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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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Carpentaria has an estimated 5,284 residents, up from 4,921 at the 2021 Census — a change of 363 people, or 7.4%. Growth has averaged 0.8% a year over five years. Natural increase accounts for 91.4% of that increase. 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 the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Carpentaria stands at approximately 5,284 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 363 individuals (7.4%) relative to the 2021 Census, when the count was 4,921 people. This shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 5,284 combined with 25 validated new addresses identified since the Census. Based on these figures, the population density is 0.00 persons per square kilometer, indicating a very low concentration of residents. The 7.4% population rise since the 2021 census outpaced both the SA3 area (1.9%) and the SA4 region, establishing the locality as a leader in regional growth.
The expansion was largely fueled by natural increase, which accounted for roughly 91.4% of the population growth in recent times. Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, are utilized by AreaSearch for each SA2 area. For SA2 areas omitted from this dataset, as well as all years following 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 and based on 2021 statistics are applied. Because these state-level projections lack breakdowns by age, AreaSearch distributes growth across age cohorts using weightings derived from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections, which used 2022 baseline data. Looking ahead, population growth is expected to align with the lower quartile of regional areas outside capital cities, with the local population projected to rise by 26 individuals by 2041 based on recent annual ERP statistics, representing a 0.5% overall increase over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
60 new dwellings have been approved in Carpentaria over the past five years, an average of 12 a year. That places the area in the 53rd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 2 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 1, well below 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
Carpentaria averages approximately 12 residential building approvals annually, resulting in a total of 60 new dwellings over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 1 approval has been registered. With an average of 3.2 additional residents per built dwelling arriving annually over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, the volume of new housing is falling short of demand, which typically intensifies buyer competition and drives up prices, even as new dwellings average a construction value of $535,000, indicating that developers are targeting the upscale, high-end market.
Furthermore, commercial approvals have reached $1.6 million this financial year, underscoring the predominantly residential character of the locality. Construction activity per capita in Carpentaria is 108.0% higher than the rate across the Rest of Qld, presenting home buyers with a broader selection of properties. However, this building rate remains below the national benchmark, pointing to the mature state of the local market and hinting at potential planning constraints. Detached houses make up 73.0% of recent construction, while townhouses and apartments account for the remaining 27.0%, maintaining the low-density profile of the community with a focus on single-family homes that appeal to purchasers seeking space. The ratio of approximately 1383 residents for every single residential approval highlights the subdued nature of the local development sector. According to the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch, Carpentaria is projected to grow by 26 residents by 2041. Considering current building trends, the supply of new housing should comfortably accommodate this demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth higher than current forecasts suggest.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Carpentaria
Loading development applications…
| 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 38 current infrastructure and development projects close to Carpentaria, worth an estimated $75.6 billion. 14 are already under construction and 11 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans energy, residential development 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, planning initiatives, and major developments have a significant effect on regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 1 project that is expected to impact the local community. The key developments of interest include the Mount Isa-Townsville Rail Corridor Upgrade, CopperString 2032 - Northern Queensland SuperGrid, CopperString 2032, and CopperString.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
North to East Australia (NEA) Pipeline
APA Group is investigating a proposed 1561km gas transmission pipeline to connect Beetaloo Basin gas supplies in the Northern Territory to APA's existing South West Queensland Pipeline, linking into the east coast gas grid. In December 2025 APA received a Northern Territory Government pipeline permit to begin corridor survey work, with the pipeline described as a potentially transformational project for east coast gas security. The NEA Pipeline would complement APA's nearly complete 37km Sturt Plateau Pipeline, which will bring gas to Darwin from mid-2026.APA holds 100 percent ownership of the proposed project, with an indicative opening in the 2030s subject to further engineering, stakeholder engagement, First Nations consultation and a final investment decision. This supersedes earlier, more generic Northern Territory to eastern gas market connection concepts, including the completed 622km Northern Gas Pipeline (Tennant Creek to Mount Isa) which already links NT gas to the east coast market.
Mount Isa Mines - Black Star Open Cut Project
Glencore is advancing a feasibility study to reopen the Black Star Open Cut mine. The project aims to supply zinc, lead, and copper ores to Mount Isa processing facilities following the July 2025 closure of underground copper operations. It is expected to create 300-400 jobs with a potential mine life of 20 years, targeting first production by 2027 or 2028.
