Urban Centre · Area profile
Gatton
9 km²
Daily life in Gatton is shaped by a rapidly growing and diverse population, with 6,852 people now calling the area home. It is a noticeably young community where the typical resident is just 33. This openness to change is seen in the own huge surge of overseas arrivals, which has created a multicultural hub with a high number of people speaking languages other than English. The town blends this new energy with a strong agricultural roots, where many residents work as labourers in the local primary industries.
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The area is much younger than the state and national figures. While the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is about 4.6%, similar to the Queensland average, the number of children under 15 has fallen significantly since 2011.
Gatton has a very high proportion of overseas-born residents at 29.1%, which is well above the Queensland average. This trend has grown sharply since 2011, with India and China being the most common birthplaces after Australia.
A quarter of the community speaks a language other than English at home, a figure far above the state average. This diversity is reflected in the rise of Mandarin and Arabic speakers, though 7.5% of residents still struggle with English.
Religious affiliation is higher here than in most similar areas, with 45.7% identifying as Christian. Those with no religion make up 33.5%, which is well below the national figure.
More adults have completed Year 12 here than in most similar areas, though this remains far below the national average. Those with a bachelor degree or higher make up 15.4% of the population.
Typical weekly household incomes of $1,235 are well below the national figure. Only 2.5% of people earn $2,000 or more a week, which is much lower than in most other areas.
Mental health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 10.9% of people. Additionally, 7.7% of residents need help with daily activities, which is a little above the national average.
Community participation is much lower than in most areas, with only 12.3% of people volunteering. Rates of unpaid childcare and housework have also fallen since 2011.
Family structures are varied, with one-parent families making up 21.2%, which is well above the national average. About 27.7% of people live alone.
Renting is far more common here than across Australia, at 44.1%. While most homes are separate houses and typically have three or more bedrooms, a lower proportion are owned outright compared to similar areas.
Most people rely on cars to get to work, and very few—only 3%—work from home, which is far below the national figure. Around 6.8% of homes have no motor vehicle.
The population is highly mobile, with nearly half of all residents moving here in the last five years. This is driven by a massive increase in recent arrivals from overseas.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the biggest employers, with 29.6% of the workforce in this sector. Labourers make up the largest group of workers at 38.1%.
The area is somewhat walkable, with 93% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park and 71.8% near health services. However, fewer homes are within walking distance of public transport compared to the state average.