Urban Centre · Area profile
Blackbutt
2 km²
A shrinking and rapidly ageing population marks the recent history of Blackbutt, where the total number of residents fell by 26% since 2011. The community is now far older than the national average, with 41.9% of people aged 65 and over. Many residents live alone in detached houses, and the area is defined by very low typical incomes. Despite these challenges, almost every home is within a short walk of essential services, parks, and shops.
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The typical resident is now 61, which is far older than the national figure of 38. This shift is stark, as the number of seniors rose by 28 points since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 fell by 4.6 points.
People born overseas make up 14% of the population, which is higher than most similar areas but well below the state average. The most common ancestries are English at 49.5% and Australian at 36.1%.
English is the main language for 88.9% of residents. Only 3.1% of people use another language at home, a figure that is far below the national average and has barely changed since 2011.
About 38.8% of residents report having no religion, which is about the same as the national figure. This represents a significant shift, as the number of people with no religion rose 27 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is far below the national average, with only 4.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The number of people who completed Year 12 also fell by 39 points since 2011.
Typical weekly household income is $746, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Incomes have fallen significantly since 2011, and only 3.2% of households earn $3,000 or more a week.
Health challenges are common here, with 44.1% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is far above the national average, and 11.6% of residents need help with daily activities.
Unpaid care for children is far below the national figure, consistent with the fact that there are fewer children in the area. However, 13.9% of people provide other types of unpaid care, which is higher than most areas.
Many residents live alone, making up 40.1% of households. This is far above the national figure and represents a 29 point increase since 2011, contributing to a smaller typical household size of 2.0 people.
Most residents own their homes outright, with 54.6% doing so, which is far above the national average. Detached houses make up 94.7% of all dwellings, and typical weekly rent is lower than usual at $230.
Cars are the primary way to get around, as 67.1% of people drive to work and no one uses public transport. Only 3.6% of people work from home, which is far below the national figure.
Recent arrivals from overseas make up 3.5% of the population, which is far below the national figure. Meanwhile, 36.9% of residents have moved house in the last five years.
The number of adults working or looking for work is far below the national average at 30.1%. The unemployment rate is 13.1%, which is well above the national figure and rose 11 points since 2011.
The area is very walkable, with 98.9% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries and 98.2% near health services. This far exceeds the state average for access to essential amenities.