Toowoomba

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 95,265 people were usually resident in Toowoomba: of these 47.7% were male and 52.3% were female. Of the total population 3.1% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 20.8% of people usually resident in Toowoomba were children aged 0-14 years, and 25.1% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 35 years.

In the 2006 Census, 90.0% of people usually resident in Toowoomba were Australian citizens, 10.0% were born overseas and 0.7% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 48.0% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Toowoomba were married, 11.7% were either separated or divorced, 7.1% were widowed and 33.2% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 84.4% of people usually resident in Toowoomba, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 2.1%, New Zealand 1.3%, Sudan 0.4%, South Africa 0.4% and Scotland 0.4%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Toowoomba were Catholic 26.0%, Anglican 22.6%, No Religion 12.5%, Uniting Church 7.1% and Lutheran 4.8%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Toowoomba were Mandarin 0.5%, Dinka 0.3%, Arabic 0.3%, Cantonese 0.2% and German 0.2%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 91.1%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 45,020 people aged 15 years and over in Toowoomba were in the labour force. Of these 61.0% worked full-time, 28.7% worked part-time, 3.3% were away from work, 2.1% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 4.9% were unemployed. 26,350 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Toowoomba were Professionals 18.2%, Technicians and Trades Workers 15.6%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 14.5%, Labourers 13.5%, Sales Workers 11.1%, Managers 10.0%, Community and Personal Service Workers 9.5% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 6.1%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Toowoomba, the most common responses for industry of employment included School Education 6.5%, Hospitals 4.7%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 3.9%, Tertiary Education 2.9% and Meat and Meat Product Manufacturing 2.5%.

In the 2006 Census in Toowoomba, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $436, the median family income was $1,096 and the median household income was $907.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 24,359 families in Toowoomba: of these 39.4% were couple families without children, 41.4% were couple families with children, 17.1% were one parent families and 2.1% were other families.

Dwelling structure

Dwellings include visitor only and other not-classifiable households unless otherwise stated

In the 2006 Census 36,352 occupied private dwellings were counted in Toowoomba.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Toowoomba, 81.6% were separate houses, 5.5% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 12.2% were flats, units or apartments and 0.7% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Toowoomba, 32.1% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 29.6% were owned with a mortgage and 32.1% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Toowoomba, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 57.1% were rented from a real estate agent, 10.0% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 30.9% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Toowoomba, the median weekly rent was $175. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083. The average people per household was 2.5 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Toowoomba, 66.2% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 26.0% were single (or lone) person households and 4.3% were group households.