Tewantin

Tewantin is far older than most of Australia, with a typical age of 51 and 32% of people aged 65 or over. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 14.1% of the population, a figure that has fallen since 2011.

The community is predominantly Australian or British in heritage, with English, Australian, and Irish being the most common ancestries. About 23.1% of residents were born overseas, which is roughly the same as the Queensland average.

English is the primary language for 88.1% of the population. Only 5.6% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

A large number of residents report no religion, accounting for 47.0% of the community. This figure has risen sharply by 18 percentage points since 2011 and is well above the national average.

Education levels are lower than in most areas, with 48.8% of residents completing Year 12 and 15.4% holding a bachelor degree or higher. Both figures have risen since 2011.

Incomes in Tewantin are much lower than the national average, with a typical weekly household income of $1,261. Only 10.5% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, though this has risen since 2011.

Long-term health issues are more common here than in most areas, with 34% of residents reporting a condition. This is consistent with the older population, as 8.1% of people need help with daily activities.

While 14.8% of the community volunteers, fewer people are caring for children unpaid compared to the state average. About 3.6% of residents have served in the Defence Force, which is higher than in most areas.

There are 231 First Nations people in the area, with a typical age of 20, which is noticeably younger than the national figure. The unemployment rate for this group is 8.3%, well below the national average.

Homes are generally small, with a typical size of 2.3 people. One-parent families make up 16.7% of households, which is a little above the national average.

A high proportion of residents own their homes outright at 41.5%, far above the national average. Most people live in separate houses, and typical weekly rents have risen by $120 since 2011 to reach $450.

Cars are the primary way to get around, with only 1.2% of people using public transport to commute. However, the area has a high number of bus stops, with 92.8% of homes within a 10-minute walk of one.

About 38.9% of residents moved here in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas have fallen significantly, from 11.2% in 2011 to 5.6% in 2021.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to most areas, at 48.9%. The most common industries for local workers are health care, accommodation and food, and retail trade.

Overall advantage is lower than in about 60% of similar areas. Population growth has also slowed recently, rising by only 0.3% since 2021, which is well below the state average.

The area is much wetter than the Queensland average, with annual rainfall of 1,575mm. Average maximum temperatures are 26.2 degrees, which is well below the state figure.

Most residents live within a 15-minute walk of a park or groceries. However, the area is far below the state average for those within walking distance of a school or health service.