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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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Boonah has an estimated 13,559 residents, up from 12,617 at the 2021 Census — a change of 942 people, or 7.5%. Growth has averaged 1.2% a year over five years. 507 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 71.5% of that increase. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to investigations by AreaSearch, the resident count for Boonah stands at approximately 13,559 in May 2026. This represents a expansion of 942 residents (7.5%) from the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 12,617 individuals. This variation is derived from the ABS estimated resident population of 13,450 recorded in June 2025 alongside 507 validated new addresses identified after the Census. Such population figures translate to a density of 6.5 persons per square kilometer, which indicates a highly spacious living environment. The area's 7.5% post-census growth rate is within 1.8 percentage points of the national average (9.3%), indicating strong growth potential.
The primary driver of these gains was interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 71.5% of the total population increase in recent times. Projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are utilized by AreaSearch for each SA2. For areas lacking this coverage, or for periods past 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 utilizing 2021 data are substituted. Since these state-level figures omit age-specific details, AreaSearch allocates growth weightings across age groups using the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023, using 2022 baseline statistics). Factoring in these demographic adjustments, population growth is expected to exceed the median for Australian statistical areas, with a projected rise of 2,132 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP data, representing a total increase of 14.9% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
453 new dwellings have been approved in Boonah over the past five years, an average of 90 a year. That places the area in the 81st percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 7 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 78 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 97% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 193, running ahead of 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
Boonah averages roughly 90 home building approvals annually, which sums to 453 residential units over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26177 approvals have been logged. With an average of 1.7 new residents moving in per completed home over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), supply matches demand closely to support stable conditions, while new construction averages $370,000 in value. Furthermore, commercial development approvals total $12.8 million for the current financial year, pointing to steady business development. Boonah registers about 75% of the individual construction volume seen in Greater Brisbane, placing it in the 84th percentile among all areas evaluated across the nation, with building activity rising recently.
New construction consists of 97.0% standalone houses and 3.0% multi-unit dwellings, reinforcing the historical low-density setting characterized by spacious family residences. There are roughly 119 individuals for every residential approval, pointing to a growing local market. Long-term forecasts suggest Boonah will add 2,023 occupants by 2041 (drawing from the latest quarterly figures from AreaSearch). With current construction paces, the addition of new housing should easily accommodate demand, offering favorable choices for purchasers and potentially underpinning growth beyond current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Boonah
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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 one current infrastructure or development project inside Boonah. A further 98 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $100.6 billion. 50 are already under construction and 29 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. 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
Local infrastructure projects, major works, and planning updates are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has tracked a total of 60 projects expected to influence the local area. Principal works include the Wyaralong Water Treatment Plant, the Bromelton State Development Area, the Bromelton Water Supply Infrastructure, and the Ferndale Estate Ripley, with details on the most significant projects provided below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Wyaralong Water Treatment Plant
The proposed Wyaralong Water Treatment Plant will treat raw water from the Logan River downstream of Wyaralong Dam at Cedar Grove Weir and connect to the SEQ Water Grid via the Wyaralong Interconnector Pipeline (WIP). It includes an advanced water treatment plant with raw water intake and pump station, an interconnector pipeline, and an injector pump station. The project aims to meet future water demand for growing communities in Beaudesert and southern Logan, including Flagstone and Yarrabilba, and is part of stage three of the Beaudesert Water Supply Upgrade.A pilot plant is testing water treatment processes until 2026 to inform design requirements.
Bromelton State Development Area
A 15,610-hectare strategic industrial zone and critical node for the Inland Rail Melbourne-to-Brisbane corridor. The precinct features a major intermodal rail terminal operated by SCT Logistics. Current activity includes a comprehensive business case under the SEQ City Deal (Phase 4 due Q4 2026) to prioritize infrastructure investment. Recent developments include a 400,000-tonne capacity Compost Manufacturing Facility by SOILCO (applications submitted late 2024) and expanded rail operations by Aurizon, which shifted terminal operations to Bromelton in late 2025 to increase interstate container frequency.
Flinders Lakes
Flinders Lakes is a 3,919-hectare masterplanned township within the Greater Flagstone growth corridor south of Brisbane, developed by Pacifiq Communities in partnership with Economic Development Queensland. At full build-out the project will deliver approximately 21,450 homes for an onsite population of over 52,000 people, supported by town and neighbourhood centres, multiple schools, a university campus, and around 15,300 local jobs. Half of the site is set aside for recreation and conservation, including a central feature lake.Riverstone Springs is the first neighbourhood stage now selling, with Flinders Lakes Drive and other enabling infrastructure under construction to open up the site. The wider township is planned to be delivered progressively over more than 40 years.
Bromelton Water Supply Infrastructure
$6.5 million, 6.1km trunk water main connecting Beaudesert Water Treatment Plant to Bromelton SDA. Joint funded by state government, Scenic Rim Regional Council and Queensland Urban Utilities. Critical infrastructure for SDA industrial development.
Salisbury to Beaudesert Passenger Rail
A major passenger rail project aimed at connecting Brisbane to the high-growth Greater Flagstone and Beaudesert regions. Following the 2024 Planning Summary Report, the project is currently in the corridor protection and business case development phase. The proposed 54km double-track heavy rail line will utilize the existing interstate rail corridor, including the provision for new stations and active transport links. As of May 2026, technical studies are underway to confirm land requirements and ensure compatibility with the European Train Control System (ETCS) standards being implemented at Salisbury station.
Purga School Road Bridge Replacement
Replacement of the old timber bridge at Purga School Road with an industry-standard two-lane road bridge and removal of load restrictions. The project includes constructing approaches and realigning the road to improve safety and flood immunity.
Beaudesert Town Centre Bypass
Completed $27.5 million, 1.5km two-lane bypass connecting Mount Lindesay Highway (Brisbane Street) and Helen Street to Bromelton Street. Reduces heavy vehicle traffic through town centre, supports Bromelton SDA freight access.
Ebenezer Regional Industrial Area
A future major industrial and employment hub for South East Queensland. The project includes the delivery of catalytic trunk infrastructure and a proposed Ebenezer Intermodal Terminal to support the Inland Rail project.
7,205 residents of Boonah are employed, from a labour force of 7,359. Unemployment sits at 2.1%, with participation at 64.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 11,982, about 88% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. 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 evenly distributed between professional and trade occupations across multiple industries, showing a jobless rate of only 2.1% alongside a 10.8% estimated rise in employment over the preceding year. As of March 2026, 7,205 locals are employed, with unemployment sitting 2.2% below the Greater Brisbane figure of 4.3%, although workforce participation is notably lower (64.2% versus 70.4% in Greater Brisbane). Census data indicates a moderate 17.5% of the workforce worked from home, though this was likely affected by Covid-19 restrictions. The primary sectors employing local residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction.
The local labor market is heavily concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, which has a employment share 16.8 times higher than the broader region. Conversely, professional & technical roles are underrepresented at 4.6% of the workforce compared to 8.9% regionally. Local job availability appears constrained based on the ratio of local workers to resident workers recorded in the Census. According to AreaSearch's examination of SALM and ABS figures, employment rose by 10.8 percent during the twelve months leading up to March 2026, whereas the labour force grew by 10.1 percent, which caused unemployment to drop by 0.6 percentage points. Greater Brisbane showed a different pattern with employment growing by 3.2 percent and the labour force expanding by 3.4 percent, leading to a 0.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia released employment forecasts in May-25 that provide additional context for anticipating future demand in Boonah. These projections span five and ten year horizons and have been overlaid with local employment data to gauge expected growth trajectories. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6 percent over five years and 13.7 percent over ten years, though expansion varies considerably across different industry sectors. When these sectoral forecasts are applied to Boonah's existing employment composition, local employment is expected to rise by 5.6 percent over five years and 12.2 percent over ten years, although this calculation relies on a straightforward weighting method for demonstration only and ignores localized population estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Boonah is $1,375 a week (about $72,000 a year), with median personal income at $657 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $48,251 a year against an average of $57,400. 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
The Boonah SA2 has a median taxpayer income of $48,251 and an average income of $57,400, based on the latest postcode ATO data gathered by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. These figures are below the national average and compare to a median of $58,236 and average of $72,799 in Greater Brisbane. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, updated estimates point to approximately $53,732 (median) and $63,921 (average) as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, personal, family, and household incomes in Boonah fell between the 20th and 26th percentiles across the country.
The dominant income bracket is the $1,500 - 2,999 range, containing 30.2% of residents (4,094 people), similar to the regional share of 33.3%. Although housing costs are modest, leaving residents with 87.2% of their income, total disposable income sits in the 30th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Boonah had 4,592 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 0% apartments. 36% are owned with a mortgage, 17% rented and 47% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $295 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,517 a month. Rent absorbs 21.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 25.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The distribution of residential properties at the time of the latest Census stood at 96.2% standalone houses and 3.8% other options (comprising semi-detached units, apartments, and alternative structures), compared to 73.5% houses and 26.5% other options in the Brisbane metro area. Boonah also registered a much higher level of outright home ownership than Brisbane metro at 47.3%, with remaining households holding a mortgage (36.1%) or renting (16.7%). The median monthly home loan payment of $1,517 was well below the Brisbane metro average, while weekly median rent sat at $295, compared to $1,863 and $380 in Brisbane metro.
On a national scale, Boonah's mortgage costs are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent remains well below the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Boonah counted 4,592 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 4,935 today, averaging 2.5 people each. 29% are couples with children, against 37% couples without children. 22% 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 76.2% of all local households, consisting of couples with children at 28.8%, couples without children at 37.3%, and single parents at 9.5%. Non-family households account for the remaining 23.8%, with single-person households representing 21.7% and group housing making up 2.2%. The median household size of 2.5 residents is slightly below the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
15.4% of adults in Boonah hold a university qualification, including 11.4% with a bachelor degree and 2.3% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 29.8% hold a vocational qualification. 12 schools serve the area, with 1,496 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 983 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 community shows lower levels of tertiary education, with university degree attainment (15.4%) trailing well behind the Greater Brisbane average of 30.5%. This highlights an area where focused educational initiatives could make a difference. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 11.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational qualifications are common, with 40.2% of residents aged 15+ holding a trade certificate or diploma, split between advanced diplomas (10.4%) and certificate level qualifications (29.8%). Educational enrolment is strong, with 26.2% of the local population currently engaged in study.
This group is composed of 10.3% in primary schooling, 9.6% in high school, and 2.5% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Boonah means driving: households keep an average of 1.9 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
63.7% of residents in Boonah report no long-term health condition. 6.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.3 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
The local population displays favorable health statistics, with mortality rates and illness trends matching national averages. While common illnesses are rare in the general public, they occur at higher rates among older, vulnerable groups, and private health coverage is low, held by roughly 48% of residents (~6,454 people). This is below the 55.8% rate in Greater Brisbane and the national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and asthma are the most prevalent health issues, affecting 10.5% and 8.9% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 63.7% of residents reported no chronic health issues, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane.
The working-age bracket experiences some health difficulties, with higher rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 27.7% of the population (3,759 people), which exceeds the 15.1% share in Greater Brisbane, though this group ranks lower nationally than the rest of the local community.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Boonah is largely Australian-born, at 89.9% of residents, with 2.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (32.3%) and Australian (29.3%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in the area is lower than average, with citizens representing 90.3% of the population, Australian-born residents accounting for 89.9%, and English-only speakers at home making up 97.1%. Christianity is the predominant religious affiliation, practiced by 62.1% of the population, compared to 47.8% in Greater Brisbane. Regarding parental country of birth, the three largest ancestry groups are English at 32.3% of the population (above the regional average of 26.8%), Australian at 29.3% (above the regional average of 23.2%), and German at 11.6% (above the regional average of 4.2%). Other specific groups show distinct differences, with Korean representing 0.5% of the population (matching the regional 0.5%), Scottish at 7.7% (compared to 7.4% regionally), and Irish at 8.1% (compared to 8.2% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Boonah is 48, older than 84% of areas nationally. That is 1 year older than at the 2021 Census. 19.2% 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
Boonah's median age of 48 years is much higher than the Greater Brisbane median of 36 and the national median of 38. The 65 - 74 age bracket is heavily represented at 14.8% of the population compared to Greater Brisbane, while the 25 - 34 bracket is smaller at 8.2%. This 65 - 74 bracket is higher than the national share of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 bracket grew from 7.5% to 9.7% of the population, and the 65 to 74 group rose from 13.7% to 14.8%.
In contrast, the 5 to 14 group fell from 12.1% to 10.4% and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 9.5% to 8.2%. Demographic projections indicate the age structure will change by 2041, with the 65 to 74 bracket growing the fastest at 33% (adding 656 people to reach 2,663). Residents aged 65 and over will drive 76% of total growth, highlighting the aging trend, while the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 cohorts are projected to shrink.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Boonah
8 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 8 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. | ||
| 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 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 1 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 Jul 2025. | ||
| 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 — 507 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (12,617 at the 2021 Census → 13,559 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 (310021277). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.