Urban Centre · Area profile
Boulia
1 km²
Most residents in Boulia enjoy a highly walkable lifestyle where health services, groceries, and schools are just a short stroll away. This small community of 218 people is distinguished by a very high Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, which accounts for 44.5% of the residents. While the population has shrunk slightly since 2011, it remains a place where children are well represented. The area feels like a residential hub with a high proportion of people living alone or in single-parent families.
Explore Boulia by topic
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 44.5% of the community, which is far above the national figure of 3.2%. Children under 15 are also well represented at 22.5%, though the typical resident is now slightly older at 39.
The community is predominantly Australian born, with only 6.9% born overseas—far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian ancestries are the most common, though the proportion of overseas-born residents has risen since 2011.
English is the main language for 86.7% of the population. Only 3.2% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%, and no one reported speaking little or no English.
Christianity is the most common faith at 58.3%. Those reporting no religion make up 28.0% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 38.9% and has risen since 2011.
Formal qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 28.7% of residents completing Year 12. Only 8.2% hold a bachelor degree or higher, far below the national figure of 26.3%.
Typical personal weekly income is $873, a little above the national figure of $805. While typical family incomes are well below the national average, the number of people earning $2,000 or more a week has risen since 2011.
Residents are generally healthier than those in similar areas, with only 1.4% needing help with daily activities. Long-term health conditions are reported at 28.0%, which is about the same as the national figure.
Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, with 24.1% of people participating. However, the proportion of people doing 15 or more hours of unpaid housework has fallen since 2011.
Living arrangements are unusual compared to the rest of the state, with 47.4% of people living alone and 40.5% of families being one-parent households, both of which are far above the national figures.
Renters make up 59.0% of households, far above the national figure of 30.6%. Rent is much lower than usual at a typical $138 per week, and 83.3% of homes are separate houses.
No one commutes by public transport, and 22.5% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is far above the national figure of 7.4%. Most people get to work by driving or walking.
The community is relatively stable, with 32.2% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%. Recent overseas arrivals account for 10.3% of the population.
Full-time employment is very high at 71.0%, far above the national figure of 58.9%. However, the unemployment rate is also much higher than most areas at 9.2%.
Daily life is very convenient, with 98.9% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services and 97.6% near groceries. The area is more walkable than most of Queensland, despite having no public transport within walking distance.