Federal Electorate · Area profile
Petrie
150 km²
Rapid population growth has reshaped Petrie, with the community adding about 45,707 people since 2011. It is a large area with a notably young feel, as children under 15 make up nearly 20% of the population. This growth is matched by a high rate of mobility, with nearly half of all residents moving into the area in the last five years. These trends create a dynamic environment where family living is central to the community's character.
Petrie has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
Families are well catered for: 43 schools serve Petrie.
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The typical resident is 39 years old, though the area has a much higher proportion of children than most similar places. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has also risen to 3.5% since 2011.
People born overseas make up 27.2% of the population, which is well above the Queensland figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, while New Zealand is the most frequent overseas birthplace.
English is the primary language for 80.9% of residents, but the number of people using another language at home rose 6.0 percentage points since 2011 to 14.7%.
Almost half of the community identifies as Christian, though those with no religion now make up 40.1% of the population, a rise of 19 percentage points since 2011.
Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 20.2% of the population, which is well below the national figure. Year 12 completion rose 12 percentage points since 2011 to 57.7%.
Typical weekly family income is $2,009, which is about the same as the state and national figures. However, households earning $3,000 or more a week are less common here than in most other areas.
Mental health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 10.9% of residents. People needing help with daily activities also make up 7.0% of the population, which is higher than most areas.
A high proportion of people provide unpaid care for children—29.4%, which is well above the national figure. Interestingly, the area has a much higher rate of former Defence Force members than most similar places.
Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.6 people per household. One-parent families are also much more common than in most areas, making up 16.9% of households.
Renters are much more common here than elsewhere, accounting for 35.4% of households. Most homes are quite large, with 81.7% having three or more bedrooms, which is well above the national figure.
Most people drive to work, though 14.5% now work from home, a significant rise since 2016. Public transport use is slightly higher than the state average, though it takes about 12 minutes to walk to the nearest stop.
Petrie is a very mobile community, with 48.0% of residents arriving within the last five years, a rate well above the national average. However, the number of recent overseas arrivals fell 12 percentage points since 2011.
The unemployment rate is 5.7%, which is higher than in most similar areas. Many residents work in health care and social assistance, which is the most common industry for the local workforce.
The area is very walkable, with 87.8% of homes within a 10 minute walk of public transport. This is far above the Queensland figure and is consistent with 97.9% of homes being within 15 minutes of a park.