Marble Bar

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 27.4% of the population, which is far above the national figure. The community is generally younger than most areas, with a typical resident aged 38 and very few seniors.

Over half of the residents were born in Australia, though the area has a higher proportion of overseas-born people than most similar places. English is the most common ancestry at 17.5%.

About 20.5% of people use a language other than English at home, which is a little above the state average. English remains the primary language for nearly half the population.

No religion is the most common response at 38.2%, which is about the same as the national figure. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 22.8%.

The area has much lower levels of formal qualifications than most places, with only 6.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national average at 29.7%.

There is a striking gap in wealth; while typical personal weekly incomes are far above the national figure at $1,433, typical household incomes are far below at $1,035.

Residents report far fewer long-term health conditions than the national average, with 15.1% of people affected. Only 2.2% of the population has a mental health condition.

Community participation is very low, with only 5% of people volunteering, which is far below the state average. There are also far fewer people providing unpaid care or housework than in most areas.

First Nations people make up a significant part of the community, and nearly half speak a First Nations language. However, they face high unemployment at 40.8% and a typical personal income that is far below the national figure.

Living arrangements are unusual for the region, with a very high number of people living alone (42.1%) and a high rate of one-parent families at 28.7%.

Renters make up a huge 56.2% of the market, far above the national average, though typical weekly rent is very low at just $100. Most homes are separate houses, but they tend to have fewer bedrooms than typical Australian homes.

Transport is varied, with 19.8% of people commuting by public transport, though 26.3% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is far above the state figure.

The area sees a high number of recent arrivals from overseas at 24.4%, which is well above the national average.

The workforce is heavily concentrated in mining (36%) and construction (26.6%). While full-time employment is far above the national average, the overall unemployment rate of 8.5% is also well above.

The town is mostly car-dependent, as no homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services. However, most residents live within a short walk of a park or school.