Western Downs

The population is relatively young, with 21.4% being children under 15, which is well above the national figure. First Nations people make up 7.6% of the community, a proportion that has risen by 3.2 percentage points since 2011.

This is a predominantly Australian-born community, with only 7.9% of people born overseas, which is far below both the state and national figures. English, Irish, and Scottish are the most common ancestries after Australian.

English is the primary language for 86.1% of residents. Only 4.1% of people use another language at home, far lower than the 22.3% seen across Australia.

Over half the population identifies as Christian, and 30.6% have no religion. This lack of religious affiliation is much lower than in most other similar areas.

Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 10.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The region has a high number of schools, with 32 serving the community.

Typical weekly household income is $1,374, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more per week rose by 7.3 percentage points since 2011.

Daily living needs are higher than in most areas, with 6.4% of people requiring help. Mental health conditions are also more common here than in most other similar places.

Volunteering is very strong, with 19.5% of residents giving their time, well above the national average of 14.1%. About a quarter of the community also provide unpaid childcare.

First Nations people in Western Downs are noticeably younger than those in the rest of the state, with a typical age of 20. Unemployment for this group is 13.3%, which is a little above the national figure.

Families tend to be larger here, with 2.5 people per home. One-parent families make up 16.3% of the community, which is higher than in most similar areas.

The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 90.2% of all dwellings. Homes are typically large, with 81.1% having three or more bedrooms.

Residents are heavily reliant on cars, as 61.7% drive to work and there are no public transport stops or routes available in the area.

The community has seen a significant influx of people from overseas, with recent arrivals making up 19.7% of the population, which is well above the national average.

Full-time employment is much higher here than in most areas at 64.5%. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the biggest industries, employing 18.4% of the workforce.

The region hosts 5,214 businesses, making it larger than about 75% of similar areas. However, its overall advantage score is lower than about 74% of other areas.

The area is warmer than most, with an average maximum temperature of 28.4 degrees. Annual rainfall is 551mm, which is well above the Queensland average.

The recorded offence rate is much higher than in most areas. Drug offences are among the highest at this level, and theft is the most common crime.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.2. Very few residents can walk to public transport, health services, or groceries within 15 minutes.