Tablelands

The community is significantly older than most, with seniors aged 65 and over making up 26.4% of the population. There is also a strong First Nations presence at 7.9%, which is well above the state and national figures.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas roots are far fewer than the national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Irish and Scottish.

English is the dominant language, with only 5.1% of people using another tongue at home. This is far below the national figure, though the number of people speaking other languages rose slightly since 2016.

Religion is less central for many here, as those with no religion rose by 10 points since 2016 to reach 40.1%. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 46%.

Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 13.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree. Year 12 completion has risen slightly to 42.2%, though this remains far below the national figure.

Earnings are much lower than in most areas, with a typical family income of $1,478 per week. This is well below the national figure of $2,120, though typical incomes have risen since 2016.

About 29.7% of residents live with a long-term health condition, with arthritis being the most common. A higher share of people need help with daily activities compared to most other areas.

Volunteering is common here, with 19.6% of people giving their time, which is well above the national average. There is also a high proportion of former Defence Force members.

The First Nations community is larger than in 80% of similar areas. However, this group faces challenges, with an unemployment rate of 15.0% and incomes well below the national average.

Homes are typically smaller than average with 2.3 people per dwelling. While 29.3% of people live alone, one-parent families are more common here than in most other areas.

Housing is overwhelmingly dominated by separate houses, and 44.7% of homes are owned outright, a figure far above the national average. Rent is much lower than usual, typically $260 per week.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 60.9% of workers driving to work. Public transport is almost non-existent, with zero recorded routes or stops in the area.

The community is relatively stable, as the share of people who moved in the last five years is well below the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas rose slightly to 9.5%.

Working life is often tied to the land, with 13.9% of people employed in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. The number of adults working or looking for work is far below the state average.

The region ranks lower than most for overall advantage, with a score of 3 out of 10. Despite this, population growth has been higher than in most other areas since 2021.

The area is much wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall of 885mm. It also experiences higher minimum temperatures than the Queensland average.

Crime rates are much higher than most areas, particularly for theft, burglary, and drug offences. Recorded offences have risen sharply, with a 81.4% increase over five years.

The region is highly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.0. Access to essentials is very limited, as only 25.1% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.