Caboolture - East

Caboolture - East lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Caboolture - East's population is around 20,394 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,658 people (15.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,736 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,529 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 581 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 409 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Caboolture - East's 15.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%) and the state average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 70.6% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including natural growth and interstate migration, were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as 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, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence, where utilised, AreaSearch applies 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, a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas is forecast, with the area expected to grow by 6,198 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, recording a gain of 26.1% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Caboolture - East was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Caboolture - East has experienced around 179 dwellings receiving development approval each year, with 896 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 111 so far in FY-26. At an average of 1.9 new residents per year arriving per new home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), the market shows a good balance between supply and demand, supporting stable conditions, while new dwellings are developed at an average value of $219,000—below the regional average—suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. There have also been $83.6 million in commercial approvals this financial year, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity.

Relative to Greater Brisbane, Caboolture - East shows approximately 75% of the construction activity per person while it places among the 90th percentile of areas assessed nationally, though building activity has accelerated in recent years. New development consists of 49.0% detached dwellings and 51.0% attached dwellings. This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This marks a significant departure from existing housing patterns (currently 74.0% houses), suggesting diminishing developable land availability and and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. At around 89 people per approval, Caboolture - East reflects a developing area.

Looking ahead, Caboolture - East is expected to grow by 5,333 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Present construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Caboolture - East has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 45 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Caboolture Sports Complex Upgrade, Centenary Lakes Regional Playground, Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment (Stage 2), and the Moreton Bay Regional Council Caboolture Hub, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 drivers in Caboolture - East are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Caboolture - East has a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of 7.4%, and 4.2% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 9,003 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 3.3% above Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%, showing room for improvement, and workforce participation lags significantly (61.9% compared to Greater Brisbane's 71.2%). Based on Census responses, a low 9.4% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area has particular employment specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share of 6.3 times the regional level. In contrast, professional & technical services employ just 3.4% of local workers, below Greater Brisbane's 8.9%. While local employment opportunities exist in the area, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of Census working population to local population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 4.2% and the labour force increased by 4.2%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. By comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 3.2%, labour force growth of 3.0%, with unemployment falling 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Caboolture - East. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Caboolture - East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Caboolture - East SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $50,613 with the average level standing at $57,419. This is lower than average on a national basis and compares to levels of $58,236 and $72,799 across Greater Brisbane respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $55,629 (median) and $63,109 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Caboolture - East all fall between the 20th and 21st percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate the largest segment comprises 31.7% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (6,464 residents), reflecting patterns seen in the broader area where 33.3% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 17th percentile.

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

Dwelling structure within Caboolture - East, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 73.6% houses and 26.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Caboolture - East lagged that of Brisbane metro, at 18.9%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (31.5%) or rented (49.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Brisbane metro average at $1,582, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $315, compared to Brisbane metro's $1,863 and $380. Nationally, Caboolture - East's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Caboolture - East features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households dominate at 70.2% of all households, comprising 26.7% couples with children, 23.5% couples without children, and 18.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.8%, with lone person households at 25.2% and group households comprising 4.6% of the total. The median household size of 2.6 people matches the Greater Brisbane average.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (12.6%) substantially below the Greater Brisbane average of 30.5%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 9.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 44.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (33.5%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.8% in primary education, 9.2% in secondary education, and 3.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 42 active transport stops operating within Caboolture - East, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 43 individual routes, collectively providing 821 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 355 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 90%, with 5% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling. A relatively low 9.4% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 117 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 19 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Caboolture - East is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Critical health challenges are evident across Caboolture - East, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A range of health conditions have marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~9,707 people). This compares to 55.8% across Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 12.2 and 9.9% of residents, respectively, while 60.5% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 17.0% of residents aged 65 and over (3,471 people), which is higher than the 15.2% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Caboolture - East was found to be roughly in line with the wider region's average in terms of cultural diversity, with 83.5% of its population being citizens, 79.7% born in Australia, and 89.4% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Caboolture - East is Christianity, which makes up 43.8% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Other, which comprises 1.0% of the population, compared to 1.3% across Greater Brisbane.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Caboolture - East are Australian, comprising 29.3% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 23.2%, English, comprising 29.0% of the population, and Scottish, comprising 6.7% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: New Zealand is notably overrepresented at 1.1% of Caboolture - East (vs 1.0% regionally), Maori at 1.1% (vs 1.1%) and Samoan at 0.6% (vs 0.9%).

Caboolture - East's population is younger than the national pattern

At 35 years, Caboolture - East's median age is nearly matching the Greater Brisbane average of 36 and is similarly somewhat younger than Australia's 38 years. Relative to Greater Brisbane, Caboolture - East has a higher concentration of 65 - 74 residents (9.1%) but fewer 35 - 44 year-olds (12.8%). Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.1% to 6.2% of the population. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 14.3% to 13.3%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Caboolture - East. The 75 to 84 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 71%, adding 900 residents to reach 2,161. In contrast, the 0 to 4 cohort shows minimal growth of just 5% (58 people).