State Electorate · Area profile
Scenic Rim
4,802 km²
A significant shift in age and housing has shaped Scenic Rim since 2011, with the typical resident now 44 years old. This is a noticeably older community than the national figure, and it is heavily dominated by detached houses. Most people here are born in Australia and speak only English at home, creating a setting that is far less diverse than the state average. The area is largely car-dependent, with a population that has remained steady at around 54,600 people.
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The community is noticeably older than the state and national figures, with 20.7% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population has grown by 6.2 percentage points since 2011. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 3.9% of the population, a figure that has risen since 2011.
The area is far less diverse than the rest of Australia, with only 14.6% of people born overseas. This is well below the national figure and represents a sharp drop from 2011. Most residents claim English, Australian, or Irish ancestry.
English is the primary language for 89.8% of the population. Only 3.4% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national average and has fallen significantly over the last decade.
Nearly half of the population identifies as Christian, while 41.7% report no religion. The number of people with no religion has risen by 19 percentage points since 2011, matching the state average.
Educational qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 14.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure, and the proportion of people who completed Year 12 has also fallen since 2011.
Typical weekly household incomes are a little below the state and national figures at $1,516. While most personal incomes are lower than the national average, the proportion of households earning $3,000 or more per week has risen since 2011.
More people here live with long-term health conditions compared to the state average, with 32% reporting one. Arthritis and mental health are the most common conditions, and 6.5% of residents need help with daily activities.
Community spirit is reflected in high levels of unpaid work, with 25.9% of people doing over 15 hours of housework weekly. This is well above the national figure, and the area also has a higher-than-average rate of volunteers and former Defence Force members.
Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.7 people per household. This is consistent with a high number of couples with children and far fewer people living alone compared to other areas.
The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 93% of all dwellings. Home ownership is strong, with 36.2% of homes owned outright, while the proportion of renters has fallen sharply since 2011.
Car dependence is almost total, with only 0.4% of people commuting by public transport. Very few homes lack a motor vehicle, and the region has among the lowest number of public transport stops per person in the state.
The population is relatively stable, with fewer people moving into the area in the last five years compared to the state average. Recent arrivals from overseas have also fallen significantly since 2011.
The unemployment rate is 4.4%, which is slightly lower than the state and national figures. Most people work in construction, health, or education, though the proportion of adults working or looking for work is lower than the national average.
Walking to amenities is difficult for most, with a walkability score of 1.6. Only 17.2% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of basic services, which is far below the state average and influenced by the steep terrain.