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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Atherton has an estimated 12,645 residents, up from 11,625 at the 2021 Census — a change of 1,020 people, or 8.8%. Growth has averaged 1.3% a year over five years. 439 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 55.7% of that increase. Density is about 54 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
AreaSearch indicates that the population of Atherton stands at approximately 12,645 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 1,020 individuals (8.8%) from the 11,625 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. The updated figure is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 12,472, supplemented by 439 validated new addresses registered after the Census. This population size results in a density of 53 persons per square kilometer, ensuring residents enjoy considerable space. The growth rate of 8.8% since the 2021 census placed Atherton ahead of both the SA3 area (7.3%) and the SA4 region, establishing it as a regional growth leader.
The primary driver of this demographic expansion was interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 55.7% of the total population increase during the recent period. Projections for each SA2 region published by the ABS and Geoscience Australia in 2024, using 2022 as the base year, are utilized by AreaSearch. For any SA2 localities omitted from this dataset, as well as for all projections beyond 2032, the Queensland State Government SA2 projections from 2023 (based on 2021 data) are applied instead. Because the state-level projections lack age-specific breakdowns, AreaSearch distributes growth among age groups using weightings derived from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (using 2022 base data). Future projections suggest that regions outside capital cities will experience population growth above the median, with Atherton expected to add 1,524 residents by 2041 according to the latest annual ERP statistics, representing a total increase of 10.7% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
361 new dwellings have been approved in Atherton over the past five years, an average of 72 a year. That places the area in the 72nd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 6 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 51 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 90% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 87, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Atherton averages approximately 72 residential building approvals per year, with a total of 361 dwellings approved over the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, and 80 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. Over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, the local population grew by an average of 2.2 people for every new home built, indicating steady demand that should bolster real estate values. The average construction cost for these new dwellings is $228,000, which sits below regional averages and offers more affordable housing options for prospective buyers.
Additionally, commercial approvals have reached $88.6 million during the current financial year, pointing to robust local business activity. Compared to the Rest of Qld, building activity in Atherton is moderately elevated, running 15.0% higher than the regional per-capita average over the 5 year period, which helps maintain property values while providing options for buyers, despite a recent slowdown in construction. The new supply is dominated by standalone houses at 90.0%, with townhouses or apartments making up the remaining 10.0%, preserving the traditional low-density character of the area and appealing to families looking for spacious properties. There are approximately 231 people for every residential approval, suggesting capacity for further expansion. Looking forward, Atherton is projected to add 1,351 inhabitants by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. The current rate of home building is expected to satisfy demand easily, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially paving the way for growth that exceeds current population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Atherton
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 5 current infrastructure and development projects inside Atherton, worth an estimated $144 million. A further 58 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $7.71 billion. 22 are already under construction and 28 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and environmental & disaster management. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Changes in local infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning play a critical role in shaping the performance of a region. AreaSearch has identified 5 key projects expected to influence the local area. These include the Atherton Large Format Retail Precinct, the Tolga Main Street Shopping Centre, the Priors Creek Development, and the Atherton Hospital Redevelopment, with details provided below for the most significant undertakings.
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INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Atherton Large Format Retail Precinct
A major retail development spanning 16,400sqm designed to revitalize the Tablelands economy. The precinct features a new Bunnings Warehouse as the anchor tenant, alongside a Harvey Norman and other national large-format retailers. The project includes specialized showrooms, hardware supplies, and garden centers with over 400 parking spaces. It is situated adjacent to the John Cole Toyota dealership and is expected to create over 160 permanent jobs while significantly reducing retail leakage to Cairns.
Priors Creek Parklands
Priors Creek Parklands is a major Atherton CBD precinct revitalisation led by Tablelands Regional Council. The project is transforming a former rail corridor into a family-focused parklands and mixed-use destination with an open-air amphitheatre and main stage, nature walk trail, public amenities, fitness and leisure areas, shared paths, event spaces, and future opportunities for commercial development, hotel accommodation, retail, and food and beverage uses. Main parkland works are mostly complete, with surrounding road, parking, traffic flow, and staged opening works continuing ahead of the official opening events on 10-11 July 2026.
Tolga Main Street Shopping Centre
A small-scale neighbourhood shopping centre proposed by Tom Hedley's HEDZ Constructions Pty Ltd, comprising two single-storey buildings with four retail tenancies delivered across two stages. Stage 1 will see three tenancies built at the front of the site, with a fourth tenancy at the rear forming Stage 2. The development includes 12 on-site car parking spaces. As the site sits within 100 metres of the Kennedy Highway, the Department of Transport and Main Roads is providing assessment input on the impact at the highway intersection with Main Street.The application is being assessed by Tablelands Regional Council.
Atherton Hospital Redevelopment
The $86.4 million redevelopment of Atherton Hospital delivered modern healthcare infrastructure for the Tablelands region. Key components include a new four-storey Clinical Services Building housing a state-of-the-art emergency department, medical imaging, maternity services with birth suites, operating and endoscopy theatres, and a sterilising unit. The project also delivered a Community, Allied and Mental Health Building, a new helipad, and an engineering services building. A final $12.9 million stage involving the refurbishment of the existing South Ward was initiated in late 2025 to further boost oncology services and inpatient capacity.
Vernon Apartments
A three-storey mixed-use development providing 27 affordable rental units (12 one-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom) with ground-floor commercial premises for potential food outlets, offices, shops, or healthcare services, complementing the adjacent Priors Creek Development.
Mareeba Solar Farm
A 72MW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic facility spanning 110 hectares on the Atherton Tablelands. The project utilizes approximately 196,000 solar modules to generate 147GWh of clean energy annually, enough to power over 18,000 homes. Developed by ACE Power in partnership with Osaka Gas Energy Oceania, it connects to the grid via the nearby Turkinje Substation.
Haren Street Residential Aged Care Facility
A 120-bed residential aged care facility approved for a 2.89 hectare site at Lot 1 Haren Street. The facility is designed as a single-level complex featuring four wings (houses) of 30-36 residents, each with dedicated nurse stations, serveries, and dining areas. Key features include 24-hour nursing care, secure dementia units, a cafe, commercial laundry, and high-standard fittings. While the development permit (MCU/19/0019) remains active, the site has been periodically marketed for sale as a 'shovel-ready' opportunity for developers or owner-occupiers.
Mareeba Research Facility Upgrades
Upgrade of fruit handling laboratories at Mareeba research facility, enabling scientists to provide research services to expanding and new horticultural industries. Part of Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries infrastructure program.
5,616 residents of Atherton are employed, from a labour force of 5,940. Unemployment sits at 5.5%, with participation at 56.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.8% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local workforce is characterized by solid representation in essential services, alongside an unemployment rate of 5.5%. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 5,616, while the local unemployment rate stood 1.5% higher than the Regional Qld benchmark of 3.9%. Furthermore, the labor force participation rate of 56.6% is notably lower than the Regional Qld average of 64.3%. Census data indicates that a modest 8.8% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Most employed residents work in the sectors of health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and retail trade.
The concentration of jobs in agriculture, forestry & fishing is especially high, measuring 3.0 times the average rate for the region. In contrast, the construction sector is underrepresented, employing 7.7% of workers compared to the regional figure of 10.1%. Although there are local jobs available, the ratio of Census working population to local residents suggests a significant portion of the workforce travels to other areas for employment. Analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch reveals that during the 12 months ending March 2026, the local labor force contracted by 2.0% and total employment fell by 4.4%, leading to a 2.4 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. This trend diverged from Regional Qld, where employment rose by 0.1%, the labor force expanded by 0.3%, and the unemployment rate edged up by 0.1 percentage points. National labor market projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 provide context for future local demand. These five-year and ten-year national projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying widely by sector. Aligning these industry-specific trends with the local employment mix suggests Atherton's employment could rise by 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, representing a basic weighted projection for comparison that does not incorporate local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Atherton is $1,208 a week (about $63,000 a year), with median personal income at $668 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $46,089 a year against an average of $56,567. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to the latest postcode-level ATO data released for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Atherton SA2 recorded a median income of $46,089 and an average income of $56,567. These figures sit below national benchmarks, and compare to a median of $53,146 and an average of $66,593 across Regional Qld. Adjusted for the Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since the 2023 financial year, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $51,325 for the median and $62,993 for the average. In the 2021 Census, local household, family, and personal incomes fell between the 13th and 22nd percentiles nationally.
The largest income bracket consists of 3,679 residents earning $1,500 - 2,999 per week, representing 29.1% of the population, which is similar to the regional proportion of 31.7%. Discretionary income remaining after housing costs stands at 85.3%, placing the area in the 16th percentile nationally for this metric.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Atherton had 4,499 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 87% detached houses and 5% apartments. 27% are owned with a mortgage, 31% rented and 42% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $280 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,460 a month. Rent absorbs 23.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 27.9%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, the housing stock in Atherton consisted of 86.7% separate houses and 13.4% other dwelling types like apartments and semi-detached properties, compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings in Regional Qld. Home ownership rates were high, with 42.2% of households owning their homes outright, while the remaining homes were occupied by buyers with a mortgage (27.1%) or tenants renting (30.7%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,460 was lower than the Regional Qld average of $1,655, and the median weekly rent of $280 was also below the regional figure of $345.
Locally, mortgage costs are significantly lower than the national average of $1,863, and rents are also well below the Australian average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Atherton counted 4,499 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 4,894 today, averaging 2.3 people each. 22% are couples with children, fewer than in 82% of areas nationally, against 32% couples without children. 31% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of local households at 65.8%, consisting of couples with children at 21.7%, couples without children at 31.6%, and single parents at 11.6%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 34.2%, comprising single-person households at 30.8% and group housing at 3.2%. The median household size is 2.3 individuals, which is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
17.3% of adults in Atherton hold a university qualification, including 12.6% with a bachelor degree and 2.5% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 31.1% hold a vocational qualification. 6 schools serve the area, with 2,499 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 986 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The local population displays low rates of higher education, with 17.3% holding university qualifications compared to the national rate of 30.4%. This gap highlights an area for potential educational development. Among university graduates, bachelor degrees are the most common credential at 12.6%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.5% and graduate diplomas at 2.2%. Vocational and technical qualifications are highly prevalent, with 41.5% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 31.1%. Enrolment in education is strong, with 28.9% of the population active in formal study.
This student cohort includes 11.4% in primary schools, 9.9% in secondary schools, and 2.6% in higher education institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Atherton means driving: households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
66.3% of residents in Atherton report no long-term health condition. 6.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators in Atherton align closely with national averages, showing typical rates of illness and mortality across different age cohorts, alongside a low rate of private health insurance coverage at approximately 48% of the population (~6,006 people). This compares to 52.5% coverage across Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues locally, affecting 9.0% and 7.8% of the population, respectively, while 66.3% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Health statistics for working-age residents are typical.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 26.5% of the community (3,354 people), which is higher than the Regional Qld average of 20.4%. Health outcomes for this older demographic are strong, outperforming general national trends.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Atherton is largely Australian-born, at 84.8% of residents, with 6.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (27.7%) and Australian (27.6%). 4.9% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Atherton exhibits lower levels of cultural diversity, with citizens making up 86.0% of the population, 84.8% of residents born in Australia, and 93.1% using only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, practiced by 55.8% of residents, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. The primary ancestral backgrounds reported are English (27.7%), Australian (27.6%), and Irish (9.1%). Some ancestries show notable differences compared to broader regional trends, with Italian backgrounds overrepresented at 5.8% of the population (compared to 2.4% regionally), Australian Aboriginal ancestry at 4.9% (compared to 3.9%), and German ancestry at 4.2% (compared to 4.7%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Atherton is 45, older than 78% of areas nationally. 23.2% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Atherton has a median age of 45, which is older than the Regional Qld average of 41 and the national average of 38. The age distribution shows a high proportion of residents in the 75 - 84 bracket (9.8%) and a lower share in the 35 - 44 cohort (11.0%) relative to Regional Qld. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 cohort grew from 8.4% to 9.8% of the population, and the 15 to 24 cohort expanded from 10.3% to 11.7%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group fell from 12.8% to 10.6% and the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 12.1% to 10.9%.
Projections to 2041 indicate further aging, with the 75 to 84 cohort expected to increase by 32% (393 people), growing from 1,245 to 1,639. The 65 and over cohorts are projected to account for 54% of all population growth, while the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Atherton
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 5 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 439 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (11,625 at the 2021 Census → 12,645 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (306051166). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.