The combined data from Baffle Creek, Deepwater and Rules Beach highlights a lower socio-economic profile compared to the Gladstone Region.

• The median weekly household income is $859 compared to $1,693 for the Gladstone Region.
• 2.6 per cent of households earn $3,000 or more per week compared to 25.3 per cent for the Gladstone Region.
• 39.2 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 significantly higher than the Region at 7.2 per cent.

The combined data of Baffle Creek, Deepwater and Rules Beach shows there has been a small increase in the percentage of the population in the labour force between 2016 and 2021. Looking at 2021 data 23.2 per cent of the population were in the workforce compared to 21 per cent in 2016

The unemployment rate in Baffle Creek, Deepwater and Rules Beach has decreased between 2016 and 2021, with 6.7 per cent (27 people) in 2016 compared 4.2 per cent (19 people) in 2021.

There has been an increase in the number of people not in the work force, being 266 in 2021 or 58.8 per cent of the population, compared to 226 people (56.4 per cent) in 2016.

In 2021 there were 63 people that did not state their labour force status compared to 49 in 2016.

In 2021 between 59.3 per cent and 62.3 per cent of households fully owned their housing in Baffle Creek, Deepwater and Rules Beach. Combined data shows 60.5 per cent of the community own their own home which is 33.2 per cent higher than the Gladstone Region, at 27.3 per cent. There was a significant increase in the proportion of households that own their home between 2016 and 2021, increasing by 49.4 per cent from 47 per cent (85 households) in 2016 to 60.5 per cent (127 households) in 2021.

The population of Baffle Creek, Deepwater and Rules Beach that own their home with a mortgage decreased by 1 household between 2016 and 2021. During the same period, the percentage of the population that owned their home with a mortgage decreased by 15.5 per cent, being 29.8 per cent in 2016 and 25.2 per cent in 2021.

There are some differences when looking at a more localised level. The percentage of the population that owned their home with a mortgage increased by 40 per cent in Baffle Creek from 23.4 per cent (15 households) in 2016 to 34.4 per cent (21 households) in 2021.

Deepwater and Rules Beach both saw a decrease in properties owned with a mortgage, with a reduction of 11.4 per cent for Deepwater and 11.1 per cent for Rules Beach between 2016 and 2021. This equates to four less households for Deepwater and 3 for Rules Beach.

There are minimal rentals in Baffle Creek, Deepwater and Rules Beach, with the majority of rentals being provided by a known person not living in the household. There were no properties rented from a community housing provider or State housing authority in 2021 and 2016. No homes were rented from real estate agents in 2021, while four were rented from a real estate agent in 2016, all of which were located in Baffle Creek, making up 2.2 per cent of homes.

In 2021, 14 homes or 6.7 per cent of homes were rented from a person not in the same household, while in 2016, 11 homes were rented from people not in the same household, which is 6.1 per cent of homes.

The average monthly mortgage payments for Baffle Creek, Deepwater and Rules Beach when looking at combined data is $1,121 which is $479 lower than the Gladstone Region and lower than the State by $612. Mortgage re-payments have increased between 2016 and 2021 by $76.

There are some notable differences between monthly mortgage re-payments for Baffle Creek, Deepwater and Rules Beach.

In Baffle Creek mortgage re-payments have increased by $87 between 2016 and 2021, from $1,300 to $1,387. While in Deepwater payments increased by $6 from $843 to $840. Rules Beach saw the largest increase of $135, increasing from $1000 to $1,135.

Data has changed across most mortgage re-payment brackets when looking at the combined data of Baffle Creek, Deepwater and Rules Beach

The largest two increases were seen amongst those paying $1,800-$2,399, which made up 20.8 per cent of households in 2021 or 11 households. There were no households in this price bracket in 2016.

The number of people paying between $1,400 - $1,799 and $0-$299 each made up 5.7 per cent of households in 2021, with number of households in both these brackets increasing from zero in 2016 to three in 2021.

There was a notable decrease in those paying $1,000-$1,399. Households in this bracket made up 16.7per cent of households in 2016 compared to 5.7 per cent in 2021. This equates to a reduction of 6 households.

The number of people paying $300-$439 halved during this period, reducing from six to three households which was a reduction from 11.1 per cent of households to 5.7 per cent.

The average median rent when combining the data of Baffle Creek, Deepwater and Rules Beach has increased by $83 between 2016 and 2021 - from $109 in 2016 to $191 in 2021.

Considerations:

• Nearly half of all families earn less than $650 week, which is significantly more than the region. Given the increasing mortgage repayments and rental costs, consideration should be given to accessibility of programs events and activities which may be harder to access due to low income and rising cost of living pressures.