Longreach

Schools in Longreach iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Demographics

The median age of 39 sits 1.0 year below the national figure, though the trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 6.0 points over the decade while the young-adult share fell 5.9 points. Overseas-born residents account for just 9.3%, which is 12.3 percentage points below the national average, reflecting Anglo-Celtic heritage dominant in outback Queensland. The top ancestries are English (1,188), Irish (366) and Scottish (328). University qualifications at 20.3% sit 9.8 points below the national rate, because the dominant industries of healthcare, education and agriculture skew toward vocational rather than degree pathways. Volunteering at 30.0% is notably high for a community of 3,124.

Tenure splits to 32.9% owned outright, 24.7% under mortgage and 42.4% renting, a renter share above most regional Queensland towns. Separate houses dominate at 88.9%, with semi-detached at 5.9% and apartments at just 2.9%, making this effectively a single-format market. Affordability is strong compared to the national median: rent-to-income sits at 12.3% and mortgage-to-income at 16.8%, both well below stress thresholds. The vacancy rate of 17.2% is high relative to national norms, suggesting that despite a 42.4% renter share, actual occupancy is lower than the dwelling count implies.

Community Profile

Economy & Employment

Healthcare leads employment at 19.7% of workers (203 people), ahead of Education at 13.7% (141) and Public Administration at 13.0% (134). These three service sectors together account for nearly half of local jobs, a concentration typical of remote regional centres that serve large catchment areas. Agriculture contributes 8.3% (85 workers), reflecting the surrounding cattle and wool industries. The unemployment rate is a low 1.5% and the full-time rate is 74.6% among those employed. SEIFA deciles sit at 5 across IRSD and IRSAD, placing Longreach at the national midpoint, neither notably advantaged nor disadvantaged.

Transport to Work

Car reliance runs high at 79.6%, consistent with the absence of meaningful public transport across a 23,483 km2 area. Walking and cycling account for 13.5% of commutes, above what remote towns typically record, because the town centre is compact. No schools are recorded in this dataset; the IRSD decile of 5 places Longreach at the national midpoint for relative disadvantage. Housing stress is low compared to national benchmarks: rent-to-income at 12.3% and mortgage-to-income at 16.8% give most residents meaningful financial headroom. Need-for-assistance runs at 6.0% (165 people), reflecting the aging demographic rather than broader deprivation.

Population Forecast

Population has fallen 12.9% over the past decade, a steeper decline than most regional Queensland towns, and is forecast to reach 3,474 by 2031 at 0.75% annual loss. The gentrification score of 17 confirms no upward demographic pressure; the suburb is classified as not gentrifying, in contrast to decile 8-10 suburbs where income and education uplift drives price appreciation. The forecast trajectory is aging, driven by a 6.0-point rise in the senior share over the decade. Overseas migration adds 14 arrivals per year, partially offsetting a broadly neutral internal movement balance. Rent growth of 25.0% and real income growth of 13.8% over the period show improving economic conditions despite shrinking headcount.

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Longreach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

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