Central Highlands - West

Central Highlands - West has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Central Highlands - West's population was approximately 7,750 as of May 2026, indicating an increase of 134 people since the 2021 Census. This reflected a population of 7,616 in 2021. The growth was inferred from ABS estimates of 7,684 residents by June 2025 and 208 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 0.20 persons per square kilometer. Natural growth contributed approximately 71.5% to recent population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. 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 adopted. These state projections lack age category splits; thus, proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data, are applied where utilized. Population projections indicate a decline by 450 persons to 2041, but specific age cohorts like the 25 to 34 group are expected to grow by 189 people.

The level of residential development activity in Central Highlands - West is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Central Highlands - West has seen approximately 10 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 50 homes. As of FY26, six approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline in the area, development activity has been adequate relative to other regions, benefiting buyers with an average construction cost value of $351,000 per property. This year has seen $6.7 million in commercial approvals, indicating limited commercial development focus compared to residential growth.

The region maintains similar construction rates per person as the rest of Queensland, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. However, recent periods have shown a moderation in development activity, which is below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. All recent developments have been standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character and appealing to those seeking family homes with space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1245 people, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment.

With stable or declining population forecasts, Central Highlands - West may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Central Highlands - West has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 26 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Codenwarra Road Mixed-Use Development Site, Emerald Regional Botanic Gardens Upgrade, Gregory-Capricorn Highway Intersection Upgrade, and 91 Gray Street Apartment Development. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Central Highlands - West ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Central Highlands - West has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, particularly in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate is 2.7%. As of December 2025, there are 4,311 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.3% below Regional Queensland's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation stands at 72.7%, higher than Regional Queensland's 64.5%. According to Census responses, 22.0% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, mining, and construction. The area has a strong focus on agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 6.8 times the regional level.

Conversely, health care & social assistance is under-represented, with only 5.5% of Central Highlands - West's workforce compared to 16.1% in Regional Queensland. The ratio of 0.8 workers per resident indicates ample local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.4%, with employment decreasing by 2.6%, leading to a drop in unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Queensland saw employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%, with an unemployment rate rise of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that over five years, national employment is expected to expand by 6.6%, and over ten years by 13.7%. Applying these projections to Central Highlands - West's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 4.2% over five years and 10.1% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Central Highlands - West SA2 has an income above the national average. The median income is $61,033 and the average income stands at $71,802. In contrast, Regional Qld has a median income of $53,146 and an average income of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, the current estimates for Central Highlands - West SA2 would be approximately $67,966 (median) and $79,959 (average) as of March 2026. According to 2021 Census figures, personal income ranks at the 64th percentile ($882 weekly), while household income sits at the 42nd percentile. The earnings profile shows that 27.5% of locals (2,131 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 31.7% similarly occupy this range. After housing costs, residents retain 93.3% of income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Central Highlands - West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Central Highlands - West's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 93.4% houses and 6.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Central Highlands - West stood at 45.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.2% and rented ones at 30.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure was $120, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Central Highlands - West's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,300 against the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Central Highlands - West has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 68.5% of all households, including 30.0% couples with children, 31.3% couples without children, and 6.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.5%, with lone person households at 29.2% and group households comprising 2.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the Regional Queensland average.

Educational outcomes in Central Highlands - West fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 13.0%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.4%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.5%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 43.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.1%) and certificates (34.3%). Educational participation is high at 32.5%, with 15.5% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.5% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Central Highlands - West shows better-than-average health outcomes, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence data. Both younger and older age groups have low prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is high at approximately 55% of the total population (around 4,254 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Queensland. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.6% and 7.1% of residents respectively. 72.1% of residents report being free from medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Regional Queensland. Health outcomes among working-age individuals are generally typical. The area has 18.8% of residents aged 65 and over (1,459 people), which is lower than the 20.4% in Regional Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, with national rankings higher than those of the general population.

Central Highlands - West is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Central Highlands-West had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 81.7% of its population being citizens, 90.1% born in Australia, and 96.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 63.7%, compared to 52.2% across Regional Queensland. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (34.9%), English (31.1%), and Irish (8.8%).

Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented at 5.4%, Maltese at 0.5%, and Australian Aboriginal at 3.0%.

Central Highlands - West's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Central Highlands - West is 39 years, which is lower than Regional Queensland's average of 41 but close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 25-34 are prominent at 14.6%, while those aged 15-24 are smaller in comparison at 9.3%. Between 2021 and present, the median age has decreased by 1 year from 40 to 39 years, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. During this period, the 25-34 age group grew from 12.1% to 14.6%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 5.1% to 6.2%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort declined from 15.4% to 12.7%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 12.9% to 10.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Central Highlands - West, with the 25-34 age group projected to grow by 9% (101 people), reaching 1,236 from 1,134. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 52% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 35-44 and 45-54 age cohorts.