Urban Centre · Area profile
Malanda
10 km²
Typical weekly incomes in Malanda are well below the national figure, reflecting a modest local economy. This community has aged significantly, with a typical resident now 50 and a large proportion of seniors. While the population shrank by 46% since 2011, the area remains distinctive for its high number of volunteers and a strong presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is a predominantly residential place where detached houses are the norm.
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Malanda is far older than the state and national average, with the typical resident aged 50. Seniors make up 30.3% of the population, a figure that rose 17 points since 2011, while the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is higher than most areas at 7.0%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas roots frequently cite English, Irish, or Scottish ancestry. About 12.5% of people were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.
English is the primary language for 87.2% of the community. Very few people speak little or no English, and those using another language at home make up 4.2% of the population, which is far below the national average.
The community is split almost evenly between those who identify as Christian (44.3%) and those with no religion (43.3%). The proportion of people with no religion has risen 19 points since 2011.
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher make up 14.2% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 26.3%. However, there has been a positive trend, with the share of people completing Year 12 rising 11 points since 2011.
Typical weekly household incomes are well below the national figure, sitting at $1,109. Only 11.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is well below the Queensland average of 20.2%.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in the rest of the state, affecting 33.3% of residents. This is consistent with the older population, as 7.6% of people need help with daily activities.
Local residents are highly engaged, with 22.6% volunteering—a figure well above the national average. The area also has a much higher proportion of Defence Force veterans compared to most similar areas.
Single-person households are common, with 32.2% of people living alone. One-parent families are also much more common here than in most other areas, accounting for 20.8% of households.
The area is dominated by separate houses, making up 90.7% of homes. A significant 40.5% of these are owned outright, which is far above the state average, and typical weekly rents are well below the national figure at $250.
Residents rely heavily on cars, with 62.1% driving to work and only 0.5% using public transport. Very few people work from home, at 9.3%, which is far below the national average.
The community is relatively stable, as the proportion of people who moved in the last five years is well below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas are also very low at 2.3%.
Only 48.3% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the state and national figures. The most common industries for local workers are health care and social assistance, followed by retail and education.
Malanda is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 3.0. While many residents can walk to a school, almost no one lives within a 10-minute walk of public transport or health services.