Council (LGA) · Area profile
Fraser Coast
7,105 km²
A larger-than-average regional hub, Fraser Coast is a community where retirees and older residents are far more common than in most similar areas. The typical resident is 51, and about 30% of the population is aged 65 or over. This older profile helps explain why the area has a very high rate of people needing help with daily activities. While the population has grown by 16% since 2011, the region remains a quiet, car-dependent place with a distinctively older feel.
The area's schools rate above its broader socio-economic standing.
A fast-growing area where schools haven't kept pace per child.
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The population is far older than the national figure, with the typical resident aged 51. Seniors make up 30.2% of the community, a figure far above the 17.2% seen across Australia.
Most residents were born in Australia, but 15% were born overseas, which is higher than in most similar areas. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for the vast majority of residents. Only 3.9% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
About 41.5% of people report having no religion, which is about the same as the Queensland figure. This represents a significant increase of 20 percentage points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 11% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national average of 26.3%.
Typical incomes are much lower than in most areas; the usual weekly household income is $1,062, which is far below the national figure of $1,746.
Health challenges are more common here than in most similar areas. About 40.3% of residents have a long-term health condition, and 10.8% need help with daily activities.
Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 14.5% of people providing such support, among the highest at this level. There is also a higher-than-average number of former Defence Force members.
The First Nations community consists of 5,647 people. Unemployment is much higher here at 18%, well above the national rate of 12.3%.
One-parent families are much more common than in most areas, at 17.5%. About 27.6% of people live alone, which is a little above the national average.
Home ownership is very strong, with 44.7% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%. Separate houses make up 86.9% of all dwellings.
The area is almost entirely dependent on cars, with only 0.4% of people using public transport to get to work. Very few homes work from home, at just 7.2%.
The region sees significant movement, with 43.1% of people having moved in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas have fallen since 2011.
The unemployment rate is 8.5%, which is well above the national figure of 5.1%. Health care and social assistance is the largest employer.
Overall advantage is low compared to other areas, with a score of 890. Despite this, the population has grown by 9.7% since 2021, which is higher than most areas.
The region is wetter than most of Queensland, with an average annual rainfall of 901mm. Summer temperatures are a little lower than the state average.
Recorded offences are higher than in most areas, with theft and drug offences being the most common. The crime rate has risen by 27.8% over the last five years.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.4. This is far below the Queensland average, and almost no homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport.