The Measuring Community Wellbeing in Cotton Communities Study was commissioned by the Cotton Catchments Communities Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) to better understand the socio-economic status of communities where cotton production and its associated activities form a significant component of the regional economy. Study areas, by Local Government Area, included Moree Plains, Narrabri, Narromine, Warren, Dalby/Wambo and Millmerran. The study developed a framework and set of social, economic and environmental indicators based on notions of community wellbeing and social sustainability that can be used to measure how the selected 'cotton communities' are performing against relevant state and national benchmarks over time, and to aid in better understanding the relationship between the industry and community wellbeing. The investigation spanned a period of drought that affected both irrigators and dry-land farmers to varying degrees across the study areas. Most indicators relate to 2005-06 including the August ABS Census, which preceded the peak of drought conditions for irrigators and cotton production. The energy and mining boom has been gathering momentum since 2000 and has emerged as a major factor driving development in Narrabri and the Darling Downs. These two events are impacting communities in very pronounced ways, both economically and socially. The importance of studies that track changes in community wellbeing should not be underestimated, as they will serve a significant role in better understanding the relationship between the wellbeing of communities and the cotton industry over time and in a constantly changing environment.