Atherton
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Atherton are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

AreaSearch's analysis indicates Atherton's population was approximately 12,684 as of August 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 1,059 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,625. The growth is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 12,342 in June 2024 and 356 validated new addresses added since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 53 persons per square kilometer. Atherton's growth rate of 9.1% since the 2021 census exceeds both its SA3 area (7.0%) and SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 66.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 based on 2021 data are used. These state projections lack age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population projections show an above median growth for locations outside capital cities. By 2041, the area is expected to expand by 1,619 persons, representing a total increase of 10.1% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Atherton among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Atherton has received approximately 72 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides development approval data on a financial year basis, totalling 361 approvals from FY-21 to FY-25, with 25 recorded so far in FY-26. Each dwelling built over the past five financial years has resulted in an average of 2.3 new residents annually, indicating strong demand that supports property values. New homes are constructed at an average cost of $390,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

This year, commercial development approvals have reached $88.6 million, reflecting robust local business investment. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Atherton exhibits moderately higher construction activity, balancing buyer choice while supporting current property values, though recent activity has eased slightly. New developments consist of 90% standalone homes and 10% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

The location currently has approximately 228 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for growth. By 2041, Atherton is projected to grow by 1,277 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Atherton has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 9thth percentile nationally

Five projects, identified by AreaSearch, are expected to influence the local performance: Priors Creek Development, Tolga Main Street Shopping Centre (DA), Atherton Large Format Retail Precinct, and Atherton Hospital Redevelopment.

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

The employment landscape in Atherton presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.9%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Atherton has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 3.9%.

As of June 2025, there are 5,782 employed residents, matching Rest of Qld's unemployment rate of 3.9%, but with lower workforce participation at 53.1% compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has particularly high employment levels, at 3.0 times the regional average. Construction, however, has limited presence with 7.7% employment compared to 10.1% regionally.

Many residents may commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparisons. Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.5%, while employment declined by 2.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment rise by 1.8% and labour force grow by 2.0%, with unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points. Statewide in Queensland as of Sep-25, employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. This compares to a national unemployment rate of 4.5%, and national employment growth of 0.26%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Atherton's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.8%% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, assuming constant population ratios for illustrative purposes.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Atherton's median income among taxpayers is $45,356. The average income is $53,694. This is below the national average. Rest of Qld has a median income of $50,780 and an average of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Atherton's median income are approximately $50,667 as of March 2025. The average is estimated to be around $59,982 by the same date. Census 2021 data indicates that incomes in Atherton fall between the 14th and 22nd percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The largest income segment comprises 3691 residents earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, which is 29.1% of the population. After housing costs, 85.3% of income remains, ranking at the 16th percentile nationally.

Atherton is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Atherton, as assessed in the latest Census, 86.7% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 13.4% being other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This compares to Non-Metro Qld's figures of 91.0% houses and 9.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Atherton stood at 42.2%, with mortgaged properties at 27.1% and rented ones at 30.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,460, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in Atherton was $280, compared to Non-Metro Qld's figure of $270. Nationally, Atherton's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Atherton features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 65.8% of all households, including 21.7% couples with children, 31.6% couples without children, and 11.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 34.2%, with lone person households at 30.8% and group households making up 3.2%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Atherton fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 17.3%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 12.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 41.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificates (31.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.4% in primary education, 9.9% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education. Atherton has a robust network of six schools educating approximately 2,499 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 986) indicating balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes four primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Atherton faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~5,961 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.0% and 7.8% of residents respectively. 66.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.5% across Rest of Qld. As of 2016, 26.1% of Atherton's residents are aged 65 and over (3,314 people). Health outcomes among seniors in the area perform better than those in the general population.

Atherton ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Atherton's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.0% of its population being citizens born in Australia who speak English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Atherton, accounting for 55.8%, compared to 52.6% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups were English (27.7%), Australian (27.6%), and Irish (9.1%).

Notably, Italian (5.8%) was slightly overrepresented in Atherton compared to the regional average of 5.9%. Similarly, Australian Aboriginal (4.9%) and German (4.2%) were also somewhat overrepresented compared to their respective regional averages of 6.6% and 4.3%.

Atherton hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Atherton has a median age of 45, which is higher than both the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 make up 13.6% of the population, a prominent group compared to other age brackets. Conversely, the 35-44 age group comprises only 10.9%. According to the 2021 Census, the 15-24 age group has increased from 10.3% to 11.5%, while the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 12.8% to 11.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Atherton's age structure. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 35%, reaching 1,582 people from the current figure of 1,168. Notably, the combined population of those aged 65 and above will account for 54% of total population growth, reflecting Atherton's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 55-64 and 5-14 age groups are projected to experience population declines.