Southern Downs - West

The area has an older profile than most, with a typical age of 50 and 26.6% of people aged 65 and over, which is well above the national figure. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 5.4% of the population, a figure that has risen since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia (80.9%), and the area has a much lower proportion of overseas-born people (8.9%) compared to the rest of the state and country.

English is the primary language here, with 89.4% of people using it exclusively. Only 2.2% of residents use another language at home, which is far below the national average.

About 58.2% of the community identify as Christian. Those with no religion make up 30.0% of the population, a figure that has risen by 16 points since 2011, though it remains well below the national average.

Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 10.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the state and national figures at 37.0%.

Typical incomes are among the lowest at this level, with a typical weekly household income of $1,096. Only 9.1% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, which is far below the national figure.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, as 33.8% of people have a long-term health condition. Additionally, 7.6% of residents need help with daily activities, which is higher than the state average.

Volunteering is much more common here than elsewhere, with 20.5% of people volunteering. Unpaid care is also more frequent, with 14.0% of people providing such support.

There are 272 First Nations people in the area. While their unemployment rate of 3.8% is much lower than the national average, their typical weekly household income of $1,021 is well below the national figure.

Homes typically house 2.4 people. While many are couples with children (46.7%), one-parent families make up 14.3% of households, which is higher than in most similar areas.

Almost all homes are separate houses (96.8%), and 47.2% are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Typical weekly rent of $250 is much lower than the state and national averages.

The area is highly car-dependent, with 97.9% of homes owning a motor vehicle. Public transport is almost non-existent, with no routes or stops available in the area.

The population is relatively stable; only 31.2% of people moved in the last five years, which is far below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals are also very rare at 0.9%.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing are major employers for 21.4% of the workforce. Only 51.1% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national average.

The area is ranked low for overall advantage, with a score of 2 out of 10. Access to money, resources, and job skills are also lower than in most similar areas.

The area is cooler than the state average, with an average minimum temperature of 10.8 degrees. Annual rainfall is 666mm, which is far above the Queensland average.

With a walkability score of 1.2, the area is heavily car-dependent. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries (13.9%) or health services (19.1%).