Bribie Island

The typical resident is 63, making Bribie Island far older than the Queensland average. While the number of seniors rose 11 points since 2011, children under 15 now make up only 9.1% of the population, which is well below the national figure.

Most residents were born in Australia, though 22% were born overseas. English is the most common ancestry at 48.7%, followed by Australian and Irish heritage.

English is the primary language for 91.4% of the community. Only 3.8% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national average.

Over half of the population identifies as Christian, while 36.9% report no religion. The proportion of people with no religion has risen significantly by 18 points since 2011.

Educational qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 12.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 39.1%.

Incomes are among the lowest for similar areas, with a typical household earning $961 a week. This is far below the Queensland figure of $1,675.

Health needs are high, as 45.6% of residents have a long-term health condition. Around 10.6% need help with daily activities, which is well above the national average.

The area has a strong history of service, with a very high proportion of former Defence Force members. Unpaid care is also common, with 14.3% of people providing unpaid support, though far fewer people are caring for children.

There are 587 First Nations people living here, and they tend to be far older than the national average, with a typical age of 39.

Homes are typically small, with only 2.0 people per dwelling. About 32.4% of people live alone, which is much higher than in most other areas.

Home ownership is very high, with 53.7% of homes owned outright. Renting is far less common here than across Queensland, at just 22.6%.

Most people rely on cars, and only 0.9% commute by public transport. The drive to the city is quite long, averaging 190 minutes.

The community is quite mobile, with 46% of people moving house in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas have fallen sharply since 2011.

Working age residents are fewer here, with only 34.5% of adults working or looking for work. This is far below the state average and consistent with the high number of retirees.

Bribie Island ranks lower than most areas for overall advantage, with a score of 3 out of 10. This reflects lower typical incomes and a lower level of formal job skills.

The island receives much more rainfall than the Queensland average, with 1,414mm annually. Summer temperatures are milder than the state average.

The area is somewhat walkable, with 98.4% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park. Most residents can easily walk to public transport and groceries, though few are within walking distance of a school.