Tara

The community is far older than the state average, with 21.9% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population has grown by 7.2 percentage points since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen by 5.1 points.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people than the national figure. English and Scottish are the most common ancestries after Australian.

English is the dominant language, with only 3% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

About 50.9% of residents identify as Christian. While the number of people with no religion has risen 15 points since 2011, it remains well below the state and national figures.

Qualifications are among the lowest for similar areas, with only 7.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure, though it has risen 5.4 points since 2011.

Typical weekly household income is $945, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 6.1% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, among the lowest at this level.

Health challenges are common here, as 35.9% of people have a long-term health condition. About 10.8% of residents need help with daily activities, which is well above the national average.

Volunteering is much higher than in most areas, though it has fallen 5.3 points since 2011. People are also more likely to do a large amount of unpaid housework than the national average.

First Nations people make up 8.6% of the population, well above the national figure. This group faces significant challenges, with an unemployment rate of 23% and typical personal incomes well below the state average.

More people live alone here than in most areas, and one-parent families are more common than the national average. Households are generally smaller, with 2.3 people per home.

Home ownership is very high, with 51.4% of homes owned outright. Most people live in separate houses, and typical weekly rents are among the lowest in the country at $180.

The area is almost entirely car-dependent, with no public transport stops. This is reflected in the fact that 50.8% of people drive to work, while only 0.4% use a bus.

The population is relatively stable, as far fewer people have moved house in the last five years compared to the state average. Recent arrivals from overseas are also much lower than the national figure.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the main industry, employing 39.3% of the workforce. While full-time employment is high, the overall unemployment rate is among the highest at this level at 10.2%.

Tara is ranked among the most disadvantaged areas in the country, with a very low score for access to money, resources, and job skills.

The area sees an average annual rainfall of 555mm, which is well above the Queensland average. Maximum temperatures are among the highest for similar areas, averaging 28.3 degrees.

The town is heavily car-dependent, with a very low walkability score. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or a park.