Mareeba

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 14.3% of the population, which is far above the national figure. The community is noticeably older than the state and national average, with 20.6% of residents aged 65 and over.

English and Australian ancestries are most common, though Italian heritage is prominent at 10%. While 16.9% of people were born overseas, this is well below the Queensland average.

About 10.4% of residents use a language other than English at home, which is higher than most similar areas. Italian is the most common second language, spoken by 2.9% of the population.

Christianity is the most common faith at 43.6%, while 36.6% of people report no religion. This last figure has risen by 10 points since 2016.

Education levels are far below the national average, with only 12.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion has risen to 41.1%, though this remains well below the state figure.

Incomes are generally lower than in most areas, with the typical family earning $1,596 a week. This is well below the national figure of $2,120.

Long-term health conditions are less common here than in most areas, affecting 24.5% of people. Mental health conditions are also lower than the state and national averages.

Volunteering has fallen to 15.2% since 2016. The area has a higher rate of former Defence Force members compared to most similar areas.

The First Nations community is large, with 3,260 people living here. This group is noticeably older than the state average, and the unemployment rate is well above the national figure at 20.2%.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 16.8% of households. Typical home sizes are consistent with the state and national average of 2.5 people.

Detached houses are very common, accounting for 90.2% of homes. Home ownership is strong, with 39.6% of homes owned outright, which is far above the state average.

The area is almost entirely dependent on cars, with no public transport stops or routes available. Only 1.5% of people commute using public transport.

Recent arrivals from overseas have risen to 14.0% since 2016. However, the local population is generally stable, with fewer people moving in the last five years than in most other areas.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the biggest industries, employing 16.9% of the workforce. The unemployment rate is 5.9%, which is higher than in most similar areas.

Overall advantage and access to resources are low, with the area ranking smaller than about 70% of similar areas. The local economy is supported by 2,300 businesses.

The climate is very hot and wet, with average maximum temperatures among the highest at this level. Annual rainfall is far above the state average at 1,062mm.

Recorded offences are much higher than in most areas, with assault and burglary rates among the highest. Property damage and drug offences are also significantly elevated.

The area is heavily car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.6. Most homes are far from basic amenities, as only 23% are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.