Southern Downs - East

The population has grown by 6.5% since 2011 to reach 4,360 people. It is an ageing area where 26.9% are seniors, a figure well above the national average, while children under 15 make up only 15.4% of the community.

Born in Australia for the most part, only 7.8% of residents were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. The most common ancestries are Australian and English, followed by Irish and Scottish.

English is the dominant language here, with 90.8% of people using it at home. Only 2.1% use another language, a rate far below the national average.

About 61.6% of residents identify as Christian. Those reporting no religion make up 28.1%, which is much lower than the national figure, though this group has grown by 13 points since 2011.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 13.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 39.1% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national average of 58.8%.

Incomes are generally much lower than in the rest of the state. The typical weekly household income is $1,244, and only 11.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Residents are more likely to have health challenges, with 31.7% reporting a long-term condition. This is higher than most areas, and 6.8% of people need help with daily activities.

This is a community with high levels of civic engagement, as 20.9% of people volunteer. Unpaid care is also common, with 14.6% of people providing such support, well above the national average.

There are 169 First Nations people in the area. They are noticeably older than those in other areas, with a typical age of 28, though they face higher unemployment at 13.3% and lower Year 12 completion rates.

About 49.1% of families are couples with children. Most homes are occupied by two people, and the area has a much lower rate of one-parent families than the state average.

Housing is dominated by separate houses, which make up 98.3% of dwellings. A striking 48.2% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%.

The area is almost entirely car-dependent, with 0% of people commuting by public transport and 0 public transport stops available. Only 2.1% of homes do not have a motor vehicle.

The community is relatively stable, with only 31.7% of people moving in the last five years. This is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the main industries, employing 20.9% of the workforce. Overall, fewer adults are working or looking for work (56.5%) compared to the national average.

The area is considered to have low overall advantage, ranking in the bottom 30% of similar areas. This is partly due to lower scores for education and job skills.

The climate is cooler than the Queensland average, with a typical minimum temperature of 10.5 degrees and annual rainfall of 659mm.

The area is highly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 1.0. Only 11.5% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed, and almost no one lives within walking distance of public transport.