Caloundra West - Baringa
Statistical Area - sa2

Caloundra West - Baringa lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Caloundra West - Baringa's population was approximately 25,032 as of Aug 2025. This figure represents an increase of 9,325 people, a 59.4% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 15,707. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 21,955 in June 2024 and an additional 3,541 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 528 persons per square kilometer. Caloundra West - Baringa's growth rate exceeded that of non-metro areas (8.6%) and the national average, positioning it as a growth leader in its region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 82.4% of overall population gains during recent periods, with natural growth and overseas migration also being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. 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, applying proportional growth weightings for each age cohort in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023. Based on projected demographic shifts, exceptional growth is predicted over the period to 2041, with an expected expansion of 32,996 persons, representing a total increase of 119.5%.

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

Caloundra West - Baringa has seen approximately 629 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that between financial years 2020-21 to 2025-26, a total of 3,149 approvals were granted, with 149 recorded so far in the current year. Over the past five financial years, each dwelling built has contributed an average of 2.5 new residents annually, reflecting strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value for new homes is $389,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

In the current financial year, commercial development approvals have reached $13.0 million, indicating moderate commercial growth. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Caloundra West - Baringa has experienced 431.0% more development activity per person, offering buyers greater choice and reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. Recent construction consists of 81.0% detached dwellings and 19.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location currently has approximately 22 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Population forecasts suggest that Caloundra West - Baringa will gain around 29,917 residents by 2041.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Caloundra West - Baringa has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 19thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 95 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects are Aura Business Park, Aura Hotel, Aura Home + Life, and Aura Parklands. The following details those most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis places Caloundra West - Baringa well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Caloundra West - Baringa has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 2.8% as of June 2025. It has 11,023 residents in work, which is 1.2% below the Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation is high at 70.3%, compared to the Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance shows notable concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 0.6% versus the regional average of 4.5%. Over the 12 months to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.3%, and employment decreased by 1.6%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points.

In comparison, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.8% and labour force expand by 2.0%, with unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows QLD employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Caloundra West - Baringa's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.8%% over five years and 14.1% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

Caloundra West - Baringa's median income among taxpayers was $56,357 and average income stood at $71,953 in the financial year 2022, according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures compare to Rest of Qld's median income of $50,780 and average income of $64,844 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, estimated median income is approximately $62,956 and average income is around $80,379 as of March 2025. Data from the 2021 Census shows household, family, and personal incomes in Caloundra West - Baringa cluster around the 58th percentile nationally. The largest segment comprises 42.5% earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly (10,638 residents), which mirrors regional levels where 31.7% occupy this bracket. High housing costs consume 18.9% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 54th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Caloundra West - Baringa, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.0% houses and 13.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Qld's 70.4% houses and 29.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Caloundra West - Baringa was at 22.1%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (44.4%) or rented (33.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,891, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent figure was $480, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $450. Nationally, Caloundra West - Baringa's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,891 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Caloundra West - Baringa features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 80.3% of all households, including 38.7% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 14.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 19.7%, consisting of 16.5% lone person households and 3.3% group households. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Caloundra West - Baringa exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

In Caloundra West - Baringa, as of the latest available data, 20.9% of residents aged 15 years and above possess university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. This indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 15.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 44.1% of residents aged 15 years and above holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.8%) and certificates (31.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 31.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 12.1% in primary, 8.3% in secondary, and 4.7% in tertiary education. The five schools in Caloundra West - Baringa have a combined enrollment of 3,585 students. These schools demonstrate typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1032) with balanced educational opportunities. They include two primary, one secondary, and two K-12 schools.

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

The analysis of public transport in Caloundra West - Baringa shows that there are currently 36 active transport stops operating. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 5 individual routes providing service to the area. The weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes amount to 570.

Residents' accessibility to public transport is rated as good, with an average distance of 303 meters to the nearest stop. The service frequency across all routes averages 81 trips per day, which equates to approximately 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Caloundra West - Baringa is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Caloundra West - Baringa shows better-than-average health outcomes for both younger and older age groups. Common health conditions have a low prevalence: mental health issues affect 9.0% of residents, while asthma impacts 8.1%.

About 71.8% report no medical ailments, compared to 66.2% in the rest of Queensland. Private health cover is high at approximately 55%, or around 13,842 people, compared to 52.7% across the rest of Queensland. The area has 10.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,603 people), lower than the 22.3% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors are above average and align with the general population's health profile.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Caloundra West - Baringa was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Caloundra West-Baringa, as per the 2016 Census data, had a cultural diversity index of 9.8%, with residents speaking languages other than English at home. Overseas-born population stood at 23.9%. Christianity was the predominant religion, practised by 44.0% of the population.

Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprised 1.1% of the population, higher than the Rest of Qld average of 0.5%. Top ancestral groups were English (31.9%), Australian (26.9%), and Scottish (7.3%). Significant differences existed in the representation of New Zealanders (1.3%, compared to regional 1.1%), Maori (1.3% vs region's 0.7%), and South Africans (0.7% vs 0.6%).

Caloundra West - Baringa's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Caloundra West-Baringa has a median age of 33, which is lower than Queensland's figure of 41 and Australia's median age of 38. The age group of 25-34 years old comprises 17.9% of the population in Caloundra West-Baringa, compared to the Rest of Qld figure. Conversely, the 55-64 age group makes up only 7.8%. Between 2021 and present day, the 35-44 age group has increased from 15.8% to 17.2%, while the 25-34 cohort rose from 16.7% to 17.9%. However, the 5-14 age group decreased from 16.3% to 15.2%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Caloundra West-Baringa's age structure. Notably, the 35-44 age group is projected to grow by 133%, adding 5,717 people and reaching a total of 10,013 from its current count of 4,295.