State Electorate · Area profile
Pumicestone
348 km²
Among the oldest communities at this level, Pumicestone is a retirement-heavy area where the typical resident is 52. It has seen a significant shift since 2011, with a sharp rise in the number of seniors and a drop in children. This aging population is reflected in the local housing and health needs, with many residents owning their homes outright and requiring more daily assistance. It is a predominantly English-speaking community with a high proportion of former Defence Force members.
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The area is far older than the state and national average, with 32.6% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population has grown by 17 percentage points since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen by 6.5 points.
Most residents were born in Australia (75.8%), and those born overseas make up 19.1% of the population, which is well below the national figure of 27.7%. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 90.5% of the community. Only 4.7% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the 22.3% national average.
About 42.7% of residents have no religion, which is a little above the Queensland figure. This has seen a sharp rise of 21 percentage points since 2011.
Educational qualifications are much lower than in most similar areas, with only 11.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 41.5% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,158, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. This is among the lowest for its level, and typical family incomes have fallen by $110 since 2011.
Health challenges are common here, with 40.6% of people living with a long-term condition and 9.4% needing help with daily activities. Both figures are among the highest at this level.
The area has a high number of people providing unpaid care (14.1%) and a notable proportion of former Defence Force members (6.1%). However, the share of people caring for children has fallen by 9.8 points since 2011.
Homes are typically small, with only 2.3 people per home. About 26.2% of people live alone, a figure that has risen by 7.3 points over the last decade.
Home ownership is very strong, with 43.5% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. Most people live in separate houses, and 78.0% of homes have three or more bedrooms.
The community relies heavily on cars, as only 1.2% of people commute by public transport. This is lower than most areas, although 12.6% of the workforce now works from home.
Pumicestone is a highly mobile area, with 47.0% of residents moving in the last five years. In contrast, recent arrivals from overseas have fallen to 6.2% since 2011.
Only 45.2% of adults are working or looking for work, which is among the lowest at this level. The unemployment rate is 6.1%, slightly above the national figure of 5.1%.
The area is somewhat walkable with a score of 4.6. While most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park or public transport, far fewer are within walking distance of a school or health service compared to the state average.