Herberton

The area is far older than most, with 25.9% of people aged 65 and over, a figure that rose 8.2 points since 2011. About 14.1% of the population are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which is well above the Queensland average.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (11.0%) compared to the national figure of 27.7%. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language here, with only 4.0% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%, and very few residents speak little or no English.

About 41.7% of people report having no religion, which is about the same as the state average. This figure has risen 14 points since 2011, while Christianity remains common at 40.5%.

Educational attainment is among the lowest in the region, with only 8.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national average at 33.8%.

Incomes are among the lowest for similar areas, with a typical household earning $900 a week. Only 6.5% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the Queensland figure of 20.2%.

Health challenges are more common here, as 8.1% of people need help with daily activities. This is a little above the national figure, and long-term health conditions are also more frequent than in most areas.

Volunteer rates are well above the national average at 19.0%, though this has fallen slightly since 2011. A higher number of residents also provide unpaid care or do significant housework compared to most areas.

The First Nations community is large and relatively young, with a typical age of 22. However, this group faces significant challenges, including a 20.3% unemployment rate and household incomes well below the national average.

Homes tend to be small, with only 2.2 people per household. There is a high rate of people living alone (32.2%) and a much higher proportion of one-parent families than in most other areas.

Housing is dominated by separate houses (94.9%), and 47.8% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Rent is much lower here than elsewhere, with a typical weekly rent of $230.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 0% of residents using public transport to commute. Public transport is virtually non-existent, with no stops or routes serving the population.

The population is very stable, as only 30.4% of people moved in the last five years. This is far below the national figure of 40.7%, and recent overseas arrivals are among the lowest in the country.

Working or looking for work is far less common here than in the rest of the state, at 42.6%. The unemployment rate is 9.6%, which is well above the national average, with many residents working in agriculture.

Herberton is ranked among the most disadvantaged areas in the region. It scores very low for overall advantage, access to resources, and job skills compared to other similar areas.

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

The area is highly car-dependent, with a very low walkability score of 1.5. Most homes are far from essential services, with only 20% within a 15-minute walk of groceries.