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 around 11,472 as of August 2025. This reflects an increase of 649 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 10,823 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,401 from ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 65 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 704 persons per square kilometer. Drayton-Harristown's growth rate of 6.0% since census positions it close to the non-metro area's average growth rate of 8.6%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 38.2% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts 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 released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. Moving forward, demographic trends project an above median population growth for regional areas nationally. The area is expected to increase by 1,946 persons to 2041, recording a gain of 16.3% over the 17 years.

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. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 290 dwellings approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and two approvals so far in FY-26. On average, each dwelling built has resulted in approximately two new residents per year over these five financial years, indicating healthy demand which supports property values. The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $361,000, reflecting more affordable housing options for purchasers compared to regional norms.

This financial year has seen $18.8 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. When measured against the Rest of Queensland, Drayton-Harristown maintains similar construction rates per person, supporting market stability in line with regional patterns. New development consists of 74.0% detached houses and 26.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

With around 192 people per approval, Drayton-Harristown reflects a developing area with future projections indicating an addition of 1,875 residents by 2041. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers is anticipated as the population expands.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 44 projects likely to affect the area. Notable projects include Social & Affordable Housing Development - Newtown (2021), Toowoomba Warehouses - 42 Condamine Street (scheduled for completion in Q2 2023), South Street Industrial Precinct (commenced on 15/06/2022), and Alford Grove (expected to be completed by the end of 2024). The following list details projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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

Drayton - Harristown has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 4.8% as of June 2024.

Over the past year, estimated employment growth was 15.4%. As of June 2025, 5,512 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is 0.8% above Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Drayton - Harristown was 54.5%, below the Rest of Qld average of 59.1%. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

The area specialises in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level, but 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. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 15.4%, labour force by 12.8%, reducing unemployment by 2.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld had employment growth of 1.8% and a slight unemployment rate rise. State-level data to Sep-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23% with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. National forecasts from May 2025 project total employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Drayton - Harristown's employment mix suggests local growth could be approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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. This contrasts with Rest of Qld's figures: median income of $50,780 and average income of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Drayton - Harristown would be approximately $50,490 (median) and $62,038 (average) as of March 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Drayton - Harristown fall between the 13th and 19th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The earnings profile shows that 30.5% of locals (3,498 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 31.7% also fall into this income range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 12th percentile nationally.

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, comprised 70.3% houses and 29.7% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 81.4% houses and 18.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Drayton-Harristown was at 28.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.8% and rented ones at 43.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent figure in Drayton-Harristown was $295, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $310. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,863 and rents 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 comprise 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 account for the remaining 39.9%, with lone person households at 35.8% and group households making up 4.0%. The median household size is 2.3 people, 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's university qualification rate is 18.2%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (8.8%) and certificates (29.4%). Educational participation is high at 29.9%, including 9.4% in primary, 8.5% in secondary, and 4.9% in tertiary education.

Drayton-Harristown has a robust network of six schools educating approximately 3,243 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 955) and balanced educational opportunities. The area functions as an education hub with 28.3 school places per 100 residents, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Transport analysis shows 70 active stops operating within Drayton-Harristown. These stops are served by buses along five routes, offering a total of 363 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 259 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency is 51 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately five weekly trips per 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 impacting both younger and older residents. The private health cover rate is approximately 48%, which is lower than the Rest of Queensland's 51% and the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions in the area, 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 Queensland. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.7%, compared to the Rest of Queensland's 18.8%. Health outcomes among seniors are broadly similar to those of the general population.

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's cultural diversity is roughly similar to the wider region's average. 85.4% of its population are citizens, 83.4% were born in Australia, and 87.3% speak English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 56.0%.

The most notable overrepresentation is in the 'Other' category, which constitutes 4.0%, compared to 2.2% region-wide. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (27.8%), Australian (27.2%), and Other (9.1%). There are also significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: German is overrepresented at 7.4% (vs regional 8.0%), Australian Aboriginal at 4.5% (vs 3.3%), and Irish at 8.7% (vs 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 and Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 cohort is 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 present, the 25-34 age group has grown from 14.5% to 16.7% of the population. Conversely, 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 projected to see reduced numbers.