Tolga - West

The area is far older than the Queensland and national average, with 24.3% of people aged 65 and over. While the population grew by 825 people since 2011, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people fell slightly to 2.8%.

Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people (11.9%) than the state or national figures. However, this figure has risen nearly 10 points since 2011.

English is the dominant language, and the proportion of people using another language at home is well below the national figure at 3.5%. Very few people here speak little or no English.

About half of the population identifies as Christian, while 39.4% report no religion. The number of people with no religion has risen sharply by 31 points since 2011.

Education levels have improved significantly, with the number of people who completed Year 12 rising 28 points since 2011. Those with a bachelor degree or higher make up 17.1% of the community, which is much higher than in most similar areas.

This is a high-earning area where typical weekly household income is $1,691, a figure much higher than most similar areas. Weekly personal incomes have also risen by $309 since 2011.

Residents are generally healthier than those in most similar areas. The proportion of people needing help with daily activities fell 6.3 points since 2011 to 3.8%, and mental health conditions are well below the national figure.

Community participation is high, with 19.1% of people volunteering, which is well above the national figure. A high number of residents also provide unpaid care or do significant unpaid housework.

Families are the norm here, with 53.1% of households consisting of couples with children. Consequently, very few people live alone (14.7%), a figure far below the national average.

Housing is almost exclusively detached houses, and nearly half (49.6%) are owned outright, far above the national average. Large homes are common, with 89.2% having three or more bedrooms.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 70.8% of people driving to work and 80.4% of homes owning at least two vehicles. Very few people use public transport for commuting.

About a third of the population moved in the last five years, though this is well below the national rate. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas since 2016.

The local job market is strong, with an unemployment rate of 2.4%, which is much lower than most similar areas. Many residents work in health care, retail, or education.

The area is completely car-dependent, with a walkability score of 0.0. There are no shops, schools, or parks within a 15-minute walk for any residents.