Urban Centre · Area profile
Emerald
39 km²
A growing population of more than 14,000 people has shaped Emerald since 2011, as the town has become noticeably younger and more affluent. This is a community of young families, where the typical resident is just 32 and over a quarter of the population are children. High incomes and a strong presence of technical professionals create a prosperous atmosphere in this regional hub. It is a place where many people are now renting larger homes, reflecting a dynamic and shifting local population.
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Emerald is far younger than the national figure, with children under 15 making up 25.2% of the community. This trend helps explain why 64% of households are couples with children and why 33.2% of people are unpaid carers for children, a figure well above the state average.
About 14.8% of residents were born overseas, which is much higher than in most similar areas, though still well below the Queensland average. The most common ancestries are Australian and English, followed by Irish and Scottish.
People using another language at home have risen to 8.2% since 2011, which is much higher than in similar areas. However, this remains far below the national figure, and the vast majority of residents speak only English.
Nearly half of the community, 49.1%, identify as Christian. The number of people reporting no religion has risen sharply by 19 points since 2011 to reach 38.0%.
A higher proportion of adults here hold a bachelor degree or higher (14.2%) compared to most similar areas. Qualifications in engineering and related fields are particularly common, making up 23.9% of degrees.
The community is quite wealthy, with typical personal weekly incomes at $1,033, well above the national figure of $805. This is reflected in the fact that 18.2% of people earn $2,000 or more a week, among the highest for its level.
Residents are generally healthier than those in most similar areas, with only 21.5% reporting a long-term health condition, which is well below the state average. Those needing help with daily activities also make up a much smaller group than usual at 3.5%.
Volunteering is more common here than across the state, with 17.3% of people participating. However, this has fallen from 22.8% in 2011. Unpaid care for children is very high at 33.2%.
Homes tend to be larger, with an average of 2.7 people per household. This is consistent with the high number of families with children, who make up 64.0% of all households.
Renting is very common at 44.7%, far above the national average, while only 15.7% of homes are owned outright. Most homes are spacious, with 84.2% having three or more bedrooms.
Most people rely on cars, with 66.8% driving to work. Very few people work from home (3.9%), which is far below the national figure of 21.0%.
The population is quite mobile, as 49.5% of residents moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are also much more common here than in similar areas at 18.6%.
Working life is very active here, with 73.7% of adults working or looking for work, far above the national figure. The mining industry is a major employer, accounting for 18.7% of jobs.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.8. While most people can easily walk to a park or school, almost no one lives within a 10-minute walk of public transport.