Urban Centre · Area profile
El Arish
1 km²
A sharp shift in age and population has transformed El Arish since 2011, as it shrank by about 35% and became far older. The typical resident is now 47, which is far older than the national figure of 38. This small community is now marked by a high number of seniors and people living alone. It remains a largely residential area with a strong presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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The typical resident is 47, far older than the Queensland average of 38. Seniors make up 22.9% of the population, well above the national figure, while children under 15 have fallen to 16.3% since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and only 6.1% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English, Australian, Italian and German are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 87.8% of the community. Those using another language at home fell to 4.9% since 2011, though this is still higher than in most similar areas.
About 40.4% of people report no religion, which is similar to the state average. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 48.2%.
Educational qualifications are far below the national average, with only 2.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. About 31.7% of residents finished school at Year 10.
Incomes are well below the national figure, with a typical household earning $1,057 a week. Only 4.0% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is much lower than most areas.
Health needs are higher than average, with 34.3% of people living with a long-term health condition. Around 7.8% of residents need help with daily activities, a figure that has risen since 2011.
Unpaid care for children has fallen sharply to 16.4% since 2011, which is well below the national average. Volunteering is lower than most areas at 14.0%.
Living arrangements have shifted toward smaller households, with 39.0% of people now living alone. This is far above the national figure of 25.6%.
Home ownership is very high, as 50.0% of homes are owned outright. Most residents live in separate houses, and typical weekly rent is $278, well below the national figure.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 81.3% of workers driving to work. No one uses public transport to commute, and 7.6% of homes have no motor vehicle.
The community has seen significant movement, with 40.9% of people moving house in the last five years. This is a large increase from 2011.
Full-time employment is high at 68.1%, well above the national average. The most common industries are manufacturing, agriculture and retail, with many working as technicians or tradespeople.
While almost every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park or school, the area is mostly car-dependent. There are no groceries or health services within walking distance.