Darling Downs (West) - Maranoa

First Nations people make up 9.4% of the population, a figure that has risen since 2011 and is well above the national average. The community is slightly older than most, with a typical age of 39 and a growing number of seniors.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 7.3% of people born overseas, which is far below the national figure. Those with European roots are most common, particularly English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.

English is the primary language for the vast majority, and only 3.9% of residents use another language at home. This is far below the national average, and very few people here speak little or no English.

Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 56.5%, though the number of people with no religion has risen sharply by 17 percentage points since 2011 to reach 30.0%.

Education levels are lower than the national figure, with only 11.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion rose by 6.6 percentage points since 2011 to reach 42.1%.

Typical weekly household incomes are a little below the national figure at $1,416. While typical incomes have risen since 2011, only 13.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is well below the state average.

About 28% of residents have a long-term health condition, which is about the same as the national figure. Mental health conditions are reported by 7.9% of the population, slightly lower than the state average.

Volunteer rates are among the highest for similar areas, with 21.4% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure. Unpaid care for others is less common here than in most other regions.

The First Nations community is larger than in 84% of similar areas. However, challenges remain, with Year 12 completion at 31.8%, which is far below the Queensland average.

Families here tend to be larger, with 2.5 people per home. There is also a higher proportion of people living alone compared to the state average, at 29.0%.

Detached houses are the norm for 89.8% of homes, far above the national average. Rent is much lower than the state figure, with a typical weekly rent of $230.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as there are no public transport stops or routes available. Very few people use public transport to get to work, and only 4.5% of homes have no motor vehicle.

Residential stability is high, with fewer people moving in the last five years compared to most of the country. Interestingly, recent overseas arrivals make up 22.0% of the population, which is well above the national average.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing is the dominant industry, employing 23.3% of the workforce. Full-time employment is well above the national average at 66.8%, and the unemployment rate is much lower than in most areas.

Population growth has been slow since 2021, rising by 2.3%, which is well below the Queensland average of 8.7%.

The region experiences very low annual rainfall of 483mm, which is well above the state average. Summer temperatures are among the highest for similar areas, with an average maximum of 28.9 degrees.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.3, far below the state average. Only 34% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of basic amenities like groceries or health services.