Council (LGA) · Area profile
Cook
105,718 km²
A far higher proportion of people identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in Cook, where 21.1% of the population are First Nations people. This community is noticeably older than the national average, with a typical resident aged 42. It is a place of contrasts, featuring a high number of people living alone and a significant presence of overseas arrivals, yet it faces challenges with lower typical incomes. The population grew by 8.6% since 2011, reflecting a steady increase in this vast region.
Explore Cook by topic
The population is older than the state and national average, and the number of seniors aged 65 and over rose 7.4 points since 2011. De facto relationships are well above the national figure, while the typical age of residents is 42.
Most residents were born in Australia, though the proportion of people born overseas fell 9.1 points since 2011 to 14.1%. Australian and English are the most common ancestries reported.
About 9.7% of people use a language other than English at home, which is higher than most similar areas but still well below the state average. Very few people speak little or no English.
The number of people reporting no religion rose 17 points since 2011 to 39.5%. This is about the same as the national figure, with Christianity also being a common affiliation at 38%.
Education levels are far below the national average, with only 37.7% of people completing Year 12. However, the number of adults with a bachelor degree or higher rose 3.7 points since 2011.
Incomes are much lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly household earning $1,159. While the number of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 7.8 points since 2011, typical pay remains well below that of the rest of the state.
Residents report much lower rates of long-term health conditions and mental health conditions compared to the state and nation. Only 3.8% of people need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is slightly above the national average at 16.4%, though this fell 3.1 points since 2011. The area also has a much higher rate of former Defence Force members than most similar places.
First Nations people in Cook are noticeably older than those in the state and nation, with a typical age of 28. Nearly 20% speak a First Nations language, which is well above the national figure.
A much higher proportion of people live alone compared to the rest of Australia, at 35.1%. One-parent families are also well above the national average.
Detached houses are far more common here than nationally, and typical weekly rent is far below the national figure at $200. However, a high 34.4% of households are renting.
Public transport use is a little above the national average, though there are no public transport stops or routes in the area. About 8.4% of homes have no motor vehicle.
Recent arrivals from overseas rose 9.2 points since 2011 to 21.7%, a figure that is well above the national average. About 36.3% of people moved in the last five years.
Adults working or looking for work are far below the national average, and the unemployment rate is slightly higher than the state. Full-time employment is well above the national figure at 63.3%.
The area is ranked as having low overall advantage, with a score of 912, which is lower than about 78% of similar areas. It has 410 businesses in total.
Cook is very rainy compared to the rest of Queensland, with an average annual rainfall of 1,454mm. Minimum temperatures are also well above the state average.
The recorded offence rate is among the highest in the country, with very high rates of property damage, burglary, and drug offences. Property damage is one of the most common crime types.
The area is heavily car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or public transport.