Ingham Surrounds

The community is aging quickly, with the typical resident now 53 and nearly 30% of people aged 65 or over. This is far older than the national figure of 38, while children under 15 make up only 14.6% of the population.

Most residents were born in Australia, and there is a notable Italian heritage, with 27.1% of people claiming this ancestry. Only 9% of people were born overseas, which is far below the national figure.

English is the dominant language, used by 88.4% of the community. Only 4.4% of people use another language at home, a figure that fell since 2011 and remains far below the national average.

Religious affiliation is much more common here than elsewhere, with 68.8% of people identifying as Christian. Only 20.9% report having no religion, which is far below the national figure.

Educational qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 9.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 38.9% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national average.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national average, with households usually earning $1,245 a week. Only 11.4% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this rose since 2011.

Health challenges are more prevalent here, as 32.6% of people have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure, and 7.4% of residents need help with daily activities.

The area has a strong culture of service, with 18.6% of people volunteering and 4.5% having served in the Defence Force. Unpaid care for others is also more common than in most areas.

First Nations people make up 4.9% of the population, with a typical personal income of $477. This is much lower than for other residents, and only 33.7% of First Nations people completed Year 12.

Homes are generally small, with 2.2 people per household, and 27.6% of people live alone. This is higher than the state average and is consistent with the older age of the population.

Housing is overwhelmingly detached houses, and 52.8% of homes are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Rents are among the lowest in the region at a typical $200 per week.

The area is almost entirely dependent on cars, with 67.2% of workers driving to work and no public transport stops or routes available. Only 2.3% of homes have no motor vehicle.

People tend to stay in the area for a long time, as only 25.1% moved in the last five years. This is far below the national figure, and recent overseas arrivals are also very low at 5.7%.

Full-time employment is much higher than the national average at 64%, though fewer adults overall are working or looking for work. Agriculture and manufacturing are the primary industries.

The area is ranked as having low education and job skills compared to other regions. Its overall advantage score is 933, which is smaller than about 77% of all areas.

The region is very wet and warm, with average annual rainfall of 1,630mm, which is far above the Queensland average.

The area is highly car-dependent with a walkability score of 0.9. Almost no one lives within a 10-minute walk of public transport, and very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services.