Year 9 or below ◂ +2.8 pts 10.9%

6.6% Year 11 ◂ +1.1 pts 5.5%

Highest qualification level

37.0% Certificate III / IV ◂ +6.9 pts 30.1%

16.3% Bachelor degree +9.1 pts ▸ 25.4%

13.1% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.2 pts ▸ 14.2%

3.1% Postgraduate degree +5.8 pts ▸ 8.9%

2.4% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.6 pts ▸ 4.0%

3.0% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.3 pts 2.7%

Field of qualification

13.3% Management & commerce +3.8 pts ▸ 17.1%

10.2% Health +4.3 pts ▸ 14.4%

14.0% Engineering & related ◂ +1.1 pts 12.9%

9.9% Society & culture +3.1 pts ▸ 13.1%

9.4% Education +0.8 pts ▸ 10.2%

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

5.5% Agriculture & environment ◂ +3.0 pts 2.5%

5.4% Architecture & building ◂ +1.0 pts 4.4%

0.9% Information technology +1.7 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.7% Creative arts +0.9 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.4% Natural & physical sciences +0.7 pts ▸ 2.1%

Income

Personal income in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +$131 higher in Toowoomba South gap widening

$619 10th pct $750 37th pct

Household income in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +$280 higher in Toowoomba South gap widening

$1,163 4th pct $1,443 26th pct

Family income in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +$382 higher in Toowoomba South gap widening

$1,450 6th pct $1,832 28th pct

Household income distribution

34.7% $650–$1,499 ◂ +3.9 pts 30.7%

25.3% $1,500–$2,999 +5.8 pts ▸ 31.1%

21.8% Under $650 ◂ +3.8 pts 18.0%

5.5% $3,000–$3,999 +1.9 pts ▸ 7.5%

3.8% $4,000 or more +2.5 pts ▸ 6.3%

Personal income distribution

46.7% Under $650 ◂ +5.2 pts 41.5%

31.2% $650–$1,499 +3.6 pts ▸ 34.8%

10.1% $1,500–$2,999 +5.1 pts ▸ 15.3%

1.7% $3,000 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 2.6%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

12.1% Arthritis ◂ +1.2 pts 10.9%

9.5% Mental health +1.9 pts ▸ 11.4%

9.5% Asthma +0.3 pts ▸ 9.8%

8.2% Other condition +1.1 pts ▸ 9.3%

5.9% Diabetes ◂ +0.5 pts 5.5%

5.4% Heart disease ◂ +0.4 pts 5.0%

3.6% Cancer ◂ +0.2 pts 3.4%

2.8% Lung condition ◂ +0.7 pts 2.1%

1.3% Stroke ◂ +0.1 pts 1.2%

0.8% Dementia +0.3 pts ▸ 1.2%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.4% None +3.7 pts ▸ 60.1%

20.9% One condition even 20.9%

7.7% Two conditions ◂ +0.1 pts 7.6%

4.5% Three or more ◂ +0.1 pts 4.4%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South even gap narrowing

2.4 29th pct 2.4 29th pct

Family composition

48.6% Couples with children +2.6 pts ▸ 51.2%

35.1% Couples without children ◂ +6.1 pts 29.0%

15.3% One-parent families +3.1 pts ▸ 18.3%

1.0% Other families +0.4 pts ▸ 1.4%

Household size

38.9% 2 people ◂ +4.1 pts 34.8%

29.1% 1 person +1.5 pts ▸ 30.6%

12.4% 3 people +1.7 pts ▸ 14.2%

10.7% 4 people +1.1 pts ▸ 11.8%

5.6% 5 people ◂ +0.2 pts 5.3%

3.2% 6 or more even 3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +$70 higher in Toowoomba South gap widening

$250 11th pct $320 32nd pct

Mortgage in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +$141 higher in Toowoomba South gap widening

$1,300 11th pct $1,441 18th pct

People / bedroom in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South even gap steady

0.70 0th pct 0.70 0th pct

How homes are owned or rented

40.7% Owned outright ◂ +10.7 pts 30.0%

26.4% Rented +12.1 pts ▸ 38.5%

27.6% Owned with a mortgage +0.1 pts ▸ 27.7%

3.3% Other tenure ◂ +0.8 pts 2.5%

2.0% Not stated ◂ +0.6 pts 1.4%

Types of homes

91.2% Separate house ◂ +16.4 pts 74.8%

6.1% Townhouse / semi-detached +14.6 pts ▸ 20.7%

1.2% Flat or apartment +2.9 pts ▸ 4.1%

1.0% Other dwelling ◂ +0.7 pts 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

