Annandale (Qld)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Annandale reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Annandale's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, was around 10,353 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 237 people and a 2.3% rise since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,116. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,353 from the ABS as of June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 549 persons per square kilometer. Population growth in the area was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population trends suggest an increase just below the median of Australian non-metropolitan areas, with the area expected to expand by 627 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 6.1% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Annandale, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Annandale had six dwelling approvals over five years, averaging one new dwelling annually. This low development level reflects its rural nature, with housing needs driving development rather than market demand. The small sample size can make annual growth statistics volatile.

Compared to Rest of Qld and national patterns, Annandale has much lower development activity. Recent building activity consists solely of detached houses, typical in rural areas. By 2041, AreaSearch estimates a population increase of 627 residents.

At current rates, housing supply may not keep pace with growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Annandale has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 17 projects likely affecting the region. Notable projects include Kirwan Health Campus Expansion, Annandale Christian College Master Plan, Townsville University Hospital Expansion, and Mundingburra Housing. The following list details those most relevant:.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Annandale significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Annandale has an educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented, and its unemployment rate was 1.7% as of September 2025. In this month, 5,847 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.3 percentage points lower than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Annandale was broadly similar to Rest of Qld's 65.7%.

According to Census responses, only 4.7% of residents worked from home. Key industries of employment among residents were public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training, with a strong specialization in public administration & safety at 4.4 times the regional level. Construction had limited presence with 5.6% employment compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Many residents appeared to commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population.

In the 12-month period ending in September 2025, Annandale's labour force decreased by 1.0% and employment decreased by 1.4%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.4 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for May-25 estimated national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Annandale's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Annandale SA2 had median income among taxpayers at $70,685 and average income at $83,318. These figures are high nationally compared to Rest of Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year ended June 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $77,690 (median) and $91,575 (average). Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes rank highly in Annandale, between 79th and 80th percentiles nationally. Distribution data indicates that 34.9% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999, reflecting surrounding region's pattern where 31.7% fall within this range. Economic strength is evident with 32.9% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 89.3% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Annandale is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Annandale's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, were entirely houses with 0% other dwellings. This contrasted with Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Annandale stood at 36.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.2% and rented ones at 24.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,625, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Annandale was $375, slightly higher than Non-Metro Qld's figure of $345. Nationally, Annandale's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,625 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were comparable at $375.

Annandale features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 81.8% of all households, including 38.3% couples with children, 32.0% couples without children, and 10.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 18.2%, with lone person households at 15.0% and group households making up 3.3%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Annandale exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Annandale's residents aged 15+ have a higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. Specifically, 30.7% hold university qualifications compared to SA4 region's 20.1% and Rest of Qld's 20.6%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 33.9% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (23.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 38.0% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes secondary education (13.0%), primary education (11.9%), and tertiary education (7.7%).

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Analysis of public transport in Annandale indicates 31 active stops operating, all serving buses. These are covered by three routes offering a total of 305 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is rated good with residents located an average of 367 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain dominant at 87%, with walking at 6% and cycling at 2%. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.8, above the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, only 4.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 43 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 9 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Annandale is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Annandale faces significant health challenges as assessed by AreaSearch, with mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence being somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 61% of the total population (6,294 people), compared to 52.5% in Rest of Qld and a national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 7.9 and 6.9% of residents respectively, while 71.8% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.6% in Rest of Qld.

The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. As of the assessment, the area has 14.4% of residents aged 65 and over (1,492 people), which is lower than the 20.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Annandale records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Annandale's cultural diversity was found to be above average, with 20.1% of its population born overseas and 14.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the main religion in Annandale, making up 57.5% of people, compared to 52.2% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups were English (27.8%), Australian (24.5%), and Irish (9.1%).

Notably, Italian ethnicity was overrepresented at 4.4% in Annandale, compared to 2.4% regionally, Korean at 0.5% versus 0.2%, and South African at 0.6% versus 0.5%.

Annandale hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Annandale's median age was 31 years as of an unspecified date, which is younger than Rest of Qld's 41 years and considerably younger than Australia's national average of 38 years. The age group of 15-24 years had a strong representation in Annandale at 23.8%, compared to Rest of Qld's percentage, while the 75-84 cohort was less prevalent at 4.4%. This concentration of young adults was well above the national average of 12.5%. Between 2021 and an unspecified later date, the population aged 25 to 34 years grew from 12.1% to 16.4%, while the 5-14 age group declined from 12.4% to 9.7% and the 45-54 age group dropped from 12.7% to 10.6%. Population forecasts for Annandale indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to increase solidly, with an expansion of 432 people (25%) from 1,695 to 2,128. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 55-64 and 5-14 cohorts.