Esk
Statistical Area - sa2

Esk is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Esk's population was around 5,267 as of August 2025, reflecting an increase of 215 people since the 2021 Census. This increase corresponds to a growth rate of 4.3%, with the Census recording a population of 5,052 people. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 5,210 as of June 2024 and an additional 93 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2.8 persons per square kilometer. Interstate migration contributed approximately 82.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 are used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 and based on 2022 data. Based on projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is expected by 2041, with an estimated growth of 601 persons, representing a total increase of 10.3% over the 17 years.

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

Esk has seen approximately 29 new homes approved annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 146 dwellings were approved, with two more recorded so far in FY-26. On average, over these years, about 0.2 new residents per year have arrived per new home.

This suggests that new construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and potentially supporting population growth beyond current expectations. The average expected construction cost of new homes is $399,000, in line with regional trends. In the current financial year, approximately $9.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating moderate levels of commercial development.

Compared to Greater Brisbane, Esk records about 64% of building activity per person and falls within the 60th percentile of areas assessed nationally in terms of building activity. Recent building activity consists solely of standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 253 people per dwelling approval, Esk exhibits characteristics of a low density area. Future projections indicate that Esk is expected to add approximately 544 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Esk has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified seven projects expected to influence the region. Notable ones are Somerset Dam Improvement Project, Proposed Inland Rail Tunnel from Gowrie to Brisbane Port, Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan - South East Queensland, and Waraba (Caboolture West) New Regional City. Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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

AreaSearch assessment indicates Esk faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Esk has a workforce comprising both white and blue collar jobs, with representation across various sectors. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 6.3%, showing an estimated employment growth of 0.8% over the past year.

In June 2025, 2,065 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.3% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Esk is at 44.8%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Major employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing is particularly prominent, with an employment share 14.8 times the regional level.

In contrast, professional & technical services employ only 4.6% of local workers, below Greater Brisbane's 8.9%. Over the year to June 2025, Esk's employment increased by 0.8%, while the labour force grew by 0.2%, leading to a 0.6 percentage point decrease in unemployment rate. This contrasts with Greater Brisbane, where employment rose by 4.4% and unemployment fell by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.5%, with employment growth at 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Esk's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

Esk's median income among taxpayers was $40,256 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $50,970 during the same period. In comparison, Greater Brisbane had median and average incomes of $55,645 and $70,520 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, estimated median and average incomes for Esk as of March 2025 would be approximately $44,970 and $56,939 respectively. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in Esk all fell between the 4th and 4th percentiles nationally. Income analysis showed that the largest segment comprised 30.6% earning $400 - $799 weekly (1,611 residents), differing from patterns across the metropolitan region where $1,500 - $2,999 dominated with 33.3%. After housing costs, 86.2% of income remained, ranking at only the 7th percentile nationally.

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

Esk's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 95.8% houses and 4.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Brisbane metro had 96.6% houses and 3.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Esk was at 50.5%, with mortgaged properties at 30.6% and rented ones at 19.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Brisbane metro's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent figure was $260, compared to Brisbane metro's $300. Nationally, Esk's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 67.1% of all households, including 18.7% that are couples with children, 38.4% that are couples without children, and 9.4% that are single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 32.9%, with lone person households making up 29.2% and group households comprising 3.7%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 13.0%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.2%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.0%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (32.2%). A total of 21.1% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, with 8.1% in primary, 7.5% in secondary, and 1.7% in tertiary education.

Esk has three schools with a combined enrollment of 645 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 962) and providing balanced educational opportunities across two primary and one secondary school serving distinct age groups.

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

Esk has five active public transport stops, all serving buses. There are one route operating across these stops, offering a combined total of 26 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is limited in Esk, with residents usually situated 3344 meters away from the nearest stop.

On average, services run thrice daily across all routes, translating to roughly five weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Esk faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Private health cover is low, at approximately 46% of Esk's total population (around 2,443 people), compared to 48.5% in Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (13.3%) and mental health issues (9.5%).

However, 55.1% of residents report no medical ailments, lower than the 60.9% in Greater Brisbane. Esk has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 35.5% (1,870 people), compared to 21.8% in Greater Brisbane. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are generally positive.

Esk is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Esk was found to have a lower cultural diversity compared to the average, with 85.6% of its population born in Australia, 91.9% being citizens, and 97.5% speaking English only at home. The dominant religion in Esk is Christianity, constituting 58.8% of the population, slightly higher than the Greater Brisbane average of 54.9%. In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are English (32.0%), Australian (30.0%), and Scottish (9.6%).

Notably, German ethnicity is overrepresented in Esk at 8.0%, compared to the regional average of 8.8%, while Dutch ethnicity stands at 1.4% (compared to 1.3%) and Australian Aboriginal at 2.3% (versus 3.2%).

Esk ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Esk's median age is 55 years, which is significantly older than Greater Brisbane's median age of 36 and higher than the Australian median age of 38. The age profile shows that 19.6% of Esk's population is aged between 65 and 74, a figure significantly higher than the national average of 9.4%. Conversely, only 5.7% of Esk's population falls within the 25 to 34 age group, compared to Greater Brisbane's larger proportion. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 10.9% to 13.2%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 12.9% to 11.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Esk's age profile, with the 85+ age cohort projected to expand substantially by 320 people (226%), reaching a total of 462 individuals. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 96% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, both the 45 to 54 and 5 to 14 age groups are projected to decrease in number.