Emerald
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Emerald reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Emerald's population was around 15,217 as of Aug 2025. This reflected an increase of 1,128 people (8.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,089 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 15,182 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 183 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 390 persons per square kilometer. Emerald's growth exceeded the SA3 area (5.9%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 60.5% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and interstate migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. 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 were adopted. These state projections did not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings were applied in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort. Based on demographic trends and latest population numbers, the area was expected to grow by 1,492 persons to 2041, recording a gain of 9.6% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Emerald according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Emerald has received approximately 18 dwelling approvals per year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that between financial years FY21 and FY25, around 90 dwellings were approved in Emerald, with 18 approvals so far in FY26. On average, about 10.7 new residents have moved into the area annually for each dwelling constructed over these five years. This demand has outpaced supply, potentially exerting upward pressure on prices and intensifying competition among buyers.

The average construction cost of new properties is around $552,000. Commercial development activity appears balanced, with $10.9 million in approvals registered this financial year. Emerald's construction rates per person are similar to the rest of Queensland, indicating market stability aligned with regional trends. However, recent construction activity has eased slightly compared to national levels, suggesting possible development constraints due to market maturity.

Recent developments consist of 91.0% detached dwellings and 9.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining Emerald's low-density character focused on family homes. The area currently hosts approximately 2370 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. Population forecasts project an increase of 1457 residents by 2041. If current development rates persist, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

Emerald has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 36thth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified seven projects that could impact the area, including notable ones like the Emerald Regional Botanic Gardens Upgrade, Codenwarra Road Mixed-Use Development Site, Nogoa Rise Estate Residential Development, and 91 Gray Street Apartment Development. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

Employment performance in Emerald ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Emerald's workforce comprises skilled individuals with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate stood at 2.8% as of a recent period.

Employment growth was estimated at 4.7% over the past year. As of June 2025, 9,721 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.1% below Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Emerald was 73.7%, exceeding Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Dominant employment sectors among residents included mining, retail trade, and education & training.

Mining had a particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 5.4 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance had limited presence with 8.1% employment compared to 16.1% regionally. Local employment opportunities existed, but many residents commuted elsewhere for work based on Census data comparison. In a 12-month period, employment increased by 4.7%, alongside labour force growth of 5.0%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 showed QLD employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Emerald's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 5.2% over five years and 11.5% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Emerald's median income among taxpayers was $62,836 in financial year 2022. The average income was $78,859. These figures are high compared to national averages and the Rest of Qld's median of $50,780 and average of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022 until March 2025, estimated median income is approximately $70,194 and average income is $88,093. According to the 2021 Census, Emerald's household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 77th and 81st percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 37.4% of residents (5,691 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999 annually. This is similar to the surrounding region where 31.7% fall into this bracket. Economic strength is evident with 31.0% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000. This supports elevated consumer spending in Emerald. After housing costs, residents retain 87.3% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Emerald is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

The dwelling structure in Emerald, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 80.4% houses and 19.5% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had an 86.6% share of houses and a 13.4% share of other dwellings. Home ownership in Emerald was at 15.9%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (37.9%) or rented (46.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Emerald was $1,600, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,500. The median weekly rent figure in Emerald was recorded at $300, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $250. Nationally, Emerald's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Emerald has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 73.1% of all households, including 36.7% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 10.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 26.9%, with lone person households at 23.4% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 17.3%, substantially lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 12.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 43.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas account for 8.6% and certificates for 35.2%. Educational participation is high at 35.4%, including 14.8% in primary, 10.7% in secondary, and 2.9% in tertiary education.

Emerald has a robust network of 10 schools educating approximately 8,028 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 961). The educational mix includes 5 primary, 3 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. As an education hub, Emerald offers 52.8 school places per 100 residents, significantly higher than the regional average of 33.0, attracting students from surrounding communities.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Emerald's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Emerald's health outcomes data shows excellent results, with younger age groups having particularly low prevalence of common health conditions.

Approximately 59% (9,038 people) of Emerald's total population has private health cover, a rate which is notably high. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 8.0% and 7.6% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 75.7%, report being free from any medical ailments, compared to 74.5% across the rest of Queensland. Emerald has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 8.8% (1,339 people), compared to the state average of 10.7%. However, health outcomes among seniors in Emerald are above average and require more attention than the broader population.

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

Emerald's population showed low cultural diversity, with 82.6% being Australian citizens, 83.9% born in Australia, and 91.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 54.8%, compared to 56.8% in the rest of Queensland. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (29.2%), English (28.1%), and Irish (8.3%).

Some ethnic groups had higher representation than regional averages: Maori at 1.7% (vs 1.4%), New Zealand at 1.2% (vs 0.9%), and South African at 0.8% (vs 0.5%).

Emerald hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Emerald's median age is 32 years, which is lower than the Rest of Queensland average of 41 and substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Rest of Queensland, Emerald has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (16.8%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (2.1%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 65-74 has grown from 4.6% to 6.1%, while the 5-14 age group has declined from 17.6% to 15.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Emerald's age profile will evolve significantly. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 25%, adding 648 residents to reach a total of 3,205. Conversely, both the 55-64 and 15-24 age groups are expected to have reduced numbers.