42.1% 3 bedrooms +1.4 pts ▸ 43.6%

28.5% 4 bedrooms +1.0 pts ▸ 29.5%

16.6% 2 bedrooms +0.9 pts ▸ 17.5%

6.6% 5 or more ◂ +1.4 pts 5.1%

3.5% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.6 pts 2.9%

0.7% Studio / none ◂ +0.5 pts 0.2%

Weekly rent distribution

61.7% $200–$349 ◂ +7.0 pts 54.7%

10.9% $350–$549 +22.2 pts ▸ 33.1%

21.2% Under $200 ◂ +12.7 pts 8.5%

0.4% $550–$749 +0.8 pts ▸ 1.2%

0.4% $750 or more ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

Monthly mortgage distribution

41.4% $1,000–$1,799 +7.9 pts ▸ 49.3%

30.8% Under $1,000 ◂ +11.6 pts 19.2%

16.3% $1,800–$2,999 +4.9 pts ▸ 21.2%

5.4% $3,000 or more +0.4 pts ▸ 5.7%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +246 more in Toowoomba South

0 0th pct 246 46th pct

Stops/1k in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +4.28 more in Toowoomba South

0.00 0th pct 4.28 43rd pct

Departures/1k in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +397.6 more in Toowoomba South

0.0 0th pct 397.6 26th pct

PT routes in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +6 more in Toowoomba South

0 0th pct 6 9th pct

How people get to work

65.2% Car (driver) +5.7 pts ▸ 70.9%

10.3% Worked at home ◂ +4.0 pts 6.3%

5.4% Car (passenger) +1.0 pts ▸ 6.5%

4.7% Walked ◂ +2.7 pts 2.0%

0.4% Bicycle +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.3% Bus +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

33.9% 1 vehicle +7.5 pts ▸ 41.4%

37.0% 2 vehicles even 37.0%

14.8% 3 vehicles ◂ +4.6 pts 10.3%

9.5% 4 or more ◂ +5.2 pts 4.3%

4.8% No vehicle +2.2 pts ▸ 7.0%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

12.6% Health care & social assistance +10.1 pts ▸ 22.7%

17.8% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +15.5 pts 2.3%

8.5% Education & training +3.1 pts ▸ 11.6%

10.1% Retail trade ◂ +0.2 pts 9.9%

7.5% Construction ◂ +0.5 pts 7.0%

7.0% Manufacturing ◂ +0.9 pts 6.1%

7.0% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.1 pts 6.9%

4.2% Public administration & safety +1.3 pts ▸ 5.5%

4.9% Transport & warehousing ◂ +1.5 pts 3.3%

3.1% Professional & technical +1.8 pts ▸ 4.9%

3.8% Other services +0.5 pts ▸ 4.3%

1.1% Finance & insurance +1.6 pts ▸ 2.7%

Occupations people work in

12.4% Professionals +10.8 pts ▸ 23.2%

17.2% Managers ◂ +8.1 pts 9.2%

17.0% Labourers ◂ +5.8 pts 11.2%

11.4% Community & personal service +4.0 pts ▸ 15.4%

12.2% Technicians & trades +1.0 pts ▸ 13.2%

10.3% Clerical & administrative +2.0 pts ▸ 12.3%

9.3% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +4.1 pts 5.2%

8.3% Sales workers +0.6 pts ▸ 8.9%

Walkability

Walk score in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +3.7 higher in Toowoomba South

2.2 5th pct 5.9 55th pct

Types ≤15 min in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +3.4 more in Toowoomba South

2.5 6th pct 5.9 58th pct

15-min city in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +48.3 pts higher in Toowoomba South

30.5% 10th pct 78.8% 62nd pct

Walk to shops in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +37.8 pts higher in Toowoomba South

34.4% 12th pct 72.2% 58th pct

Walk to transit in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +80.5 pts higher in Toowoomba South

0.0% 0th pct 80.5% 39th pct

Walk to school in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +48.6 pts higher in Toowoomba South

38.6% 12th pct 87.3% 68th pct

Walk to a park in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +52.9 pts higher in Toowoomba South

46.2% 3rd pct 99.1% 65th pct

Walk to health in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +17.8 pts higher in Toowoomba South

28.0% 18th pct 45.8% 47th pct

Amenities/1k in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +2.5 more in Southern Downs

14.4 50th pct 11.9 29th pct

Intersections/km² in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +133 higher in Toowoomba South

0 4th pct 134 61st pct

Mean slope in Southern Downs in Toowoomba South +1.0 pts higher in Toowoomba South

5.2% 47th pct 6.2% 66th pct

Compare Southern Downs with nearby areas

Condamine Toowoomba South Toowoomba North Lockyer Northern Tablelands Lismore Ipswich West Scenic Rim

Compare Toowoomba South with nearby areas

Toowoomba North Lockyer Condamine Ipswich West Ipswich Moggill Bundamba Pine Rivers

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Southern Downs vs Toowoomba South [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sed/SED30077/southern-downs/vs/SED30087/toowoomba-south