Urban Centre · Area profile
Toowoomba
120 km²
A high proportion of recent overseas arrivals sets Toowoomba apart, with 28.4% of the population arriving from abroad. This influx is reflected in a growing linguistic diversity, as the number of people using another language at home has risen sharply since 2011. While the population has shrunk by 48% since the last census, the community remains a large regional hub with a typical resident aged 38. The area blends a well-qualified workforce with a strong presence of families and seniors.
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The typical resident is 38, which is much lower than in most similar areas. About 19.8% of people are seniors, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen to 5.1% since 2011.
English and Australian are the most common ancestries, though the proportion of people born overseas is much higher than in most similar areas, despite falling to 17.1% since 2011.
Language diversity is growing, with those using another language at home rising to 12.4%. This is much higher than in most similar areas, and those speaking little or no English also rose to 2.3% since 2016.
The area is more religious than the national average, with 53.4% identifying as Christian and those with no religion sitting well below the national figure at 32.7%.
Education levels are high, with 21.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Since 2011, there has been a notable increase in both university qualifications and Year 12 completion.
Typical weekly family income is $1,808, which is higher than in most similar areas. This reflects a general trend of rising earnings across personal and household levels since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most similar areas, with 11.8% of people reporting a mental health condition and 7.8% needing help with daily activities.
About 15.9% of residents volunteer, and 4.4% have served in the Defence Force, which is higher than in most similar areas. Unpaid housework and childcare roles have slightly fallen since 2011.
Families with one parent are more common here than in most similar areas at 18.4%. Meanwhile, the number of people living alone has risen to 31.4%.
Renting is much more common than in most similar areas, at 38.4%. Most homes are separate houses, and the typical weekly rent is $304, which is higher than in most similar areas.
Reliance on cars is high, as only 0.4% of people commute by public transport. About 7.3% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is much higher than in most similar areas.
The area is highly mobile, with 47.8% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals are far more common here than in the rest of the state.
Full-time employment is slightly above the national average at 60.1%. The workforce is concentrated in health care and social assistance, which is the largest industry at 21.3%.
The area is somewhat walkable, with 73.4% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a range of amenities. This is far above the state average, especially for access to parks and schools.