Far Central West

The population is noticeably older than the national figure, with a typical age of 41. About 13.9% of residents are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which is far above the Australian average of 3.2%.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, and only 5.7% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the primary language here, with only 2.9% of people using another language at home, far below the national average of 22.3%.

Over half of the population identifies as Christian, while 30.8% report no religion, though this figure is well below the national figure of 38.9%.

Higher education is less common here, with only 10% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far below the national average of 26.3%.

Typical personal income is a little above the national figure at $947 a week, though typical household income is a little below at $1,442.

Residents report better health than most, with only 2.3% needing help with daily activities and 23.7% having a long-term health condition, both well below national figures.

Volunteering is very common, with 28.2% of people helping out, which is far above the national figure of 14.1%.

First Nations residents are far older than those in the rest of the state, with a typical age of 32. However, year 12 completion is far below the national average at 25.5%.

A high number of people live alone—36.8%, which is far above the national figure of 25.6%—and typical homes are small, with only 2.2 people per house.

Rent is very affordable, with a typical weekly rent of $140, far below the national figure of $375. Detached houses are common, and 35.7% of homes are owned outright.

The area is entirely dependent on cars; no one uses public transport to get to work, and there are no public transport stops available.

Movement into the area has slowed, with 37.6% of people having moved in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%.

The workforce is heavily skewed toward agriculture, forestry and fishing, which employs 31.9% of residents, alongside a high rate of full-time employment.

The area is ranked as having low overall advantage, with a score of 3 out of 10, and has seen very slow population growth since 2021.

The climate is hot and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 33.2°C and annual rainfall that is far below the Queensland average.

While many homes are within a short walk of groceries and schools, the area is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score well below the state average.