Daintree
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Daintree's population is 7,008 as of Aug 2025, showing an increase of 334 people from the 6,674 recorded in the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 5% rise since the census. The estimated resident population was 6,979 in June 2024, with an additional 150 validated new addresses since then contributing to this increase. The population density is 3.1 persons per square kilometer. Daintree's growth rate of 5% is within 1.4 percentage points of the SA3 area's 6.4%. Interstate migration drove recent population growth, accounting for 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 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, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 and based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population projections indicate a median increase for regional areas nationally, with Daintree expected to grow by 932 persons to 2041, representing a 12.9% total increase over the 17-year period.

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 experienced approximately 31 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides development approval data on a financial year basis, showing 158 homes approved over the past five years from FY21 to FY25, with 4 more approved in FY26 so far. Each new dwelling constructed over these five years has accommodated an average of 2 new residents annually, indicating balanced supply and demand conditions. The average construction cost for new dwellings was $312,000, which is lower than regional levels, suggesting affordable housing options for buyers.

Commercial approvals totalled $56.6 million in the current financial year, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Daintree has demonstrated moderately higher building activity, with an 11.0% increase per capita over the five-year period, preserving buyer options while sustaining property demand. However, development activity has shown some moderation recently.

All new construction in the area consists of detached dwellings, maintaining its traditional low-density character and appealing to families seeking space. The estimated population density is 358 people per dwelling approval, reflecting a quiet development environment. Future projections indicate Daintree's population will grow by 903 residents by 2041, with current development well-suited to meet these future needs, supporting stable market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Daintree has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 4thth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified a total of 27 projects that could impact the area, with major ones including the Mossman River Intake (Alternate Water Intake Project), Principal Cycle Network: Cooya Beach to Mossman (stage 3) & Cooya Beach Road (stage 2), Mossman River Alternate Water Intake Project, and Principal Cycle Network - Mossman to Newell Beach. The following list details those most relevant.

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

The labour market performance in Daintree lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Daintree has a balanced workforce comprising white and blue collar jobs, with tourism and hospitality sectors notably represented. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 6.5%.

By this date, 3,332 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.6% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Daintree stands at 55.3%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Leading employment industries among residents include accommodation & food, retail trade, and health care & social assistance. Daintree shows strong specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level.

Conversely, health care & social assistance has a limited presence at 10.7% compared to the regional figure of 16.1%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population figures. Over the 12 months to June 2025, labour force levels in Daintree decreased by 1.5%, accompanied by a 3.8% decrease in employment, resulting in a 2.2 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. This contrasts with Rest of Qld, where employment grew by 1.8% and labour force expanded by 2.0%, leading to a 0.2 percentage point increase in unemployment. As of Sep-25, state-level data shows Queensland employment contracted by 0.23% (a loss of 8,070 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, but lags behind national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that while national employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Daintree's employment mix suggests potential local growth of approximately 5.7% over five years and 12.1% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Daintree's median income among taxpayers is $43,206. The average income in Daintree is $51,363. Nationally, the median income is higher at $57,988 with an average of $75,238. In Rest of Qld, the median income is $50,780 and the average is $64,844. As of March 2025, estimated median income in Daintree is approximately $48,265 and average income is around $57,378, based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022. Census 2021 data indicates that incomes in Daintree fall between the 13th and 19th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The predominant income cohort in Daintree is those earning $1,500 - 2,999, representing 29.1% of locals (2,039 people), which aligns with regional levels at 31.7%. After housing costs, 85.1% of income remains in Daintree, ranking 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 evaluated at the latest Census comprised 89.5% houses and 10.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 74.1% houses and 25.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Daintree was at 39.3%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (32.8%) or rented (27.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,408, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent figure was $260, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $310. Nationally, Daintree's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,408 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375 at $260.

Daintree has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 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 constitute the remaining 33.3%, with lone person households at 29.8% and group households making up 3.6%. The median household size is 2.3 people, aligning with the average in the Rest of Qld.

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

The area has educational challenges with university qualification rates at 15.3%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 45.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.1% and certificates at 35.1%.

Educational participation is 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. A total of 8 schools operate within Daintree, educating approximately 1,270 students. The area functions as an education hub with 18.1 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 11.5. This attracts students from surrounding communities.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health outcomes in Daintree are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Health indicators suggest below-average outcomes in Daintree. Common health conditions are slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (~3,251 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 8.1% and 7.1% of residents respectively. Conversely, 69.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of Qld average of 71.7%. The area has 22.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,559 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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. A total of 92.4% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 45.5% of Daintree's population.

However, Judaism was overrepresented compared to the rest of Queensland, comprising 0.1% versus 0.2%. The top three ancestry groups were English (26.9%), Australian (25.8%), and Australian Aboriginal (8.9%). Notably, Italian (4.7%) was slightly overrepresented compared to regional figures (4.3%). New Zealanders made up 0.9% of the population, matching regional levels. Similarly, Germans were also present at 4.3%, aligning with regional statistics.

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

Daintree's median age is 47 years, significantly higher than Rest of Qld's 41 years and older than Australia's national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of Qld average, Daintree has a notably over-represented cohort of people aged 55-64 (17.2%) and an under-represented group of those aged 25-34 (8.0%). This concentration of people aged 55-64 is well above the national average of 11.2%. From 2021 to present, Daintree's population has seen growth in the 15-24 age group from 8.9% to 10.7%, while the 5-14 cohort has declined from 13.3% to 11.5% and the 45-54 group has dropped from 15.1% to 14.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that Daintree's age profile will change significantly. The 65-74 age cohort is projected to increase notably by 245 people (25%), growing from 969 to 1,215. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 57% of total population growth, reflecting Daintree's aging demographic profile. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 5-14 cohorts.