State Electorate · Area profile

Southern Downs

30,889 km²

Southern Downs has low household incomes, an older age profile than most and fewer university graduates than most areas.

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📍 Southern Downs, State Electorate

Demographics & Identity

Total population49,822▲ +12.3%since 2011 Median age46 yrs▲ +31.4%since 2011 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population5.9%People aged 65 and over24.7%Children under 1517.9%People in a de facto relationship11.2%▼ -3.5%since 2011

Age & sex structure

Age structure

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Older adults (45–64) at 27%, followed by Seniors (65+) (25%) and Young adults (25–44) (20%).

Older adults (45–64)27.1%

Seniors (65+)24.7%

Young adults (25–44)20.2%

Children (0–14)17.9%

Youth (15–24)10.1%

Marital status

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Married at 49%, followed by Never married (30%) and Divorced (10%).

Married49%
Never married30%
Divorced10%
Widowed7%
Separated4%

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Australia at 93%, followed by England (2%) and New Zealand (2%).

Australia81.7%

England2.1%

New Zealand1.5%

Philippines0.9%

Italy0.4%

South Africa0.4%

India0.3%

China0.1%

Vietnam0.0%

Nepal0.0%

Ancestry

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Australian at 34%, followed by English (34%) and Irish (11%).

Australian40.7%

English40.4%

Irish12.9%

Scottish11.2%

German6.9%

Italian3.3%

Dutch1.1%

Filipino1.1%

Chinese0.8%

Indian0.4%

Language

People using another language at home4.3%

Language used at home

In Southern Downs, the largest group is English only at 98%, followed by Italian (1%) and Mandarin (0%).

English only87.7%

Italian0.5%

Mandarin0.4%

Tagalog0.3%

Punjabi0.1%

Hindi0.1%

Cantonese0.1%

Vietnamese0.1%

Arabic0.0%

Greek0.0%

Religion

People with no religion30.9%

Religious affiliation

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Christianity at 64%, followed by No religion (34%) and Other religions (1%).

Christianity64%
No religion34%
Other religions1%
Buddhism0%
Hinduism0%
Islam0%
Judaism0%

Education & Qualifications

Completed Year 1240.7%Adults with a bachelor degree or higher11.8%

Highest year of school

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Year 12 at 45%, followed by Year 10 (32%) and Year 9 or below (15%).

Year 1240.7%

Year 1029.3%

Year 9 or below13.7%

Year 116.6%

Highest qualification level

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 49%, followed by Bachelor degree (22%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (17%).

Certificate III / IV37.0%

Bachelor degree16.3%

Advanced diploma / diploma13.1%

Postgraduate degree3.1%

Certificate I / II3.0%

Graduate diploma / certificate2.4%

Field of qualification

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Engineering & related at 18%, followed by Management & commerce (17%) and Health (13%).

Engineering & related14.0%

Management & commerce13.3%

Health10.2%

Society & culture9.9%

Education9.4%

Food, hospitality & personal services6.3%

Agriculture & environment5.5%

Architecture & building5.4%

Creative arts1.7%

Natural & physical sciences1.4%

Income

Median personal income (weekly)$619▼ -16.2%since 2011 Median household income (weekly)$1,163▼ -20.6%since 2011 Median family income (weekly)$1,450▼ -23.6%since 2011 People earning $2,000+ a week5.3%Households earning $3,000+ a week9.4%

Household income distribution

In Southern Downs, the largest group is $650–$1,499 at 38%, followed by $1,500–$2,999 (28%) and Under $650 (24%).

$650–$1,49934.7%

$1,500–$2,99925.3%

Under $65021.8%

$3,000–$3,9995.5%

$4,000 or more3.8%

Personal income distribution

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Under $650 at 52%, followed by $650–$1,499 (35%) and $1,500–$2,999 (11%).

Under $65046.7%

$650–$1,49931.2%

$1,500–$2,99910.1%

$3,000 or more1.7%

Health & Disability

People with a long-term health condition33.1%People with a mental health condition9.5%People needing help with daily activities7.5%

Number of long-term health conditions

In Southern Downs, the largest group is None at 63%, followed by One condition (23%) and Two conditions (9%).

None56.4%

One condition20.9%

Two conditions7.7%

Three or more4.5%

Long-term health conditions reported

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Arthritis at 20%, followed by Asthma (16%) and Mental health (16%).

