# Darling Downs - Maranoa

Region (SA4) · Area profile

Located in: Queensland › Rest of Qld

Area: 166,347 km²

Spanning a vast rural landscape in Queensland, Darling Downs - Maranoa is a wide-open region where agriculture and traditional family life prevail. It is an older community than most, with a high proportion of seniors and a strong presence of First Nations people. The area is distinctive for its low overseas migration and very high rates of home ownership, creating a stable but slow-growing population. Life here is largely car-dependent and rooted in a conservative, English-speaking culture.

## Demographics & Identity

The population is noticeably older than the national figure, with a typical resident aged 42 and 21.3% of people aged 65 or over. First Nations people make up 7.2% of the community, which is well above the Australian average of 3.2%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 128,622 | +5.2% since 2011 |
| Median age | 42 yrs | +7.7% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 7.2% | +52.8% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 21.3% | +31.5% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 19.4% | -12.3% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 11.7% | +12.6% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Older adults (45–64) 26.6%, Young adults (25–44) 21.9%, Seniors (65+) 21.3%, Children (0–14) 19.4%, Youth (15–24) 10.9%

**Marital status** — Married 48.7%, Never married 31.9%, Divorced 9.2%, Widowed 6.2%, Separated 3.9%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

People born overseas make up only 8.4% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. Most residents claim Australian, English, Irish, or Scottish ancestry.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 8.4% | +12.7% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 82.2%, England 1.6%, New Zealand 1.4%, Philippines 1.1%, South Africa 0.4%, India 0.3%, Italy 0.2%, China 0.1%, Nepal 0.1%, Vietnam 0.0%

**Ancestry** — Australian 42.0%, English 38.7%, Irish 11.6%, Scottish 10.3%, German 8.5%, Italian 1.9%, Filipino 1.3%, Dutch 1.1%, Chinese 0.6%, Indian 0.3%, Greek 0.2%, Vietnamese 0.1%

## Language

English is the dominant language, and only 3.9% of people use another language at home, far below the national average. Very few residents, just 0.5%, speak little or no English.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 3.9% | +35.6% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.5% | -7.8% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 87.2%, Tagalog 0.4%, Mandarin 0.2%, Italian 0.2%, Punjabi 0.1%, Hindi 0.1%, Vietnamese 0.1%, Cantonese 0.1%, Arabic 0.0%, Greek 0.0%

## Religion

Christianity remains the primary faith for 58% of the population. While those with no religion rose to 30.1% since 2011, this is still well below the national figure of 38.9%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 30.1% | +115.5% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Christianity 58.0%, No religion 30.1%, Not stated 10.7%, Buddhism 0.4%, Other religions 0.4%, Hinduism 0.3%, Islam 0.2%, Judaism 0.0%

## Education & Qualifications

The area has a lower rate of higher education, with only 11.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national average at 40.9%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 40.9% | +21.6% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 11.3% | +29.3% since 2011 |
| Schools | 129 | — |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 5.16 | — |
| School enrolments | 20,062 | — |
| Average school size | 157 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 947 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 40.9%, Year 10 28.6%, Year 9 or below 13.2%, Year 11 6.4%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 37.1%, Bachelor degree 15.8%, Advanced diploma / diploma 13.1%, Certificate I / II 3.1%, Postgraduate degree 2.6%, Graduate diploma / certificate 2.3%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 15.5%, Management & commerce 13.3%, Health 9.5%, Society & culture 9.0%, Education 8.7%, Agriculture & environment 6.2%, Food, hospitality & personal services 5.8%, Architecture & building 4.9%, Creative arts 1.4%, Natural & physical sciences 1.2%, Information technology 0.9%

## Income

Incomes are much lower than in most areas, with a typical weekly family income of $1,582. Only 11.4% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, well below the national figure of 22.6%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $674 | +33.7% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,280 | +34.0% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $1,582 | +36.9% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 6.7% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 11.4% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $650–$1,499 32.0%, $1,500–$2,999 26.7%, Under $650 19.9%, $3,000–$3,999 6.5%, $4,000 or more 4.9%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 43.1%, $650–$1,499 31.0%, $1,500–$2,999 12.4%, $3,000 or more 2.3%

## Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.5% of people. Around 6.6% of residents need help with daily activities, which is slightly higher than the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 31.5% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 9.3% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 6.6% | +26.7% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 11.0%, Asthma 9.8%, Mental health 9.3%, Other condition 7.6%, Diabetes 5.6%, Heart disease 5.0%, Cancer 3.4%, Lung condition 2.4%, Stroke 1.2%, Dementia 0.7%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 56.8%, One condition 20.1%, Two conditions 7.2%, Three or more 4.2%

## Community Participation

Volunteering is very high here, with 19.7% of people helping out, well above the national figure of 14.1%. Unpaid housework is also more common than in most other areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 19.7% | -21.3% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 12.2% | +9.5% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 24.6% | -13.6% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 3.6% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 23.2% | -14.7% since 2011 |

## First Nations

First Nations people have a much younger typical age of 22 and a lower rate of Year 12 completion at 33.4%. Unemployment for this group is 12.9%, which is about the same as the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 9,247 | — |
| First Nations median age | 22 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 33.4% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 12.9% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $542 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,301 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 3.0% | — |

## Family & Households

One-parent families are more common than usual at 15.2%, and 27.8% of people live alone, which is higher than the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.4 | -4.0% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 15.2% | +19.4% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 27.8% | +11.0% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 51.6%, Couples without children 32.1%, One-parent families 15.2%, Other families 1.1%

