State Electorate · Area profile
Toowoomba South
44 km²
Nearly half of all residents in Toowoomba South have moved into the area within the last five years. This high mobility is paired with a significant recent surge in overseas arrivals, which helps explain why the use of languages other than English has risen sharply since 2011. While the population is slightly younger than the national average, there has been a striking increase in the number of seniors. It is a diverse community where high rental demand meets a high proportion of people living alone.
18 schools within reach make Toowoomba South convenient for families.
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The typical resident is 37, slightly younger than the national figure. However, there is a growing elderly population, with those aged 65 and over making up 20.3% of the community, which is well above the state and national averages.
About 19.4% of people were born overseas, a figure that is well below the national average of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, though the proportion of overseas-born residents has risen by 4.8 percentage points since 2011.
Around 14.9% of people use a language other than English at home, a figure that has risen by 11 percentage points since 2011. This increase is consistent with the high number of recent overseas arrivals.
The community is more religious than most other areas, with 31.5% of people reporting no religion, which is well below the national figure of 38.9%. Over half the population identifies as Christian.
Qualifications have risen since 2011, with 23.4% of adults now holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is a little above the Queensland average, and 56.1% of residents have completed Year 12.
Incomes are generally lower than in other areas, with a typical weekly household income of $1,443. This is a little below the state and national figures, and the proportion of households earning over $3,000 a week is much lower than most areas.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas; 32.9% of people have a long-term health condition. Additionally, 8.1% of residents need help with daily activities, which is a little above the national average.
Volunteerism is higher than average at 16.1%, and 12.7% of people provide unpaid care, which is higher than in most areas. There is also a notably high proportion of people who served in the Defence Force.
Living arrangements are distinctive, with 30.6% of people living alone and 18.3% in one-parent families, both of which are much higher than most areas. Consequently, the typical home has 2.4 people.
Renters are much more common here than in other areas, making up 38.5% of households. While 78.2% of homes have three or more bedrooms, typical weekly rent is $320, which is a little below the national figure.
Most people rely on cars for work, and very few—just 0.4%—commute by public transport. This is among the lowest rates for similar areas, and only 6.3% of people work from home.
The area is highly dynamic, with 49.2% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are far more common here than in the rest of Australia, at 28.6%.
About 59.7% of adults are working or looking for work, and the unemployment rate of 5.6% is higher than most areas. Health care and social assistance are the top employers, making up 22.7% of jobs.
The area is somewhat walkable, with 78.8% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a variety of amenities. This includes 99.1% of homes being within a short walk of a park and 87.3% near a school.