Charters Towers - Ayr - Ingham

The area is noticeably older than most, with the typical resident aged 45 and seniors making up 23.5% of the population. This age gap is reflected in the total population, which shrank by 4.4% since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, and only 7.8% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure. Italian ancestry is notably common here at 14.8%.

English is the dominant language, with only 6.8% of people using another language at home, far below the Australian average of 22.3%.

The community is more religious than most of Australia, as the proportion of people with no religion is far below the national figure at 25.1%.

Education levels are much lower than the national average, with only 37% of residents completing Year 12 and 8.8% holding a bachelor degree or higher.

Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with the usual household earning $1,264 a week. Only 11.7% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is much lower than most areas.

Health needs are higher here than in most areas, with 6.8% of people needing help with daily activities and 29.6% living with a long-term health condition.

Volunteering is more common here than in the rest of the country, with 16.1% of people volunteering. About 3.6% of residents served in the Defence Force.

First Nations people make up 11.8% of the population, which is well above the national average. This community is culturally strong, with 20.3% speaking a First Nations language, though it faces significant economic gaps in income and education.

Living arrangements are distinct, as 30% of people live alone, which is much higher than the national figure. One-parent families are also more common here than in most areas.

Detached houses are very common, and 41.7% of homes are owned outright, far above the national average. Rent is very affordable, with a typical weekly cost of $202.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 64.3% of people driving to work and almost no one using public transport to commute.

The population is relatively stable, as far fewer people have moved in the last five years compared to the rest of Australia. However, recent arrivals from overseas have increased to 17.3%.

Full-time employment is higher here than in most areas, with 16.6% of the workforce employed in agriculture, forestry, and fishing.

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

The region experiences high temperatures, with average maximums and minimums that are among the highest at this level.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average and almost no homes within walking distance of public transport.