Daintree

Daintree has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Daintree's population is 7,018 as of February 2026. This figure shows an increase of 344 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,674. The increase was inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 6,979 in June 2024 and validated new addresses since the census date. This results in a density ratio of 3.1 persons per square kilometer. Daintree's growth rate of 5.2% since the Census is within one percentage point of its SA3 area's growth rate of 6.2%. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 55.5% of overall gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered 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, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. By 2041, Daintree's population is expected to increase by 932 persons to a total of 7,950, reflecting a 12.7% growth over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Daintree recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Daintree has averaged approximately 31 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 158 homes. As of FY26 so far, 17 approvals have been recorded. On average, 2 people move to the area each year for every dwelling built during this period (FY21-FY25), indicating a balanced supply and demand, which contributes to stable market conditions. The average construction cost value of new dwellings is $226,000, lower than the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

This financial year has seen $56.6 million in commercial approvals, reflecting strong commercial development momentum compared to the rest of Queensland, where Daintree shows moderately higher construction activity (11.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period). However, recent construction activity has eased. All building activity in the area currently consists of standalone homes, preserving its low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers, with an estimated 358 people in the area per dwelling approval.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Daintree is projected to add 893 residents by 2041, suggesting that current development aligns well with future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Daintree has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 41stth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified a total of 26 projects that are expected to impact the area significantly. Notable initiatives include the Mossman River Intake (Alternate Water Intake Project), the Principal Cycle Network: Cooya Beach to Mossman (stage 3) and Cooya Beach Road (stage 2), the Mossman River Alternate Water Intake Project, and the Principal Cycle Network - Mossman to Newell Beach. The following list provides details on those projects deemed most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Daintree face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Daintree's workforce comprises both white and blue collar jobs, with tourism and hospitality sectors prominent. The unemployment rate is 8.1%. As of September 2025, there are 3,253 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 4.0%, higher than Rest of Qld's 4.1%.

Workforce participation stands at 60.2%, below the regional average of 65.7%. Census data shows that 12.6% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Leading employment industries are accommodation & food, retail trade, and health care & social assistance. Daintree specializes in accommodation & food jobs, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance has a lower presence at 10.7% compared to the regional average of 16.1%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population figures. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Daintree's labour force decreased by 1.7%, while employment fell by 5.2%, leading to a 3.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with unemployment rising by just 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts for May-25 suggest that over five years, total employment is projected to expand by 6.6%. Over ten years, this growth is forecast at 13.7%. Applying these projections to Daintree's employment mix indicates potential local employment increases of 5.7% over five years and 12.1% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The Daintree SA2's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2023 was $45,986. The average income stood at $54,496 during the same period. In comparison, Rest of Qld's median and average incomes were $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated median and average incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $50,543 and $59,897 respectively. According to Census 2021 income data, household, family, and personal incomes in Daintree all fall between the 13th and 19th percentiles nationally. The data shows that 29.1% of residents (2,042 people) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 31.7% similarly occupy this range. After accounting for housing costs, 85.1% of income remains, which ranks at the 15th percentile nationally.

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

Daintree's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.5% houses and 10.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Daintree stood at 39.3%, with the rest either mortgaged (32.8%) or rented (27.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,408, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Daintree was $260, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345 and the national figure of $375.

Daintree has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 66.7% of all households, including 22.7% couples with children, 31.7% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 33.3%, with lone person households at 29.8% and group households comprising 3.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5 people.

Daintree faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 15.3%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 45.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.1%) and certificates (35.1%). Educational participation is high at 28.8%, comprising primary education (12.5%), secondary education (9.3%), and tertiary education (2.0%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.5% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Daintree is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Daintree faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (~3,284 people), compared to 52.5% in Rest of Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 8.1% of residents) and mental health issues (7.1%). However, 69.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 22.7%, with 1,590 people, compared to 20.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

Daintree ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Daintree's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 85.2% of its population being Australian citizens and 83.4% born in Australia. English is spoken exclusively at home by 92.4% of Daintree residents. Christianity is the predominant religion, making up 45.5% of the population.

While Judaism's representation is similar to the regional average at 0.1%, it is notable that this figure matches the Rest of Qld percentage exactly. The top three ancestry groups in Daintree are English (26.9%), Australian (25.8%), and Australian Aboriginal (8.9%), which is significantly higher than the regional average of 3.9%. Additionally, certain ethnic groups show notable differences: Italian (4.7% vs regional 2.4%), New Zealand (0.9% vs regional 0.9%), and German (4.3% vs regional 4.7%) are among those with significant representations in Daintree compared to the rest of Queensland.

Daintree hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Daintree's median age is 47 years, which is notably higher than Rest of Qld's 41 years and considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of Qld average, the 55-64 cohort is notably over-represented at 17.3% locally, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 8.1%. This concentration of the 55-64 cohort is well above the national average of 11.2%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 8.9% to 11.0% of the population. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 13.3% to 10.9%, and the 45 to 54 age group has dropped from 15.1% to 13.7%. Demographic modeling suggests that Daintree's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 65 to 74 age cohort is projected to expand notably, increasing by 232 people (24%) from 982 to 1,215. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are projected to account for 55% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 5 to 14 cohorts.