Urban Centre · Area profile
Mount Morgan
13 km²
Far older than most similar areas, Mount Morgan is a community where the typical resident is 53. The population has grown by 44% since 2011, but it has become increasingly aged as the number of seniors rose significantly. It is a place with a strong Indigenous presence and a workforce that faces high unemployment. These factors combine to create a town with very low typical incomes compared to the rest of the state.
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The community is far older than the national figure, with nearly 30% of people aged 65 or over. An Indigenous population of 14.2% is much higher than in most areas, though this has fallen since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up only 7.3%, which is far below the state and national figures. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the dominant language, and only 1.7% of people use another language at home. This is far below the national figure, and the number of people who speak little or no English is 0.0%.
Christianity remains the most common faith at 44.2%, while 36.1% of residents report no religion. The share of people with no religion has risen by 16 points since 2011.
Education levels are among the lowest for similar areas, with only 4.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 25.7% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure.
Typical weekly household income is among the lowest at $780, far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 4.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, and typical personal incomes have fallen since 2011.
Health challenges are high here, with 47.2% of people living with a long-term condition. This includes a high rate of mental health conditions and a significant 13.3% of people who need help with daily activities.
The area has a high proportion of Defence Force veterans at 4.9%. However, volunteering has fallen since 2011, and the share of people caring for children is far below the national average.
Living arrangements are unusual, as 42.3% of people live alone and one-parent families are far more common here than in most areas. Consequently, the typical home has only 2.0 people.
Almost half of all homes (49.2%) are owned outright, which is far above the state average. Most are separate houses, and the typical weekly rent of $200 is much lower than the national figure.
Car use is essential, as 68.1% of people drive to work and 11.4% of homes have no vehicle, which is well above the state average. Only 0.5% of people use public transport to commute.
The population is stable, with only 29.0% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are also rare at 1.7%, far below the national figure.
Jobs are scarce, with an unemployment rate of 14.9%, which is well above the national figure. Only 32.8% of adults are working or looking for work, among the lowest for similar areas.
The town is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 3.1. It is less walkable than the state average, partly due to a steeper terrain and a total lack of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport.