Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Emerald
39 km²
A growing population of 14,089 people marks the recent trajectory of Emerald. This is a noticeably young community where the typical resident is just 32, making it far younger than the national average. Families are the norm here, and the town is a regional hub with a high number of schools and a workforce heavily involved in mining and trades. Its character is shaped by a mix of high household incomes and a transient population that frequently moves in and out of the area.
Despite high local incomes, the area's schools serve a less advantaged intake.
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Children under 15 make up 25.2% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 18.2%. This helps explain why the typical age is so low and why there are so few seniors, with only 7.0% of people aged 65 and over.
Most residents were born in Australia (76.9%), and the area has far fewer overseas-born residents than the national average. English, Irish, and Scottish ancestries are the most common heritage groups.
English is the primary language for 83.0% of the community. Only 8.2% of people use another language at home, which is far below the Australian average of 22.3%.
About 49.1% of people identify as Christian, while 38.0% report no religion. The number of people with no religion has risen by 19 points since 2011.
Qualification levels are lower than most areas, with only 14.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion has risen by 7.5 points since 2011 to reach 53.8%.
Incomes are much higher than in most areas, with a typical personal weekly income of $1,033. This is well above the national figure of $805, and 18.2% of people earn $2,000 or more per week.
Residents are generally healthier than the national average, with only 21.5% reporting a long-term health condition. The rate of people needing help with daily activities is also much lower than most areas at 3.5%.
Caring for children is common, with 33.2% of people providing this unpaid care, well above the national figure of 26.3%. Volunteering is also higher than most areas at 17.3%.
First Nations people make up 5.2% of the population. This group is noticeably younger than the wider community, with a typical age of 20, and they have a higher-than-average household income of $1,923.
Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.7 people per household. Couples with children make up the majority of families at 64.0%.
Renting is very common, with 44.7% of households renting, far above the national figure of 30.6%. Most homes are large, with 84.2% having three or more bedrooms.
The community is heavily reliant on cars, as 66.8% of people drive to work and there are no public transport stops in the area. Only 3.9% of people work from home, which is far below the national average.
The population is quite mobile, with 49.5% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 18.6% of the community, a figure well above the national average.
The job market is strong, with a very low unemployment rate of 3.3% and 73.7% of adults working or looking for work. Mining is the biggest industry, employing 18.7% of the workforce.
The town has a moderate overall advantage score of 976, which is slightly below the national average. It is home to 1,377 businesses, more than about 73% of similar areas.
The area is hot, with an average maximum temperature of 31.2 degrees. Rainfall is’ relatively low at 558mm annually, though this is well above the Queensland average.
The town is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 3.8. While 92.7% of homes are near a park, many residents live far from groceries and health services.