Northern Highlands

About 8.4% of residents are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which is well above the national figure. The typical resident is 38, and the area has a high rate of de facto relationships compared to most similar places.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 5% born overseas, a figure far below the national average. Most people identify with Australian, English, or Irish ancestry.

English is the primary language here, as only 1.7% of people use another language at home. This is far below the national figure, and almost everyone speaks English well.

Christianity is the most common faith at 54.6%. While 27.7% of people report no religion, this is far below the national figure, though it has risen by 14 points since 2011.

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 39.2% of residents completing Year 12. Only 9.4% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national average.

Typical weekly personal income is $914, which is a little above the national figure. However, typical household income is a little below the national average at $1,502 per week.

Residents are generally healthier than those in most similar areas, with a much lower rate of long-term health conditions and mental health issues than the state average.

Volunteering is very common here, with 24.1% of people pitching in, which is far above the national figure. However, fewer people provide unpaid care or do housework compared to other areas.

First Nations residents are noticeably older than those in the rest of the state, with a typical age of 29. While unemployment is lower than the national average, Year 12 completion is also lower.

Homes tend to be smaller, with 32.5% of people living alone, which is well above the national average. About 54.7% of households are couples with children.

Home ownership is high, as 39.8% of homes are owned outright. Rents are very low at a typical $150 per week, far below the national figure.

The area is very car-dependent, with no public transport stops and only 1% of people commuting by transit. Interestingly, 23.7% of people work from home, which is well above the state average.

Movement is relatively low, with fewer people moving in the last five years than in most other areas. However, recent arrivals from overseas make up 17.5% of the population, which is well above the national figure.

Full-time employment is very high at 75%, far above the national average. The local economy is driven by agriculture, forestry and fishing, and the unemployment rate is a very low 2.1%.

The area has an overall advantage score of 961, which is slightly below the national average. Population growth has been slow, rising by only 1.8% since 2021.

The climate is hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 34.8 degrees and annual rainfall that is much lower than in most other areas.

Most of the area is car-dependent, with a low walkability score of 2.6. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of public transport, schools, or groceries.