Arthritis12.1%

Asthma9.5%

Mental health9.5%

Other condition8.2%

Diabetes5.9%

Heart disease5.4%

Cancer3.6%

Lung condition2.8%

Stroke1.3%

Dementia0.8%

Community Participation

Volunteers19.5%People providing unpaid care13.0%People caring for children unpaid23.2%People who served in the Defence Force3.8%People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework24.3%

Family & Households

Average household size2.4→ 0.0%since 2011 One-parent families15.3%People living alone29.1%▲ +2.7%since 2011

Family composition

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Couples with children at 49%, followed by Couples without children (35%) and One-parent families (15%).

Couples with children49%
Couples without children35%
One-parent families15%
Other families1%

Household size

In Southern Downs, the largest group is 2 people at 39%, followed by 1 person (29%) and 3 people (12%).

2 people38.9%

1 person29.1%

3 people12.4%

4 people10.7%

5 people5.6%

6 or more3.2%

Housing & Dwellings

Median rent (weekly)$250▼ -21.9%since 2011 Median mortgage repayment (monthly)$1,300▼ -40.0%since 2011 Average people per bedroom0.70▼ -36.4%since 2011 Households renting26.4%Homes owned outright40.7%Separate (detached) houses91.2%Homes with three or more bedrooms77.2%▲ +14.0%since 2011

How homes are owned or rented

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Owned outright at 42%, followed by Owned with a mortgage (28%) and Rented (27%).

Owned outright42%
Owned with a mortgage28%
Rented27%
Other tenure3%

Types of homes

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Separate house at 92%, followed by Townhouse / semi-detached (6%) and Flat or apartment (1%).

Separate house92%
Townhouse / semi-detached6%
Flat or apartment1%
Other dwelling1%

Bedrooms per home

In Southern Downs, the largest group is 3 bedrooms at 43%, followed by 4 bedrooms (29%) and 2 bedrooms (17%).

3 bedrooms42.1%

4 bedrooms28.5%

2 bedrooms16.6%

5 or more6.6%

1 bedroom3.5%

Studio / none0.7%

Weekly rent distribution

In Southern Downs, the largest group is $200–$349 at 65%, followed by Under $200 (22%) and $350–$549 (11%).

$200–$34961.7%

Under $20021.2%

$350–$54910.9%

$550–$7490.4%

$750 or more0.4%

Monthly mortgage distribution

In Southern Downs, the largest group is $1,000–$1,799 at 44%, followed by Under $1,000 (33%) and $1,800–$2,999 (17%).

$1,000–$1,79941.4%

Under $1,00030.8%

$1,800–$2,99916.3%

$3,000 or more5.4%

Transport & Vehicles

Homes with no motor vehicle4.8%▼ -55.2%since 2011

Motor vehicles per home

In Southern Downs, the largest group is 2 vehicles at 37%, followed by 1 vehicle (34%) and 3 vehicles (15%).

2 vehicles37.0%

1 vehicle33.9%

3 vehicles14.8%

4 or more9.5%

No vehicle4.8%

How people get to work

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Car (driver) at 76%, followed by Worked at home (12%) and Car (passenger) (6%).

Car (driver)65.2%

Worked at home10.3%

Car (passenger)5.4%

Walked4.7%

Bicycle0.4%

Bus0.3%

Train0.0%

Migration & Movement

People who moved in the last 5 years35.6%Recent arrivals from overseas12.2%

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment rate4.4%Labour-force participation54.2%Employed full-time58.6%

Industries people work in

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Agriculture, forestry & fishing at 19%, followed by Health care & social assistance (13%) and Retail trade (11%).

Agriculture, forestry & fishing17.8%

Health care & social assistance12.6%

Retail trade10.1%

Education & training8.5%

Construction7.5%

Manufacturing7.0%

Accommodation & food7.0%

Transport & warehousing4.9%

Public administration & safety4.2%

Other services3.8%

Occupations people work in

In Southern Downs, the largest group is Managers at 18%, followed by Labourers (17%) and Professionals (13%).

Managers17.2%

Labourers17.0%

Professionals12.4%

Technicians & trades12.2%

Community & personal service11.4%

Clerical & administrative10.3%

Machinery operators & drivers9.3%

Sales workers8.3%

Nearby areas

Condamine Toowoomba South Toowoomba North Lockyer Northern Tablelands Lismore Ipswich West Scenic Rim

👥 Demographics & Identity