El Arish

The community is significantly older than the state and national averages, with 21.4% of people aged 65 and over. First Nations people make up 5.6% of the population, which is a little above the figures for Queensland and Australia.

The area is very traditional in its origins, with 81.3% of people born in Australia and far fewer overseas-born residents than the national average. English, Australian, and Italian are the most common ancestries.

English is the primary language for 86.1% of residents. While more people use another language at home than in most similar areas, this is still well below the state and national figures.

Christianity is the most common affiliation at 47.5%, while 39.2% of residents report having no religion, a figure that is about the same as the national average.

Educational attainment is much lower than most areas, with only 5.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree and 32.6% completing Year 12, both far below the state and national figures.

Incomes are much lower than in most other areas; the typical household earns $1,148 a week, which is well below the national figure of $1,746.

Health needs are higher here than in most areas, with 31.8% of people living with a long-term health condition and 7.7% needing help with daily activities.

Unpaid care for others is more common than in most areas, though the number of people caring for children is far below the state and national averages.

There are 19 First Nations people in the area, though their typical personal income of $425 is well below the state and national figures.

A high number of people live alone—31.3%, which is well above the national average—and households are smaller than usual, averaging 2.3 people.

Home ownership is very high, with 49.6% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. Most people live in separate houses, and typical weekly rents are well below the state average.

The area is entirely dependent on cars for commuting, as there are no public transport stops or routes available. About 7.8% of homes do not have a motor vehicle, which is a little above the state average.

Movement into the area is higher than in most similar places, though it remains well below the state average. No new arrivals from overseas were recorded in the last five years.

Full-time employment is well above the national figure at 62.5%, but the overall unemployment rate of 7.4% is a little above the state and national levels.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a very low walkability score. While many homes are within walking distance of a school or park, there are no groceries or health services within a 15-minute walk.