Fortitude Valley

Fortitude Valley lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Fortitude Valley's population was around 11,559 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 2,047 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,512 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,545 in June 2024 and an additional 350 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 9,101 persons per square kilometer, placing Fortitude Valley in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area highly sought after. The growth rate of 21.5% since the 2021 Census exceeded the national average of 8.9%, marking Fortitude Valley as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 68.2% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting 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. Exceptional growth is predicted over the period to 2041, with the area expected to grow by 6,830 persons, reflecting an increase of 59.0% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Fortitude Valley when compared nationally

Fortitude Valley averaged approximately 125 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25626 homes were approved, with none yet recorded in FY-26. Each year, about 4 new residents arrived per dwelling constructed during these five financial years.

This has led to a significant gap between demand and supply, typically resulting in price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction value of new dwellings was $278,000, aligning with regional trends. In FY-26, $230.2 million in commercial development approvals were recorded, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Fortitude Valley has 14.0% lower construction activity per person and ranks among the second percentile nationally, suggesting relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing homes.

All new constructions since FY-21 have been medium or high-density housing, offering more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. By 2041, Fortitude Valley is projected to add 6,816 residents (AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current development rates persist, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Fortitude Valley has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 70 projects that could affect the region. Notable ones are Brunswick & Co, James Place, The Bedford by Mosaic, and Brisbane 2032 Games Venue Infrastructure Program. Below is a list detailing those likely to be 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.

Fortitude Valley has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Fortitude Valley has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 6.5% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.2%.

As of September 2025, 8,902 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 2.5% above Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation was at 77.6%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical services (31.8%), accommodation & food services (23.9%), and health care & social assistance (14.3%). The area shows strong specialization in accommodation & food services, with an employment share of 2.2 times the regional level.

Conversely, education & training has lower representation at 5.1% compared to the regional average of 9.4%. There are 2.9 workers for every resident, indicating that Fortitude Valley functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 1.2% while labour force grew by 1.4%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 3.8% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a 0.5 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. State-level data from QLD as of 25-Nov shows employment contracted by 0.01%, with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Fortitude Valley's employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch reports that Fortitude Valley SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $60,250 and an average income of $81,488 in the financial year 2022. These figures are among the highest in Australia, compared to Greater Brisbane's median of $55,645 and average of $70,520. Based on a 13.99% growth since FY2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $68,679 (median) and $92,888 (average). According to Census 2021 data, individual earnings rank at the 83rd percentile nationally ($1,059 weekly), while household income ranks at the 45th percentile. The predominant income cohort is 38.3% of locals earning between $1,500 and $2,999 per week. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 77.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 38th percentile nationally. Fortitude Valley's SEIFA income rank places it in the 8th decile.

Fortitude Valley features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Fortitude Valley, as per the latest Census, consisted of 1.5% houses and 98.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Brisbane metro had 12.9% houses and 87.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fortitude Valley was at 5.4%, with the rest either mortgaged (14.3%) or rented (80.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, lower than Brisbane metro's average of $2,000 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Fortitude Valley was $400, higher than the Brisbane metro figure of $440 but lower than the national average of $375.

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

Family households comprise 36.0% of all households, including 5.6% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 2.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 64.0%, with lone person households making up 50.5% and group households comprising 13.4%. The median household size is 1.6 people, smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 1.9.

Fortitude Valley demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Fortitude Valley is notably high with 48.1% of residents aged 15 years and above holding university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in Queensland and 30.4% nationally. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 33.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational credentials are also prominent with 29.3% of residents aged 15 years and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (12.4%) and certificates (16.9%). Educational participation is high in the area with 30.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 14.6% in tertiary education, 1.9% in primary education, and 1.3% pursuing secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.6% in tertiary education, 1.9% in primary education, and 1.3% pursuing secondary education.

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

Fortitude Valley has 47 active public transport stops operating within it. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services. There are 272 individual routes serving these stops, collectively providing 18,901 weekly passenger trips.

The average distance from residents to the nearest transport stop is 113 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility. On average, there are 2,700 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 402 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Fortitude Valley's health outcomes show exceptional results, with younger cohorts experiencing low prevalence rates for common conditions. Private health cover stands at approximately 61% of its total population (7,027 people), exceeding Greater Brisbane's rate of 64.3%. Nationally, this figure is 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in Fortitude Valley, affecting 13.2% and 7.6% of residents respectively. Overall, 73.8% of residents report being free from medical ailments, slightly lower than Greater Brisbane's 75.5%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 4.8%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 10.5%. However, health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to their above-average needs.

Fortitude Valley is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Fortitude Valley has a high level of cultural diversity, with 29.5% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 44.4% born overseas. The predominant religion in Fortitude Valley is Christianity, which accounts for 32.1% of the population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented in Fortitude Valley compared to Greater Brisbane, with 3.5% versus 3.9%.

The top three ancestry groups are English at 23.5%, Other at 16.1%, and Australian at 15.8%. Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Spanish is overrepresented at 1.5% compared to the regional average of 1.0%, Russian at 0.6% versus 0.5%, and Korean at 1.0% versus 1.3%.

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

Fortitude Valley has a median age of 31 years, which is younger than the Greater Brisbane average of 36 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Fortitude Valley has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (41.0%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (2.4%). This 25-34 concentration is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. According to data from the post-2021 Census, the age group of 35 to 44 has grown from 18.5% to 19.9% of Fortitude Valley's population. Conversely, the 15 to 24 age group has declined from 16.9% to 13.9%. Demographic projections suggest that by 2041, Fortitude Valley's age profile will change significantly. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to increase steadily, with an additional 1,844 people (a 39% rise) bringing the total from 4,736 to 6,581 residents in this age group.