Federal Electorate · Area profile
Herbert
1,020 km²
Daily life in Herbert is centered around a young, growing population where many people work full-time and raise families. The community is notably younger than the national average, with the typical resident being 35 and a high proportion of children under 15. With over 164,000 people and a significant Indigenous population, it is a diverse area where separate houses are common. This combination of young families and a strong workforce gives the region a distinct, active character.
55 schools within reach make Herbert convenient for families.
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Herbert is noticeably younger than the rest of Australia, with the typical resident aged 35. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is well above the state figure at 9.7%, and the number of children under 15 is much higher than in most similar areas.
The area is predominantly Australian-born, with 78.6% born here. The proportion of people born overseas is far below the national figure, and English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 83.8% of residents, and the share of people using another language at home is well below the state and national averages. Very few residents speak little or no English.
Nearly 41% of people report having no religion, a figure that rose by 19 percentage points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 47.4%.
Adults with a bachelor degree or higher are well below the national average at 17.7%. While the share of people who completed Year 12 is also lower than the state figure, it has risen by 7 percentage points since 2011.
Typical personal weekly income is $849, which is about the same as the national figure. While the typical family income is around $2,042, the share of households earning $3,000 or more a week is lower than in most areas.
Mental health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 10.5% of residents. Overall, long-term health conditions are reported at a rate of 28.7%, which is about the same as the national figure.
A high proportion of the community has served in the Defence Force, well above the state and national figures. Unpaid care for children is also more common here than in most areas.
One-parent families are well above the national average at 18.6%, and there is a higher rate of people living alone than usual. Most homes contain between one and two people.
Renting is much more common than in most areas, with 39% of households renting. While separate houses are the most common type of home, the share of homes owned outright is well below the national average.
The area relies heavily on cars, with only 1% of people commuting by public transport. Working from home is very rare here, at only 5% compared to the national figure of 21%.
Movement is relatively high, with 43.6% of the population having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 14.1% of the community, which is about the same as the national average.
Full-time employment is well above the national average at 62.9%. Most residents work in health care, social assistance, or public administration and safety.
Most residents live within a short walk of a park or public transport, though access to groceries and health services is lower than the state average. The area is considered somewhat walkable.