Monto

Monto is far older than the national average, with 34.3% of people aged 65 and over. This stands in stark contrast to the small number of children under 15, who make up just 12.4% of the population.

The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 82% born here. This means far fewer people were born overseas compared to the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the primary language for 89.1% of residents. Only 4% of people use another language at home, which is far below the 22.3% national average.

Christianity is the main faith for 59.1% of the population. Those reporting no religion make up 30.7%, a figure well below the national average of 38.9%.

Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 30.2% of residents completing Year 12. Just 10% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, far below the 26.3% seen across Australia.

Incomes are very low, with the typical household earning just $853 a week, far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 6.4% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.

Health needs are high; 41.1% of people have a long-term health condition and 12.1% need help with daily activities, both of which are well above national levels.

Local residents are active volunteers, with 20.6% helping out, well above the 14.1% national figure. There is also a higher-than-average rate of people providing unpaid care.

There are 40 First Nations people in the area, with a typical age of 31. This is noticeably older than the national First Nations typical age of 24.

Living arrangements are small, with 40% of people living alone. This helps explain why the typical home contains only 2.0 people, well below the national average of 2.5.

Most people live in separate houses (95.1%), and 43.1% own their home outright. Rents are very affordable, with a typical weekly cost of $170, far below the national figure of $375.

Cars are essential here, as there are no public transport stops or routes. Only 6.2% of people work from home, which is far below the 21% national average.

The area has seen significant movement, with 42.3% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 14% of the population.

Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the state (47.2% vs 61.6%). The unemployment rate of 8% is higher than the national figure of 5.1%.

The town is quite walkable for local needs, with 81% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services and 68.1% near groceries.