Mount Isa Police Accommodation and Justice System Resourcing
More than $10.9 million will be invested in Mount Isa police accommodation and justice system resourcing to make Queensland safer.
Parks Improvement Program
Mount Isa City Council delivered park upgrades across 11 parks in Mount Isa and Camooweal under an $800,000 program. Works included new shade structures, seating, fencing upgrades and play equipment replacements, with staged reopenings through late 2024 and program completion by the end of FY 2024/25.
Essential Pipeline Works - City Low and high Systems
Mount Isa City Council wishes to advise of upcoming infrastructure works occurring on the Mount Isa Reticulation Network, and the Town Low and High systems, as part of a water infrastructure improvement project.
Mount Isa Future Ready Economy Roadmap
A long-term strategic framework launched in February 2025 to transition Mount Isa's economy following the mid-2025 closure of Glencore's underground copper operations. The roadmap outlines 28 pathways and 400 actions across five sectors: energy, mining, transport, agriculture, and tourism. Key initiatives include the $2.4 billion CopperString 2032 project, large-scale renewable energy generation, gravitational energy storage in mine shafts, and the development of a critical minerals research hub.
Australia-Asia PowerLink
SunCable's Australia-Asia PowerLink is a large-scale renewable energy and transmission project comprising a solar and battery precinct near Powell Creek, an approximately 800 km HVDC transmission line to Darwin, and a subsea HVDC cable to Singapore. The project has secured Northern Territory and Commonwealth environmental approvals, Singapore EMA conditional approval, Indonesian development approvals for the subsea system, and continues to progress development, engineering, commercial agreements and pre-construction activities toward a targeted Final Investment Decision.
Mount Isa-Townsville Rail Corridor Upgrade
Upgrade to address capacity constraints on the rail line between Townsville and Mount Isa, including enhancements and construction of a new rail corridor for better access to the Port of Townsville.
1,622 residents of Carpentaria are employed, from a labour force of 1,969. Unemployment sits at 17.6%, with participation at 49.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.3% 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 evenly distributed between white-collar and blue-collar occupations, featuring a solid representation of essential services, alongside an unemployment rate of 17.6%. As of March 2026, employed residents total 1,622, while the unemployment rate is 13.7% higher than the Regional Qld benchmark of 3.9%, highlighting room for labor market progress, and the participation rate of 49.3% is notably lower than the 64.3% recorded across Regional Qld. Census data indicates that only 9.6% of the workforce worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic-related lockdown measures.
The primary sectors employing local residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, public administration & safety, and education & training. The community shows a strong concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, employing people at a rate of 4.0 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for only 10.7% of local employment, which is lower than the Regional Qld figure of 16.1%. Comparing the Census working population against the resident population suggests that a significant portion of local workers travel outside the area for employment. An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch shows that during the 12 months ending March 2026, the local labor force contracted by 0.9% and total employment fell by 2.8%, leading to a 1.6 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. Over the same period, Regional Qld saw employment rise by 0.1% and the labor force expand by 0.3%, with a 0.1 percentage point uptick in unemployment. National employment projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer context for future labor demand in Carpentaria. These five-year and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future employment trends. Globally, national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary by industry. Projecting these industry trends onto the current employment profile of Carpentaria suggests local jobs could grow by 5.3% over five years and 11.6% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes that excludes local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Carpentaria is $1,279 a week (about $67,000 a year), with median personal income at $483 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $46,254 a year against an average of $55,889. 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 latest postcode-level ATO statistics for the 2023 financial year show that incomes in the Carpentaria SA2 are below national benchmarks, with a median of $46,254 and an average of $55,889. In comparison, Regional Qld recorded a median income of $53,146 and an average of $66,593. Adjusting for a 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year, current estimates as of March 2026 would be roughly $51,508 for the median and $62,238 for the average. According to the 2021 Census, weekly household income is at the 18th percentile ($1,279 weekly), and individual personal income sits at the 2nd percentile.
