Urban Area · Area profile
Maryborough
171 km²
A typical resident in Maryborough is now 47, making the community far older than the national average. The town has seen a significant shift in its makeup, with the number of seniors rising sharply since 2011. This aging population is reflected in a high need for daily health support and a strong preference for detached housing. While the population has grown to 27,489 people, it remains a place where many residents live on lower incomes than the state average.
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The area is far older than most, with 26.8% of people aged 65 and over. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 15.6% of the population, a figure that has fallen sharply since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the community has far fewer overseas-born people (9.2%) than the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
Language diversity is very low, with only 2.5% of people using a language other than English at home. Very few residents speak little or no English, at just 0.3%.
About 41% of people report having no religion, which is about the same as the Queensland average. This is a significant increase from 2011, when only 20.1% felt this way.
Educational qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 8.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 35.1% of residents finished Year 12, far below the national figure.
Typical incomes are among the lowest at this level, with the usual weekly household income sitting at $1,034. High earners are rare, as only 3.9% of people earn $2,000 or more per week.
Health needs are very high here, as 41.1% of people have a long-term health condition. This helps explain why 11.4% of residents need help with daily activities, which is well above the national average.
Caregiving is a common part of life, with 14.8% of people providing unpaid care. There is also a higher than usual proportion of former Defence Force members at 5.0%.
The community has a high number of people living alone (30.7%) and a much higher rate of one-parent families (20.6%) than most areas.
Housing is dominated by separate houses (88.4%), and many are owned outright (41.2%). Rent is much lower than the national average, with a typical weekly cost of $255.
Cars are essential, as 68.9% of workers drive to work and very few use public transport. About 8.8% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is among the highest for this level.
The population is relatively stable, as the proportion of people who moved in the last five years is much lower than in most areas. Recent arrivals from overseas have also fallen sharply since 2011.
Employment is a struggle for many, with an unemployment rate of 9.8%, well above the state average. Only 44.1% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure.
The town is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.6. While many people live within a short walk of a park, almost no one is within 10 minutes of public transport.