Fernvale

The community is noticeably younger than the state and national averages, with 26% of residents being children under 15. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 6.3% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas origins are far fewer than the national average. English and Australian ancestries are the most common, together accounting for over 87% of the population.

English is the primary language for 93% of the community. Very few people use another language at home, a figure that is far below both the Queensland and Australian averages.

More than half of the residents report having no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 42.1%.

Qualification levels are lower than in most areas, with only 11.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also well below the national figure, standing at 48.9%.

Typical household income is about $1,771 per week, which is roughly the same as the state and national figures. However, the proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week is well below the national average.

Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 32.8% of people. Mental health conditions are particularly high, with 12.4% of residents reporting one, well above the national figure.

Caregiving is a major part of local life, with a much higher share of people providing unpaid childcare and housework compared to the rest of the country. Notably, 7.1% of residents have served in the Defence Force, among the highest for its level.

The First Nations community is among the largest for this level, with a typical age of 17 that is noticeably younger than the national figure. Unemployment among First Nations people is 4.2%, which is well below the national average.

Homes here are larger than usual, with an average of 3.0 people per household. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children, who make up 61.9% of families.

The area is almost entirely made up of separate houses, with 99.1% of homes being detached. Large homes are the norm, as 95.5% have three or more bedrooms, far above the national average.

Car use is essential, as 67.5% of people drive to work and only 0.6% use public transport. Working from home is also much less common here than across Australia.

The community has seen significant movement, with 46.8% of people moving house in the last five years. This is well above the national figure, though recent arrivals from overseas are far fewer than typical.

Full-time employment is slightly higher than the national average at 60.7%. People most commonly work in health care, social assistance, and public administration.

The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school, grocery store, or public transport stop.