In terms of distribution, 28.2% of the local population (1,490 individuals) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which is comparable to the 31.7% recorded across the wider region. Residents retain 91.7% of their income due to low housing expenses, yet overall disposable income ranks in the 28th percentile nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Carpentaria had 1,319 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 73% detached houses and 7% apartments. 6% are owned with a mortgage, 74% rented and 20% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $125 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,042 a month. Rent absorbs 9.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 18.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the most recent Census, the housing stock in Carpentaria consisted of 72.8% detached houses and 27.3% alternative dwellings such as townhouses, apartments, and other formats, compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other options across Regional Qld. Home ownership rates in Carpentaria stood at 19.9%, which is below the Regional Qld level, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (5.7%) or rented (74.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,042 was lower than the Regional Qld average, and the median weekly rent was $125, compared to regional averages of $1,655 and $345 respectively.
On a national scale, mortgage costs in Carpentaria are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rental costs are below the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Carpentaria counted 1,319 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,416 today, averaging 3.0 people each. 28% are couples with children, against 22% couples without children. 26% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 70.7% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 28.1%, couples without children at 21.7%, and single parent households at 17.7%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 29.3%, with single person households representing 26.2% and group households making up 3.1%. The median size of a household is 3.0 individuals, which is larger than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
11.1% of adults in Carpentaria hold a university qualification, including 7.8% with a bachelor degree and 1.7% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 97% of areas nationally. A further 24.9% hold a vocational qualification. 7 schools serve the area, with 837 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 730 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
Educational attainment in the area points to opportunities for targeted improvement, with the university graduation rate of 11.1% falling below the national figure of 30.4%. Among tertiary degree holders, bachelor degrees represent 7.8%, postgraduate degrees make up 1.7%, and graduate diplomas account for 1.6%. Vocational and technical qualifications are common, with 30.3% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (5.4%) and certificates (24.9%). Enrolment in education is strong, with 29.4% of the population actively participating in study. This group includes 17.1% attending primary schools, 6.4% in secondary schools, and 1.9% enrolled in higher education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Carpentaria means driving: households keep an average of 0.9 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
79.7% of residents in Carpentaria report no long-term health condition. 2.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 11.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health metrics from AreaSearch, including mortality data and the frequency of chronic illnesses, point to health issues within both young and old demographics in Carpentaria, while the percentage of residents with private health insurance is low at roughly 48% of the population (~2,509 people). This is below the Regional Qld coverage rate of 52.5% and the national average of 55.7%. Diabetes and asthma are the most frequently reported medical conditions in the region, affecting 6.0% and 4.7% of the population, respectively. Conversely, 79.7% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld.
The working-age population exhibits good health with low rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and older make up 10.8% of the local population (568 people), which is lower than the Regional Qld average of 20.4%. Senior citizens in the area experience above-average health outcomes, with national rankings exceeding those of the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Carpentaria is largely Australian-born, at 94.9% of residents, with 11.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian Aboriginal (54.7%) and Australian (16.7%). 54.7% 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
Cultural diversity metrics show the area is below average, with citizenship at 89.1%, Australian-born residents at 94.9%, and households speaking only English at 88.7%. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 43.2% of the population. The most notable deviation from regional averages is in the Other religious category, which accounts for 7.0% of residents, compared to the Regional Qld average of 0.8%. Parental country of birth statistics show that Australian Aboriginal ancestry is the most common group at 54.7% of the population, which is higher than the regional average of 3.9%.
Australian ancestry follows at 16.7% of the population, below the regional average of 26.5%, and English ancestry is at 12.0%, also below the regional average of 29.6%. In addition, there is a minor variance in other ancestries, with Samoan background representing 0.1% of the population compared to 0.2% regionally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Carpentaria is 30, younger than 97% of areas nationally. 32.0% 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
The median age in Carpentaria is 30 years, which is lower than the Regional Qld average of 41 years and the national median of 38 years. Compared to Regional Qld, there is a higher proportion of residents aged 25 - 34 (17.7%) but a smaller share of people aged 75 - 84 (2.8%). Since the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age bracket increased from 15.3% to 17.7% of the population, and the 65 to 74 group rose from 5.9% to 7.6%. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 age bracket fell from 16.3% to 14.3% and the 5 to 14 group decreased from 16.4% to 15.0%.
Demographic forecasts for 2041 suggest changes, with the 25 to 34 age group projected to experience the highest growth rate of 10%, adding 96 people to reach 1,032, while the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 groups are expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Carpentaria
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, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 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 — 25 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (4,921 at the 2021 Census → 5,284 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 (315021404). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.