Somerset

The community is noticeably older than the state and national average, with 21.5% of people aged 65 and over. While the proportion of children has fallen since 2011, the population has grown by 16% to reach 25,057 people.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 13.5% of the population, which is far below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries reported.

English is the primary language for 88.3% of the community. Only 5.1% of people use another language at home, a figure that is far below the national average but has risen since 2011.

About 40.7% of residents report having no religion, which is about the same as the Queensland average. This represents a significant increase of 19 percentage points since 2011.

Educational attainment is far below the national average, with only 10.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. While Year 12 completion has risen to 40.5%, this remains far below the state figure.

Typical weekly family income is $1,517, which is well below both the state and national figures. Only 12.2% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, though this is an increase since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 35.7% of people reporting a long-term health condition. People needing help with daily activities and those with mental health conditions are also among the highest at this level.

A higher proportion of residents provide unpaid care or do significant housework compared to most areas. There is also a strong history of service, with 5.6% of people having served in the Defence Force.

There are 1,172 First Nations people in the area, and their typical age is 23. Unemployment is a little above the national figure at 13.9%, and only 2.7% speak a First Nations language.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.6 people per dwelling. One-parent families make up 15.6% of households, which is slightly higher than the national average.

Detached houses are the norm for 96.8% of residents, far exceeding the national average. While 38.2% of homes are owned outright, typical weekly rents are $300, which is well below the national figure.

The area is highly car-dependent, with only 0.6% of people using public transport to commute. Very few homes lack a motor vehicle, and the drive time to the city is high at 100 minutes.

Movement into the area is relatively high, with 37.1% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 13.5% of the population.

About 52.9% of adults are working or looking for work, which is well below the national figure. Many residents work in manufacturing, health care, or construction.

The area has an overall advantage score of 913, which is lower than about 78% of similar areas. While it has over 2,300 businesses, it ranks poorly for education and job skills.

The region sees far more rain than the Queensland average, with 855mm annually. Both the average maximum and minimum temperatures are higher than most other areas.

The crime rate has risen by 34.5% over five years, a trend much higher than most areas. Rates of sexual offences, theft, and drug offences are notably higher than usual.

The area is very car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.8. Residents have very limited access to parks, schools, and health services within a 15-minute walk compared to the state average.