Calliope has a socio-economic profile slightly higher than the Gladstone Region.

• The median weekly household income is $1,884 compared to $1,693 for the Gladstone Region, and $1,675 for Queensland.
• 25.5 per cent of households earn $3,000 or more per week compared to 25.3 per cent for the Gladstone Region.
• 6.3 per cent households earn less than $650 each week compared to 7.2 per cent for Gladstone Region.
• 49.5 per cent of non-family households earn less than $650 each week which is higher than the region at 47.2 per cent.

Between 2011 and 2021 there has been a 35.5 per cent increase in the percentage of the population not in the workforce. This equates to an additional 284 people not in the workforce in 2021 compared to 2011.

The unemployment rate for Calliope has fluctuated over time, with an overall net increase of 132 per cent between 2011 and 2021, or 94 people.

In 2021 there were 218 people that did not state their labour force status compared to 339 in 2016 and 158 in 2011.

The Socio-Economic Indexes for Australia (SEIFA) index of relative socio-economic disadvantage Australia wide data is ranked from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 1367 (most advanced).

The SEIFA score for Calliope (Suburbs and Localities) 2021 is 966 which is slightly lower than the previous 2016 Census of 986.

The SEIFA score for Gladstone Region in 2016 was 978.  Across Australia’s local government areas, SEIFA scores range from 188 (most disadvantaged) to 1186 (least disadvantaged).

In 2021, 17.5 per cent of households fully owned their home which was 35.8 per cent lower than the Gladstone Region at 27.3 per cent. There was a decrease in the proportion of households that own their home between 2021 and 2011. With 24.8 per cent (330 households) owing their home in 2011, compared to 19 per cent (302 homes) in 2016 and 17.5 per cent or 298 homes in 2021.

The population that owns a home with a mortgage increased by 90 households between 2011 and 2021.  During the same period the percentage of the population that owned their home with a mortgage decreased, being 49.1 per cent of households in 2011, 46 per cent in 2016 and increasing slightly to 43.6 per cent in 2021.

Median mortgage payments decreased in the Calliope area when comparing 2011 and 2021.

The average monthly mortgage payments in the Calliope were $1,733 in 2021 which is $133 higher than the Gladstone Region and is in line with the State, which has a median payment of $1,733.

In 2011, median mortgage payments were $2,167, reducing by $67 in 2016 to $2100. Payments decreased further between 2021 and 2016, reducing by $367. This resulted in a total reduction in payments of $434.

Whilst the payment data categories between Census periods has changed the biggest two decreases were seen in households paying $3,000-$4,499 and $2,400-$2,999.

Households paying $3,000-$4,499 reduced from 13.5 per cent of households with a mortgage in 2011, to 14.9 per cent in 2016 and 5 per cent in 2021. This is a reduction of 51 households between 2021 and 2011.

Those paying $2,400 -$2,999 represented 7.1 per cent less in 2021 compared to 2021, taking the number of households in this payment bracket from 123 in 2011 to 93 in 2021

The largest increases were seen in those paying $800-$999 (42 households), $1,000-$1,399 (139 households) and $1400-$1799 (125 households).

The number of households paying $1000-$1399, represented 9 per cent of households in 2011, increasing to 10.2 per cent in 2016, with a further increase 18.7 per cent of households in 2021. This equates to an increase of 80 households and an overall increase of 135.5 per cent.

There has been a notable increase in the proportions of households renting in Calliope. In 2011, 18.9 per cent of households rented or 251 households. While in 2016, 30.8 per cent of households rented which represented 490 households. In 2021, household rented maintained at 490 households, representing a slightly lower percentage of overall households at 28.7 per cent.

The most noticeable increase was seen in those renting from a real estate agent, making up 13.7 per cent (182 households) of households in 2011. This amount increased to 25.3 per cent in 2016 (403 households) and slightly lower in 2021 at 21.9 per cent (373 households).

There were reductions across five rental price brackets between 2021 and 2011, 4 pricing categories between $1-$274 per week.

There was an increase across four rental price points, three of which were from $275-$649 a week. The largest increase was seen in those paying $350-$449 a week.

In 2011, 34 households fell into this price bracket, which made up 6.5 per cent of households, this increased to 115 households or 23 per cent of homes in 2021.

The proportion of households paying $275-$349, increased by 57.0 per cent between 2021 and 2011. There were 121 households in this bracket in 2011 and 190 in 2021 which saw people in this price range growing from 23.1 per cent to 38.1 per cent over the decade.

Considerations:

• A significant proportion of non-family households earn less than $650 consideration should be given to the impact this will have on daily life as well as accessibility to programs and events.
• There is a notable increase in the number of people paying more to rent properties in Calliope.

Rental Prices 2021