Toowoomba - Central

The population has grown to 13,987 people and is a little younger than the national typical age of 38. About 4.6% of residents are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which is higher than most similar areas.

English and Australian are the most common ancestries, though the share of people born overseas has risen to 17.4% since 2011. This remains far below the national figure of 27.7%.

English is used in 81.7% of homes, but the use of other languages has grown to 12.1% since 2011. Those who speak little or no English make up 2.5% of the population, a figure higher than most similar areas.

Christianity remains the largest faith at 48.9%, while those with no religion make up 35.5%. This is well below the national figure of 38.9%, despite a 17 point rise since 2011.

The area is well-resourced with eight schools and a high number of enrolments. A quarter of adults hold a bachelor degree, and the share of people who completed Year 12 rose 11 points since 2011 to reach 56.0%.

Typical weekly household income is $1,345, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 11.4% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, a proportion much lower than most areas.

Health challenges are common here, with 32.7% of people living with a long-term condition and 12.9% reporting a mental health condition, both of which are well above the national average.

Volunteering is around the middle for similar areas at 15.7%. A notable 4.1% of residents have served in the Defence Force, which is much higher than most other areas.

There are 637 First Nations people in the area. Their Year 12 completion rate is 49.6%, which is far above the national figure of 37.0%.

Many people live alone here, accounting for 37.0% of homes. This is far above the national figure of 25.6%, and contributes to the low average of 2.2 people per home.

Rental properties are very common, with 45.4% of households renting, far above the national figure of 30.6%. Typical weekly rent is $295, which is well below the national figure of $375.

While 8.5% of homes have no motor vehicle, public transport use for commuting is very low at 0.3%. However, the area is well-served by 97 public transport stops.

The area is very dynamic, with 49.3% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 31.7% of the population, which is far above the national average.

Full-time employment is slightly higher than the national figure at 60.8%, with many people working in health care, social assistance, and education. The unemployment rate is 6.0%, which is much higher than most similar areas.

The area is a significant business hub with 2,311 businesses. However, it ranks lower than most similar areas for overall advantage and access to resources.

The local climate is cooler and wetter than the Queensland average, with an average annual rainfall of 800mm and an average maximum temperature of 24.3 degrees.

This is a walker's paradise with a score of 8.0. Every single home is within a 15-minute walk of a park and a school, and 99.9% are within walking distance of groceries.