Council (LGA) · Area profile

Western Downs

37,923 km²

Western Downs has a slightly younger population and somewhat more renters than the norm.

It also has somewhat fewer graduates than the norm and somewhat more residents than usual.

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📍 Western Downs, Council (LGA)

Demographics & Identity

Total population33,843▲ +7.1%since 2011 Median age38 yrs▲ +2.7%since 2011 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population7.6%People aged 65 and over17.1%Children under 1521.4%People in a de facto relationship12.8%▲ +20.6%since 2011

Age & sex structure

Age structure

Western Downs splits fairly evenly between Older adults (45–64) (25%) and Young adults (25–44) (25%), with Children (0–14) at 21%.

Older adults (45–64)25.1%

Young adults (25–44)24.7%

Children (0–14)21.4%

Seniors (65+)17.1%

Youth (15–24)11.7%

Marital status

In Western Downs, the largest group is Married at 46%, followed by Never married (35%) and Divorced (9%).

Married46%
Never married35%
Divorced9%
Widowed6%
Separated4%

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

In Western Downs, Australia is the majority at 94%; Philippines is next at 2%.

Australia81.9%

Philippines1.5%

New Zealand1.4%

England1.2%

South Africa0.5%

India0.3%

China0.1%

Vietnam0.1%

Nepal0.1%

Italy0.0%

Ancestry

Western Downs splits fairly evenly between Australian (37%) and English (33%), with Irish at 9%.

Australian42.9%

English37.8%

Irish10.4%

Scottish9.5%

German8.8%

Filipino1.7%

Italian1.1%

Dutch1.0%

Chinese0.5%

Indian0.4%

Language

People using another language at home4.1%

Language used at home

In Western Downs, English only is the majority at 99%; Tagalog is next at 1%.

English only86.1%

Tagalog0.6%

Punjabi0.1%

Hindi0.1%

Mandarin0.1%

Vietnamese0.1%

Cantonese0.1%

Italian0.0%

Greek0.0%

Arabic0.0%

Religion

People with no religion30.6%

Religious affiliation

In Western Downs, Christianity is the majority at 64%; No religion is next at 35%.

Christianity64%
No religion35%
Other religions0%
Hinduism0%
Buddhism0%
Islam0%
Judaism0%

Education & Qualifications

Completed Year 1241.2%Adults with a bachelor degree or higher10.8%

Highest year of school

In Western Downs, the largest group is Year 12 at 47%, followed by Year 10 (31%) and Year 9 or below (15%).

Year 1241.2%

Year 1027.8%

Year 9 or below12.9%

Year 116.4%

Highest qualification level

In Western Downs, Certificate III / IV is the majority at 51%; Bachelor degree is next at 21%.

Certificate III / IV37.9%

Bachelor degree15.7%

Advanced diploma / diploma12.4%

Certificate I / II3.7%

Graduate diploma / certificate2.0%

Postgraduate degree1.8%

Field of qualification

Western Downs splits fairly evenly between Engineering & related (23%) and Management & commerce (19%), with Education at 11%.

Engineering & related17.1%

Management & commerce14.0%

Education8.6%

Society & culture8.2%

Health8.1%

Agriculture & environment6.3%

Food, hospitality & personal services5.6%

Architecture & building4.5%

Creative arts1.1%

Natural & physical sciences1.0%

Income

Median personal income (weekly)$716▲ +32.3%since 2011 Median household income (weekly)$1,374▲ +28.8%since 2011 Median family income (weekly)$1,713▲ +32.4%since 2011 People earning $2,000+ a week8.1%Households earning $3,000+ a week13.1%

Household income distribution

Western Downs splits fairly evenly between $650–$1,499 (33%) and $1,500–$2,999 (31%), with Under $650 at 21%.

$650–$1,49930.0%

$1,500–$2,99928.0%

Under $65018.7%

$3,000–$3,9996.9%

$4,000 or more6.3%

Personal income distribution

In Western Downs, the largest group is Under $650 at 46%, followed by $650–$1,499 (34%) and $1,500–$2,999 (16%).

Under $65040.9%

$650–$1,49930.2%

$1,500–$2,99914.2%

$3,000 or more2.8%

Health & Disability

People with a long-term health condition30.2%People with a mental health condition9.8%People needing help with daily activities6.4%

Number of long-term health conditions

In Western Downs, None is the majority at 65%; One condition is next at 22%.

None57.3%

One condition19.4%

Two conditions6.7%

Three or more4.1%

Long-term health conditions reported

Western Downs splits fairly evenly between Asthma (19%) and Mental health (18%), with Arthritis at 18%.