**Household size** — 2 people 37.6%, 1 person 27.8%, 3 people 13.0%, 4 people 11.7%, 5 people 6.3%, 6 or more 3.6%

## Housing & Dwellings

Homes are predominantly separate houses, making up 91.8% of all dwellings. Ownership is strong, with 38.1% of homes owned outright, and typical weekly rents are much lower than the national figure at $250.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $250 | +38.9% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,300 | +0.0% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.80 | -27.3% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 27.8% | -6.4% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 38.1% | +1.5% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 91.8% | -0.9% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 79.4% | +0.9% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned outright 38.1%, Owned with a mortgage 28.0%, Rented 27.8%, Other tenure 4.1%, Not stated 2.1%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 91.8%, Townhouse / semi-detached 5.8%, Other dwelling 1.1%, Flat or apartment 0.8%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 42.7%, 4 bedrooms 29.6%, 2 bedrooms 14.5%, 5 or more 7.1%, 1 bedroom 3.3%, Studio / none 0.7%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $200–$349 59.3%, Under $200 24.7%, $350–$549 9.2%, $550–$749 0.3%, $750 or more 0.3%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,000–$1,799 39.3%, Under $1,000 30.8%, $1,800–$2,999 17.0%, $3,000 or more 6.5%

## Transport & Vehicles

The region is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.5% of people use public transport to get to work. Very few homes, just 4.3%, have no motor vehicle.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 4.3% | -24.2% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 12.2% | +5.9% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 0.5% | +0.5% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 51 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 0.40 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 10.3 | — |
| Public transport routes | 1 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 63.1%, Worked at home 12.2%, Walked 5.2%, Car (passenger) 5.1%, Bus 0.5%, Bicycle 0.5%, Train 0.0%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 37.0%, 1 vehicle 32.3%, 3 vehicles 15.9%, 4 or more 10.4%, No vehicle 4.3%

## Migration & Movement

The community is relatively stable, with 35.9% of people moving in the last five years, well below the national figure of 40.7%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 35.9% | -8.8% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 14.0% | -28.4% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing is a major employer for 19.2% of the workforce. Full-time employment is higher than most areas, though the overall proportion of adults working or looking for work is lower than the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | +8.1% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 57.3% | -5.6% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 62.4% | -4.8% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Agriculture, forestry & fishing 19.2%, Health care & social assistance 11.4%, Retail trade 8.9%, Education & training 8.2%, Construction 7.9%, Manufacturing 6.3%, Accommodation & food 5.8%, Public administration & safety 5.0%, Transport & warehousing 4.5%, Other services 3.7%, Professional & technical 2.9%, Mining 2.3%, Wholesale trade 2.3%, Administrative & support 2.1%, Electricity, gas & water 1.8%, Finance & insurance 1.1%, Rental & real estate 0.9%, Arts & recreation 0.6%, Media & telecommunications 0.3%

**Occupations people work in** — Managers 19.1%, Labourers 15.6%, Technicians & trades 13.8%, Professionals 12.0%, Clerical & administrative 10.6%, Community & personal service 10.3%, Machinery operators & drivers 9.1%, Sales workers 7.5%

## Economy & Advantage

Recent population growth of 3.2% is much lower than the Queensland average of 8.7%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Population estimate | 134,169 | — |
| Population growth since 2021 | 3.2% | — |

## Environment & Climate

The region experiences an average maximum temperature of 28.4 degrees and receives 520mm of annual rainfall, which is well above the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average annual rainfall | 520 | — |
| Average maximum temperature | 28.4 | — |
| Average minimum temperature | 13.0 | — |

## Walkability

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.2. Only 1% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport, far below the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 2.2 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 2.5 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 30.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 32.3% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 1.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 37.3% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 45.4% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 28.4% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 14.5 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 0 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 4.7% | — |

## Schools serving Darling Downs - Maranoa

129 schools, 20,062 students, average ICSEA 947.

By sector: Government 107, Catholic 16, Independent 6

By type: Primary 89, Combined 29, Secondary 11

Nearest 10 shown:

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dalby State High School | Government | Secondary | — | 1,090 |
| St John's School | Catholic | Combined | — | 826 |
| Roma State College | Government | Combined | — | 825 |
| Warwick State High School | Government | Secondary | — | 702 |
| Our Lady of the Southern Cross College | Catholic | Combined | — | 681 |
| Chinchilla State High School | Government | Secondary | — | 572 |
| Warwick West State School | Government | Primary | — | 530 |
| Stanthorpe State High School | Government | Secondary | — | 523 |
| Pittsworth State High School | Government | Secondary | — | 506 |
| Dalby State School | Government | Primary | — | 505 |

## Areas within Darling Downs - Maranoa

[Darling Downs (West) - Maranoa](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/30701/darling-downs-maranoa) · [Darling Downs - East](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/30702/darling-downs-east) · [Granite Belt](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/30703/granite-belt)

## Nearby areas

[Toowoomba](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/317/toowoomba) · [Wide Bay](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/319/wide-bay) · [New England and North West](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/110/new-england-and-north-west) · [Central Queensland](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/308/central-queensland) · [Moreton Bay - North](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/313/moreton-bay-north) · [Ipswich](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/310/ipswich) · [Moreton Bay - South](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/314/moreton-bay-south) · [Brisbane - West](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/304/brisbane-west)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/307/darling-downs-maranoa