4497, QLD

The population is small and has shrunk by 18% since 2011. It is much more diverse in its Indigenous identity than most areas, with 8.6% of people identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and the typical resident is 42, making the area older than the state and national average.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 89.5% born here. Only 2.2% of residents were born overseas, a figure far below the national average, and most people claim Australian, English, or Irish ancestry.

English is the primary language for 90.5% of the population. Only 1.9% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure, and no one in the area reports speaking little or no English.

Religion remains common here, with 68.6% of residents identifying as Christian. Those with no religion make up 22.9% of the population, which is far below the national figure, although this group has grown by 14 points since 2011.

Educational qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 40.9% of people completing Year 12 and 8.6% holding a bachelor degree or higher. Much of the local expertise is practical, with 22.4% of qualifications centered on agriculture and the environment.

Typical weekly household incomes are $1,228, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. However, incomes have risen since 2011, and about 17.3% of households now earn $3,000 or more per week.

Residents report fewer long-term health issues than most other areas. Only 22.5% have a long-term health condition and 4.8% have a mental health condition, both of which are well below the state and national figures.

Volunteerism is very high at 27.5%, far above the national average of 14.1%. Conversely, fewer people are providing unpaid childcare or housework compared to most other areas.

Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.7 people per household. Most families are couples with children (67.3%), while one-parent families are much less common than in other areas.

The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 95.2% of dwellings. Home ownership is very high, with 43.3% of homes owned outright and typical weekly rents at just $132, far below the national figure.

Car dependence is total, as 0% of people use public transport and every single home has at least one motor vehicle. This is consistent with the high number of people (35.0%) who work from home.

The population is very stable, with only 22.9% of people having moved in the last five years. This is far below the national figure of 40.7% and represents a 12 point drop since 2011.

Employment is strongly tied to the land, with 68.3% of workers in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Full-time employment is very high at 69.4%, far above the national average.

The area sits right in the middle of the scale for overall advantage and job skills, ranking as a 5 out of 10 compared to all other areas.

The area is almost entirely car-dependent, with a very low walkability score of 1.1. Most homes are far from groceries, health services, and public transport, as 0% of residents live within a 15-minute walk of these essentials.