Lowood

The population has grown to 14,197 people, and the typical resident is now 41, which is noticeably older than the state and national average. Children under 15 make up 20.8% of the community, a figure much higher than most similar areas.

Lowood is predominantly Australian-born, with 82.8% born here. Only 11.4% of people were born overseas, which is far below both the Queensland and national figures.

English is the primary language for 91% of the community. Only 3.3% of people use another language at home, a rate well below the national figure.

People with no religion make up 44.1% of the population, which is well above the national average and has risen 21 points since 2011.

Educational qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 9.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion has risen 8 points since 2011 to reach 41.4%.

The typical family earns $1,625 a week, which is well below the national figure of $2,120. Only 13.3% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this has risen since 2011.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas; 35.9% of people have a long-term health condition and 13.3% live with a mental health condition.

Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 14.7% of people providing unpaid care—much higher than most areas. There is also a strong military connection, as 5.7% of residents served in the Defence Force.

First Nations people make up 5.8% of the population, and this community is much younger than the national average. However, unemployment is well above the national figure at 16.9%.

Families tend to be larger here, with an average of 2.7 people per home. One-parent families make up 17% of households, which is a little above the national figure.

Lowood is almost entirely made up of separate houses, with 97.1% of homes being detached. Large homes are the norm, as 87.2% of dwellings have three or more bedrooms.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 97.7% of homes owning at least one vehicle. Public transport use is very low, with only 0.5% of people commuting by transit.

The community is relatively stable, as the proportion of people who moved in the last five years is well below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals are also far fewer than in most areas.

Working or looking for work is less common here than in most areas, with 55% of adults participating. Local jobs are mostly in health care, construction, and manufacturing.

Lowood ranks low for overall advantage, particularly regarding education and job skills, which are among the lowest for similar areas.

The area sees 784mm of annual rainfall, which is far above the Queensland average. Maximum temperatures are much higher than most similar areas.

The area is very car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Most homes are not within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or schools.