Thursday Island

The area is far younger than the rest of Australia, with 27.0% of people under 15 and only 7.2% aged 65 or over. De facto relationships are far more common here than in the state, and the population grew by about 158 people since 2011.

Most residents were born in Australia, with only 6.6% born overseas, a figure far below the national average. Common ancestries include Australian, English, Scottish, and Irish.

Language diversity has grown rapidly, with 48.3% of people now using another language at home, up from just 1.2% in 2011. This is far above the national figure, and those who speak little or no English have also increased.

Christianity is the most common faith at 68.4%. People with no religion make up 20.5% of the population, which is far below the typical Queensland figure.

Schooling levels have risen, with 57.9% of residents completing Year 12. While 16.1% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, this is well below the state and national averages.

Typical incomes are much higher than in most similar areas, with the typical household earning $2,136 a week. High earners are more common here, as 24.3% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.

Residents report far fewer long-term health conditions than the national average, at 18.1%. Only 3.5% of people need help with daily activities, and mental health conditions are reported at a much lower rate than in the state.

Unpaid care for children is more common here than in most areas, though the number of people doing significant housework has fallen. Volunteers make up 13.6% of the community, and there is a slightly higher rate of former Defence Force members than the national average.

Homes are typically crowded, with 3.2 people per house and 1.2 people per bedroom. One-parent families are far more common than in the state, making up 27.2% of households.

The rental market is very dominant, with 74.1% of people renting and only 8.2% owning their home outright. Typical weekly rent is much lower than the national figure at $200, and fewer homes have three or more bedrooms.

Many households live without a car, with 24.0% having no motor vehicle, which is far above the state average. While 39.1% of workers drive, 23.9% walk to work, and very few use public transport.

Around 35.7% of residents moved in the last five years, though this is lower than the state average. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 10.2% of the population, a figure that has fallen since 2011.

More people are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas, with a high full-time employment rate of 64.8%. The most common industries are health care and social assistance, followed by public administration and safety.

Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school or park, but far fewer are near groceries or health services. The area is considered mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 4.0.