Babinda

The population is far older than the state or national average, with the typical resident now aged 49. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 13.9% of the community, which is well above the Queensland figure, though this is a sharp fall from 2011.

English and Australian ancestries are the most common, while Italian heritage is also notable at 11%. The proportion of people born overseas has risen to 13.9%, although this remains far below the national average.

English is the primary language for 85% of the community. While more people here use another language at home than in similar areas, this is still far below the national average and is a significant drop since 2011.

More than half of residents identify as Christian, while those with no religion make up 36.5%. This figure is lower than the state and national averages, despite rising since 2011.

Educational qualifications are much lower than most areas; only 33.5% of residents completed Year 12 and just 9.4% hold a bachelor degree. This is far below the Queensland and Australian figures.

Typical weekly household income is $1,005, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 8.3% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, making this a lower-income area compared to most of the country.

Health needs are higher here, with 8.0% of people requiring help with daily activities and 33% living with a long-term health condition. Arthritis is the most common long-term condition reported.

Community spirit is strong, as 20.5% of residents volunteer, which is well above the national average. There is also a higher than usual proportion of former Defence Force members at 4.8%.

The community is increasingly fragmented, with 33.8% of people living alone and a higher than average 18.8% of families led by a single parent. This explains why typical household sizes have shrunk to 2.3 people.

Most people live in separate houses, and 34.5% own their home outright. Both typical rents at $230 and mortgage payments at $1,019 are far below the national figures.

Cars are the primary way to get around, with 58.3% of workers driving. However, 7.4% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is higher than in most similar areas.

The population is relatively stable, as only 31.8% of residents moved in the last five years, which is far below the Queensland average. Recent overseas arrivals make up 5.8% of the community.

The unemployment rate is 9.1%, which is well above the national figure. Adults working or looking for work make up 47.3% of the population, far below the state average.

Babinda is somewhat walkable, with 70.7% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries and 81.1% near a school. Despite these amenities, no homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport.