Atherton

Population growth drivers in Atherton are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Atherton's population was around 12,703 as of November 2025. This reflected an increase of 1,078 people (9.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,625 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,342 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 364 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 54 persons per square kilometer. Atherton's 9.3% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (7.3%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 66.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections were adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. It should be noted that these state projections did not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch applied proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Looking at population projections moving forward, an above median population growth of locations outside of capital cities was projected, with the area expected to expand by 1,619 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 9.9% in total over the 17 years.

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

Atherton has received approximately 72 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years. This totals 361 homes approved between FY-20 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 44 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling has accommodated 2.3 new residents per year during this period.

The average construction cost for these dwellings was $228,000, which is below the regional average. This suggests more affordable housing options in Atherton. In FY-26, commercial approvals valued at $88.6 million have been registered, indicating robust commercial development activity.

Compared to the Rest of Qld, Atherton has experienced 15.0% higher construction levels per person over the past five years. This balanced buyer choice while supporting current property values. However, development activity has shown some moderation in recent periods. The new developments consist of 90.0% detached houses and 10.0% attached dwellings, maintaining Atherton's low-density character with a focus on family homes. There are approximately 228 people per dwelling approval in the area, indicating potential for further growth. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Atherton is projected to gain 1,258 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially exceeding current growth forecasts.

Atherton has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 44thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects that could impact the region. Notable ones are Tolga Main Street Shopping Centre (DA), Atherton Large Format Retail Precinct, Priors Creek Development, and Atherton Hospital Redevelopment. The following list details those most likely to be 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.

Employment performance in Atherton has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Atherton has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented, and an unemployment rate of 4.9% as of September 2025. At this time, 5,726 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.9% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation in Atherton lags at 53.1%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing is particularly specialized, with an employment share three times the regional level. Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 7.7% compared to the regional average of 10.1%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Atherton's labour force decreased by 1.6%, with employment decreasing by 3.5%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.8 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment rise by 1.7% and the labour force grow by 2.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data from November 25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01% (losing 1,210 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, closely aligned with the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia projects national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Atherton's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

The median taxpayer income in Atherton SA2 was $45,356 and the average was $53,694 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022. This is below the national averages of $50,780 median income and $64,844 average income in Rest of Qld. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% suggest median income will be approximately $51,701 and average income will be around $61,206. The 2021 Census data shows that incomes in Atherton fall between the 13th and 22nd percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income distribution indicates that 29.1% of residents (3,696 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is consistent with regional trends at 31.7%. After accounting for 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

The dwelling structure in Atherton, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 86.7% houses and 13.4% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro Qld's 91.0% houses and 9.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Atherton stood at 42.2%, with mortgaged properties making up 27.1% and rented dwellings comprising 30.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,460, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,430. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure in Atherton was recorded at $280, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $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 account for the remaining 34.2%, with lone person households at 30.8% and group households comprising 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%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 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.

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 among both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is low at approximately 47% of the total population (~5,970 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.0 and 7.8% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 66.3% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.5% across the rest of Queensland. As of 2016, 26.1% of Atherton's population is aged 65 and over (3,319 people). Health outcomes among seniors in the area are strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Atherton, as per the 2016 Census, had a cultural diversity index below average. Its population was predominantly citizens, with 86.0%, born in Australia at 84.8%, and speaking English only at home at 93.1%. Christianity was the major religion, comprising 55.8% of Atherton's population, compared to 52.6% across the rest of Queensland.

The top three ancestry groups were English (27.7%), Australian (27.6%), and Irish (9.1%). Notably, Italian ethnicity was overrepresented at 5.8%, while Australian Aboriginal was underrepresented at 4.9% compared to regional figures of 5.9% and 6.6% respectively. German ethnicity also showed a slight underrepresentation at 4.2%.

Atherton hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Atherton has a median age of 45, which is higher than both Queensland's rest-of-state figure of 41 and the national average of 38. The age profile shows that individuals aged 65-74 make up 13.6% of the population, while those aged 35-44 constitute only 10.9%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of people aged 15-24 has increased from 10.3% to 11.5%, while the percentage of individuals aged 5-14 has decreased from 12.8% to 11.1%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Atherton's age structure. The number of people aged 75-84 is expected to grow by 35%, reaching 1,582 from 1,169. Notably, the combined population of those aged 65 and above will account for 54% of total population growth. Conversely, the populations aged 55-64 and 5-14 are projected to decline.