Springsure

The community is older than average, with 23.7% of residents aged 65 or over, a figure well above the national level. Since 2011, the proportion of seniors has risen by 7.4 points, while the share of children under 15 has fallen by 5.7 points.

The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 81.7% born here and only 5.7% born overseas. This is far below the national figure and represents a significant drop from 2011, when over 20% of the population was born abroad.

English is the primary language for 85% of residents, and very few people use another language at home (2.6%). This is far below the national average, and notably, no one in the area reported speaking little or no English.

Religious affiliation remains common here, with 58.8% of people identifying as Christian. The share of people reporting no religion is 27.5%, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%.

Qualification levels have fallen since 2011, with the share of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher dropping by 13 points to 11.1%. The proportion of residents who completed Year 12 is also far below the national average at 33.8%.

Typical incomes are higher than in most other areas; the typical personal weekly income is $943, which is a little above the national figure. High earners are common, with 15.9% of people earning $2,000 or more a week.

About 30.1% of residents have a long-term health condition, which is a little above the national average. However, the rate of mental health conditions at 6% is well below the national figure.

Local residents are very active in their community, with 21.7% volunteering, a rate well above the national average. This is despite a decline in unpaid care and housework since 2011.

Living arrangements have shifted toward smaller households, with people living alone rising to 33.6% since 2011. Consequently, the number of people per home has dropped to 2.2, which is lower than most areas.

The rental market has grown significantly, with 37.1% of households renting, well above the national figure. While most homes are separate houses, the typical weekly rent of $200 is far below the national average.

Most people rely on cars to get to work, and very few work from home (4.4%), which is far below the national figure. Interestingly, public transport use for commuting is among the highest for areas of this level.

The population has become more stable over time, as the number of people who moved in the last five years fell by 18 points since 2011. Recent arrivals from overseas also dropped to 7.1% over the same period.

Full-time employment is much higher here than in most areas, at 65.6%, and the unemployment rate is very low at 2.3%. Mining is the dominant industry, employing 24.2% of the workforce.

The town is quite walkable, with 92% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, and schools. However, there is no public transport within a 10-minute walk of any home.