Drayton - Harristown
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Drayton-Harristown's population is 11,470 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 647 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,823. The growth was inferred from ABS estimates of 11,401 in June 2024 and 64 new addresses validated after the Census date. This results in a population density of 704 persons per square kilometer. Drayton-Harristown's 6% growth since the census is within 2.8 percentage points of the non-metro area's 8.8%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 38.2% to overall population gains, with other factors such as interstate migration and natural growth also being positive drivers.

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 or years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 and based on 2022 data for each age cohort. According to demographic trends, regional areas nationally are projected to have above median population growth. Drayton-Harristown is expected to increase by 1,946 persons to reach a total of 13,416 by 2041, marking a 16.4% gain over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Drayton - Harristown among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Drayton - Harristown has averaged approximately 58 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 290 homes. As of FY-26, three approvals have been recorded. Each year, an average of two new residents is gained for each dwelling built, indicating healthy demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value of new homes is $252,000, reflecting more affordable housing options compared to regional norms.

In FY-26, there have been $18.8 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. Drayton - Harristown maintains similar construction rates per person when measured against the Rest of Qld, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns. New developments consist of 74.0% detached houses and 26.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

With approximately 192 people per approval, Drayton - Harristown reflects a low-density area. Future projections indicate that Drayton - Harristown will add around 1,877 residents by 2041, with development keeping pace with projected growth. However, increasing competition among buyers is expected as the population expands.

Drayton - Harristown has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 41 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Toowoomba Warehouses at 42 Condamine Street, South Street Industrial Precinct, South Street Development Site, and Prime Industrial Development at 29 Croft Crescent. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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.

Drayton - Harristown has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Drayton-Harristown has a skilled workforce with high representation in essential services. The unemployment rate was 4.8% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 15.4% over the past year.

As of that date, 5,512 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.8% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation was lower at 54.5%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area specializes in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Mining is under-represented at 1.2% compared to Rest of Qld's 3.6%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 15.4%, labour force by 12.8%, reducing the unemployment rate by 2.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld had employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%, with a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for May 2025 project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, varying by industry sector. Applying these projections to Drayton-Harristown's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that income in Drayton - Harristown is lower than average nationally. The median income is $45,197 and the average is $55,535. In comparison, Rest of Qld has a median income of $50,780 and an average of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $51,520 (median) and $63,304 (average) by September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Drayton - Harristown fall between the 13th and 19th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 30.5% of locals (3,498 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, similar to the surrounding region where 31.7% fall into this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.1% of income remaining, ranking at the 12th percentile.

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

Drayton-Harristown's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 70.3% houses and 29.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Non-Metro Qld, meanwhile, had 81.4% houses and 18.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Drayton-Harristown was at 28.0%, with the rest either mortgaged (28.8%) or rented (43.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517 and significantly below the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure was $295, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $310 and substantially below the national figure of $375.

Drayton - Harristown features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 60.1% of all households, including 20.0% couples with children, 24.8% couples without children, and 13.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 39.9%, with lone person households at 35.8% and group households comprising 4.0%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Drayton - Harristown fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area has university qualification rates of 18.2%, 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 12.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 38.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.8%) and certificates (29.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.4% in primary, 8.5% in secondary, and 4.9% in tertiary education. Drayton - Harristown has a robust network of 6 schools educating approximately 3,243 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 955) offering balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 4 primary, 1 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. The area functions as an education hub with 28.3 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 17.2, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Analysis of public transport in Drayton-Harristown indicates 70 active transport stops operating within the area, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by five individual routes, collectively providing 363 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 259 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 51 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 5 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Drayton - Harristown is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Drayton-Harristown faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. The private health cover rate is low at approximately 48%, covering around 5,459 people, compared to 51.0% across the rest of Queensland (Rest of Qld) and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 11.2% and 10.9% of residents respectively.

However, 59.8% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 65.3% in Rest of Qld. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.7%, with around 2,487 people falling into this category, compared to 18.8% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors generally align with the broader population's health profile.

In terms of cultural diversity, Drayton - Harristown records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Drayton-Harristown, as per the 2016 Census, had cultural diversity roughly in line with its wider region's average. Its population comprised 85.4% citizens, 83.4% born in Australia, and 87.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 56.0%.

However, the category 'Other' showed an overrepresentation of 4.0%, compared to the Rest of Queensland's 2.2%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (27.8%), Australian (27.2%), and Other (9.1%). Notably, German ancestry was slightly overrepresented at 7.4% (regional average: 8.0%), Australian Aboriginal at 4.5% (regional average: 3.3%), and Irish at 8.7% (regional average: 9.1%).

Drayton - Harristown's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Drayton-Harristown has a median age of 36, which is lower than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 years and marginally lower than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented in Drayton-Harristown at 16.7%, compared to the Rest of Qld average, while the 55-64 year-olds are under-represented at 9.2%. Between 2021 and now, the 25-34 age group has grown from 14.5% to 16.7% of the population, while the 55-64 cohort has declined from 10.3% to 9.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Drayton-Harristown's age profile will evolve significantly. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to expand by 694 people (36%) from 1,914 to 2,609. Conversely, both the 55-64 and 5-14 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.