Asthma10.2%

Mental health9.8%

Arthritis9.5%

Other condition7.2%

Diabetes5.4%

Heart disease4.4%

Cancer3.0%

Lung condition2.1%

Stroke1.1%

Dementia0.6%

Community Participation

Volunteers19.5%People providing unpaid care11.4%People caring for children unpaid25.9%People who served in the Defence Force3.0%People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework22.1%

Family & Households

Average household size2.5▼ -3.8%since 2011 One-parent families16.3%People living alone27.2%▲ +10.4%since 2011

Family composition

In Western Downs, Couples with children is the majority at 54%; Couples without children is next at 29%.

Couples with children54%
Couples without children29%
One-parent families16%
Other families1%

Household size

In Western Downs, the largest group is 2 people at 36%, followed by 1 person (27%) and 3 people (13%).

2 people35.8%

1 person27.2%

3 people13.5%

4 people12.5%

5 people6.7%

6 or more4.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Median rent (weekly)$240▲ +20.0%since 2011 Median mortgage repayment (monthly)$1,300→ 0.0%since 2011 Average people per bedroom0.80▼ -27.3%since 2011 Households renting32.1%Homes owned outright33.9%Separate (detached) houses90.2%Homes with three or more bedrooms81.1%▲ +3.2%since 2011

How homes are owned or rented

Western Downs splits fairly evenly between Owned outright (35%) and Rented (33%), with Owned with a mortgage at 28%.

Owned outright35%
Rented33%
Owned with a mortgage28%
Other tenure5%

Types of homes

In Western Downs, Separate house is the majority at 91%; Townhouse / semi-detached is next at 7%.

Separate house91%
Townhouse / semi-detached7%
Other dwelling1%
Flat or apartment1%

Bedrooms per home

In Western Downs, the largest group is 3 bedrooms at 42%, followed by 4 bedrooms (33%) and 2 bedrooms (13%).

3 bedrooms41.1%

4 bedrooms32.5%

2 bedrooms12.8%

5 or more7.5%

1 bedroom3.5%

Studio / none0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

In Western Downs, $200–$349 is the majority at 65%; Under $200 is next at 28%.

$200–$34961.2%

Under $20025.8%

$350–$5496.1%

$550–$7490.2%

$750 or more0.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

In Western Downs, the largest group is $1,000–$1,799 at 41%, followed by Under $1,000 (35%) and $1,800–$2,999 (18%).

$1,000–$1,79937.9%

Under $1,00032.4%

$1,800–$2,99916.3%

$3,000 or more6.6%

Transport & Vehicles

Homes with no motor vehicle4.5%▼ -16.1%since 2011

Motor vehicles per home

Western Downs splits fairly evenly between 2 vehicles (37%) and 1 vehicle (33%), with 3 vehicles at 16%.

2 vehicles36.6%

1 vehicle32.7%

3 vehicles16.3%

4 or more10.0%

No vehicle4.5%

How people get to work

In Western Downs, Car (driver) is the majority at 71%; Worked at home is next at 14%.

Car (driver)61.7%

Worked at home12.5%

Car (passenger)5.5%

Walked5.2%

Bus1.3%

Bicycle0.5%

Train0.0%

Migration & Movement

People who moved in the last 5 years38.6%Recent arrivals from overseas19.7%

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment rate4.6%Labour-force participation59.6%Employed full-time64.5%

Industries people work in

No single group dominates in Western Downs — Agriculture, forestry & fishing leads at 19%, ahead of Retail trade (10%) and Health care & social assistance (9%).

Agriculture, forestry & fishing18.4%

Retail trade9.5%

Health care & social assistance8.9%

Construction8.6%

Education & training8.1%

Accommodation & food5.9%

Public administration & safety5.2%

Manufacturing4.8%

Transport & warehousing4.1%

Mining3.8%

Occupations people work in

Western Downs splits fairly evenly between Managers (20%) and Technicians & trades (16%), with Labourers at 15%.

Managers19.2%

Technicians & trades15.4%

Labourers14.9%

Professionals11.5%

Clerical & administrative10.8%

Machinery operators & drivers9.5%

Community & personal service9.2%

Sales workers7.7%

Areas within Western Downs

Chinchilla Miles - Wandoan Tara Wambo

Nearby areas

South Burnett Goondiwindi Toowoomba Cherbourg North Burnett Banana Lockyer Valley Somerset

👥 Demographics & Identity