Pioneer Valley

The area is notably young, with children under 15 making up 24.1% of the population—a figure well above the national average. It is also a place where de facto relationships are much more common than in most similar areas.

People born overseas make up only 5.8% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. The vast majority of residents have Australian, English, Irish or Scottish ancestry.

English is the primary language here, with only 1.5% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national average of 22.3%.

Nearly 38.2% of residents report having no religion, a figure that has risen by 17 points since 2011. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 47.4%.

Qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 8.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion has risen to 41.1% since 2011.

Incomes are generally strong, with a typical household earning $2,036 a week, which is higher than the national figure. The proportion of people earning $2,000 or more per week is also well above the state average.

Residents here enjoy better health than most, with far fewer people reporting long-term health conditions or mental health issues compared to the state and national averages.

Unpaid work is common, with a much higher percentage of people caring for children or doing housework than in most other areas. However, volunteering has fallen since 2011.

First Nations people in the valley are noticeably younger than the national average and have an unemployment rate of 5.5%, which is well below the national figure.

Homes tend to be larger, with 2.8 people per household, which is higher than the national average. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children.

The area is dominated by separate houses, making up 97.5% of all homes. Renting is far less common here than in the rest of the state, with only 17.7% of households renting.

Car use is essential, as 68.3% of people drive to work and very few use public transport. Only 1.6% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is much lower than most areas.

The community is relatively stable, with fewer people moving in the last five years than in most other areas. Recent arrivals from overseas have also fallen since 2011.

Full-time employment is much higher here than the national average at 64.7%. The workforce is heavily concentrated in mining, health, and education.

While residents have good access to money and resources, the area ranks lower for general education and job skills compared to most similar places.

The region is very wet, with average annual rainfall far above the Queensland average, while temperatures remain among the highest in the state.

Pioneer Valley is heavily car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services or public transport.