Council (LGA) · Area profile
North Burnett
19,670 km²
A car-dependent lifestyle defines North Burnett, where sprawling separate houses and a heavy reliance on driving are the norm. This is an ageing community, with a typical resident aged 49 and a high proportion of seniors. While the population has stayed steady at around 10,000, the area is marked by low typical incomes and a strong connection to the land, as many residents work in agriculture. It is a place where home ownership is common and the pace of life is slower than in the state's urban centres.
North Burnett is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The area is far older than the national figure, with 27.0% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population helps explain why the proportion of children under 15 has fallen to 15.8%, which is much lower than most similar areas.
Most residents were born in Australia, and only 10.2% were born overseas—a figure far below the national average of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 84.0% of the community. Only 5.5% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
Over half of the population identify as Christian, and 32.6% report no religion. The share of people with no religion has risen by 16 points since 2011.
Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 34.7% of residents completing Year 12. Only 8.6% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national average.
Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with the usual household earning $1,021 a week. Only 8.1% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the 22.6% seen across Australia.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 33.2% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is consistent with the older population, as 8.0% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is common, with 22.5% of people helping out—well above the national figure of 14.1%. However, the proportion of people caring for children unpaid is much lower than most areas.
First Nations people make up 7.0% of the population, which is well above the national average. This community faces significant gaps, with a typical personal income of $449, which is well below the national figure.
Homes tend to be smaller, with 2.2 people per dwelling. A high number of people live alone, at 31.4%, which is well above the national figure of 25.6%.
The area is dominated by separate houses, making up 93.7% of all homes. Stability is high, with 45.6% of homes owned outright—far above the national figure of 31.0%.
Cars are essential, as there are zero public transport stops in the area. Most people drive to work, and 15.3% work from home.
The community is relatively stable, with only 31.1% of people moving in the last five years. Interestingly, 27.0% of recent arrivals came from overseas, which is far above the national figure.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the primary industry, employing 33.4% of the workforce. While full-time employment is higher than most areas, the overall rate of people working or looking for work is well below the national average.
The region ranks low for overall advantage, scoring 2 out of 10 compared to all areas. This is reflected in low access to money and resources, as well as lower job skills.
The climate is warm, with average maximum temperatures that are much higher than most areas. Rainfall is also higher than the Queensland average, reaching 531mm.
The area has a higher rate of recorded offences than most places, with drug offences being particularly high. However, the robbery rate is much lower than typical.
The region is highly car-dependent with a walkability score of 1.9. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries (25.6%) or health services (30.7%) compared to the rest of the state.