Urban Centre · Area profile
Barcaldine
7 km²
The population of Barcaldine (L) grew by 46% since 2011, reaching 1,243 people. This is an ageing community where the typical resident is now 43, and nearly 23% are seniors. It is a place of contrasts, with a very high proportion of volunteers and a strong Indigenous presence, though it has a much smaller overseas-born population than the state average. Most residents live in detached houses and enjoy a highly walkable town centre.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 9.7% of the population, which is well above the national figure. While the community has grown, it has become older; the typical age rose by 12 years since 2011 to reach 43.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas birthplaces make up only 7.0% of the population. This is far below the national figure of 27.7% and has fallen since 2011.
English is the dominant language, with only 3.1% of people using another tongue at home. This is far below the national average, and the figure has fallen by 10 points since 2011.
Over half of residents identify as Christian, while 31.2% report no religion. This last group has grown by 16 points since 2011, though it remains well below the national figure.
Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 15.6% of the community, a figure that has risen since 2011. While higher than most similar areas, this is still far below the national average.
Typical weekly family income is $2,112, which is about the same as the national figure. Personal incomes have risen since 2011, with the typical person now earning $865 a week.
About 29.4% of people have a long-term health condition, which is about the same as the state average. However, the rate of mental health conditions at 5.9% is well below the national figure.
Community spirit is very high, with 28.7% of residents volunteering—far above the national average of 14.1%. There is also a higher than usual proportion of people who served in the Defence Force.
Many residents live alone, accounting for 37.2% of homes, which is far above the national figure. This helps explain why the typical household size of 2.2 people is lower than the Australian average.
Detached houses are the norm here, making up 94.3% of all homes. Rent is much lower than the national figure at $200 a week, and 40.2% of homes are owned outright.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with 61.9% of people driving to work. No one in the area uses public transport to commute, and only 4% work from home.
About 36.3% of residents moved here in the last five years, which is well below the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 10.3% of the population, down 11 points since 2011.
The area has a very strong employment rate, with an unemployment rate of just 2.3%, which is well below the national figure. Full-time employment is also much higher than in most similar areas.
The town is very walkable, with 86% of homes within a 15-minute walk of essential services. Most residents can easily reach parks, schools, groceries, and health services on foot.