Bundaberg

The community is noticeably older than the state and national average, with the typical age rising 10 years since 2011 to 45. Seniors aged 65 and over now make up 25.7% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 17.2%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 13.1% of the population, a figure that fell 8.0 points since 2011. English and Australian ancestries are the most common, accounting for 42.4% and 39.9% respectively.

English is the primary language for 88.7% of the community. People using another language at home make up 5.8% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.

Half of the population identifies as Christian, while 40.2% report no religion. The proportion of people with no religion rose 15 points since 2011, though it remains a little below the Queensland average.

Educational attainment is lower than in most other areas, with only 12.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 41.3% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%.

Incomes are much lower than in most areas, with the typical weekly family income sitting at $1,472, well below the national figure of $2,120. Only 11% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.

Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 37.5% of people reporting a long-term health condition. This is reflected in the fact that 9.8% of people need help with daily activities, which is well above the national average.

Unpaid care is a common feature of local life, as 13.5% of people provide unpaid care, which is higher than the national figure. Additionally, 4.4% of residents have served in the Defence Force, a much higher rate than most areas.

One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 18.5% of households. About 28.9% of people live alone, which is well above the national figure of 25.6%.

Separate houses are very common, making up 81.7% of dwellings. Home ownership is strong, with 37.7% of homes owned outright, while typical weekly rents of $285 are well below the national figure.

The area is heavily dependent on cars, with 72.3% of people driving to work. Very few people work from home (4.8%) or use public transport to commute (0.5%), both of which are well below the national figures.

The community is relatively mobile, with 41.4% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 15.5% of the population, which is a little above the national average.

A smaller proportion of adults are working or looking for work (51.5%) compared to the national figure of 61.1%. Unemployment is also a little above the national average at 6.7%, with many residents employed in health care and social assistance.

The area is somewhat walkable, with 78% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. However, only about half of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school.