35.6% were Christian, 3.8% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.4% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 798 (7.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 3,063 (29.5%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,035 people (10.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 4,260 (41.1%) people were employed full-time, 1,290 (12.4%) were part-time, and 834 (8.0%) were unemployed. Rural surrounds Kinleith statistical area, which surrounds but does not include Tokoroa, covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Kinleith had a population of 1,446 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 18 people (−1.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 333 people (29.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 543 households, comprising 789 males and 657 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.2 males per female. The median age was 33.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 324 people (22.4%) aged under 15 years, 324 (22.4%) aged 15 to 29, 636 (44.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 165 (11.4%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 83.6% European/Pākehā, 19.5% Māori, 2.7% Pacific peoples, 8.5% Asian, and 1.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 17.0, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.0% had no religion, 32.0% were Christian, 1.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 3.7% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 150 (13.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 216 (19.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $42,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 240 people (21.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 636 (56.7%) people were employed full-time, 183 (16.3%) were part-time, and 39 (3.5%) were unemployed. Climate Economy The economic lifeblood of Tokoroa is forestry, centred at the nearby Kinleith Mill; and dairy farming. In 1995, Fonterra built the southern hemisphere's largest cheese factory in Lichfield, some 5 km north of the town. Due to increases in relative rates of return, large amounts of previously forested land were converted to farmland in the 2000s