Cherbourg

The community is overwhelmingly First Nations, with 96.4% of residents identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. It is far younger than the national average, with 35.1% of people under 15 and only 3.6% aged 65 and over.

Almost all residents were born in Australia, and there are no recorded overseas births in the area. This is far below the national figure where over a quarter of people were born abroad.

English is the primary language here, with only 2.3% of people using another language at home. This is much lower than most areas and has fallen since 2011.

About 45.6% of residents have no religion, a figure well above the national average. Christianity is also prominent at 48.6%.

Educational attainment is far below the state and national figures, with only 24.6% of residents completing Year 12. A small number of adults, 2.2%, hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Incomes are among the lowest in the region, with the typical family earning $803 a week. Only 4.9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the national figure.

Long-term health conditions are reported by 23.3% of people, which is well below the national average. Mental health conditions are also reported at a much lower rate than most areas.

Unpaid care is common here, with 41.9% of people caring for children, far above the national average. However, only 3.7% of residents volunteer, which is far below the state figure.

With 1,151 First Nations people, the community faces significant challenges, including a 20.6% unemployment rate and typical personal incomes well below the national average.

Families tend to be large, with 3.4 people per home. One-parent families are very common, making up 55.5% of households, a figure far above the state average.

Renting is nearly universal at 99.0%, and no homes are owned outright. The typical weekly rent is very low at $100, and most homes are separate houses.

Public transport is nonexistent, with no routes or stops in the area. Consequently, 57.8% of workers drive to work, though 38.3% of homes still have no motor vehicle.

The population is relatively stable; only 22.9% of residents moved in the last five years, which is far below the national average of 40.7%.

The unemployment rate is very high at 19.8%, though most of those who are employed work full-time. Many residents work in public administration, safety, or health care.

The area is ranked among the most disadvantaged in the region, with very low scores for access to money, resources, and job skills.

Cherbourg receives 698mm of annual rainfall, far above the Queensland average. Its typical maximum temperature is 27.5 degrees.

Recorded offences are among the highest at this level, particularly for assault, drug offences, and property damage, although the overall crime rate fell by 34.5% over five years.

While most homes are within a short walk of health services and schools, the area is mostly car-dependent because there are no groceries or public transport within walking distance.