Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Magnetic Island
51 km²
A typical resident of Magnetic Island is 58 years old, making it one of the oldest communities in the region. This is a peaceful retreat where a third of the population are seniors and many live alone. The area has grown by 13% since 2011, attracting people who prefer a slower pace of life. It is a place where a high number of residents own their homes outright and many spend their time volunteering.
Magnetic Island is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The community is far older than the national figure, with 33.2% of people aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up only 9.6% of the population, a figure that has fallen since 2011.
About a quarter of residents were born overseas, with English, Australian, and Irish being the most common ancestries.
English is the dominant language here, with only 6.6% of people using another language at home, which is far below the national figure.
Nearly half of residents (49.1%) report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and has risen since 2011.
About 23.1% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is 50.7%, which is well below the state and national figures.
Typical weekly household income is $1,001, which is far below the national figure of $1,746, and only 8.9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 32.5% of residents, with arthritis being the most reported condition.
Volunteering is very common at 20.도8%, well above the national average. This active community also has a higher-than-usual rate of former Defence Force members.
First Nations residents are older than those in the rest of the state, with a typical age of 36, and a high 12.5% speak a First Nations language.
Homes are generally small, with only 1.9 people per dwelling. This is consistent with the high number of people living alone, who make up 36.2% of households.
A striking 46.8% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure. Typical weekly rent is much lower than usual at $290.
Most people rely on cars, though 10.5% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is well above the national average.
The area is quite mobile, with 43.4% of residents having moved in the last five years.
Only 47.1% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure. Many of those employed work in accommodation and food services.
The area has a small number of businesses and a low access score for money and resources compared to other similar areas.
The climate is warm and wet, with average annual rainfall of 1,464mm, which is far above the Queensland average.
While the area is mostly car-dependent, 88% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park.
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