Council (LGA) · Area profile
Gladstone
10,484 km²
Far fewer people are born overseas in Gladstone compared to the national figure, with only 13.3% of the population arriving from abroad. This is a growing community of over 63,000 people, where families with children are common and the typical resident is 38. It is a place where traditional industries like manufacturing and construction play a big role. While it feels like a typical Queensland town in age, it stands out for having a much larger proportion of children and a noticeably higher First Nations population.
Gladstone has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
A fast-growing area where schools haven't kept pace per child.
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The community is relatively young, with 21.5% of people being children under 15, which is well above the national figure. First Nations people make up 6.2% of the population, a figure that has risen since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas roots most commonly cite English, Scottish, or Irish ancestry. The percentage of people born overseas is far below the national average.
English is the primary language for 87.4% of the community. Only 5.7% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
A large number of residents report no religion, at 45.8%, which is well above the national average. This figure has risen sharply by 22 points since 2011.
Technical training is common here, with 45% of people holding a Certificate III or IV. However, only 12% of adults have a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national figure.
Typical family incomes are $2,048 a week, and 13.6% of people earn over $2,000 weekly, which is a little above the national average.
About 27.5% of people live with a long-term health condition, with mental health being the most reported. 5.8% of residents need help with daily activities, which is about the same as the national figure.
Unpaid care for children is very common, with 29.3% of people doing so, which is much higher than in most similar areas.
The First Nations community is quite young, with a typical age of 20. However, the unemployment rate for this group is 18.7%, which is well above the national figure.
Families with children are common, making up 55.9% of households. People per home is 2.5, which is about the same as the national average.
Large homes are the norm, with 81.9% having three or more bedrooms. Renting is more common than in most areas, with 33.4% of households paying rent.
Most people rely on cars, with 68.6% driving to work and only 0.7% using public transport. Very few people work from home compared to the rest of the country.
The population is quite mobile, as 41.8% of people moved in the last five years. This is a little above the national average.
Full-time work is more common here than nationally, at 62.8%. Many residents work in manufacturing, construction, or as technicians and tradespeople, though the unemployment rate is a little above the national figure.
The area has seen strong population growth of 7.4% since 2021. However, it ranks lower than most areas for overall advantage and job skills.
The area is warmer than most, with an average maximum temperature of 28.5 degrees. Rainfall is also far above the Queensland average, at 758mm annually.
Recorded offences are much higher than in most similar areas. Drug offences are among the highest at this level, and burglary rates are also much higher than usual.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score well below the state average. Only 37% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.