Inala - Richlands
Statistical Area - sa2

Inala - Richlands lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Inala-Richlands' population, as of November 2025, is approximately 21,797. This figure shows an increase of 1,906 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 19,891. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates and validated new addresses between June 2024 (population: 21,363) and the Census date. This results in a population density of 2,005 persons per square kilometer, higher than the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Inala-Richlands' growth rate of 9.6% since the 2021 census exceeds the national average of 8.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 61.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, based on 2021 data. However, these state projections lack age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future population trends indicate a significant increase, with the area expected to expand by 6,784 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 29.1% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Inala - Richlands among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Inala - Richlands averaged approximately 84 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 422 homes approved during this period and an additional 42 approved in FY26. This resulted in an average of 3.1 people moving to the area per year for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, indicating that demand significantly outpaces supply. Consequently, this situation typically exerts upward pressure on prices and intensifies competition among buyers.

The average value of new homes being constructed was $260,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In the current financial year, $139.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Inala - Richlands exhibits comparable new home approvals per capita, maintaining market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. The new development composition is 58.0% standalone homes and 42.0% attached dwellings, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments providing varied housing options across different price points.

This shift from the area's existing housing stock (currently 75.0% houses) suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing choices. With approximately 278 people per dwelling approval, Inala - Richlands exhibits a developing market. Population forecasts project that Inala - Richlands will gain around 6,350 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 30 projects that could affect this region. Notable initiatives include Kane Constructions Social Housing at Tallow Street, Inala; the proposed Coles Shopping Centre on Progress Road; redevelopment plans for the former Masters Store Retail Centre; and Coin Tree Close Estate. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Inala - Richlands face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Inala-Richlands has a skilled workforce with manufacturing and industrial sectors prominent. The unemployment rate was 10.6% in June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 0.6% over the past year.

As of this date, 8,073 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 6.5%, higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation was significantly lower at 50.0% compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Key employment industries included health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. Manufacturing had a notable concentration with employment levels at 2.2 times the regional average.

Conversely, professional & technical services employed only 4.5% of local workers, below Greater Brisbane's 8.9%. The area offered limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 0.6%, labour force grew by 0.2%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded higher growth rates with employment increasing by 4.4% and labour force by 4.0%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Inala-Richlands' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.6% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

Inala-Richlands has a median taxpayer income of $45,228 and an average income of $50,136 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022. This is lower than national averages; Greater Brisbane's median income was $55,645 with an average of $70,520 in the same period. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $51,555 (median) and $57,150 (average), based on a 13.99% growth since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census shows that Inala-Richlands' household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 4th to 11th percentiles nationally. The $800-$1,499 income bracket dominates with 29.7% of residents (6,473 people), contrasting with regional levels where the $1,500-$2,999 bracket leads at 33.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 78.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.

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

Inala-Richlands' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 74.7% houses and 25.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). Brisbane metro had 80.2% houses and 19.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Inala-Richlands was 17.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 21.9% and rented at 60.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,376, below Brisbane's $1,630 average, while median weekly rent was $300 compared to Brisbane's $355. Nationally, Inala-Richlands' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

Inala - Richlands features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.1% of all households, including couples with children (29.5%), couples without children (16.5%), and single parent families (22.5%). Non-family households account for the remaining 28.9%, with lone person households at 24.1% and group households comprising 4.9%. The median household size is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.8.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 16.2%, significantly lower than the Greater Brisbane average of 30.5%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 29.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.0%) and certificates (20.8%).

Educational participation is high at 35.3%, including 12.1% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 5.5% pursuing tertiary education. As of the latest data, Inala - Richlands has 3 schools with a combined enrollment of 1,055 students. The area offers varied educational conditions across its schools. Education provision is balanced with 2 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups. Local school capacity is limited at 4.8 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.3, leading many families to travel nearby for schooling.

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

Inala-Richlands has 110 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 34 routes, facilitating 2,665 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 187 meters to the nearest stop.

Daily service frequency averages 380 trips across all routes, resulting in approximately 24 weekly trips per individual stop.

Inala - Richlands's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Health data shows that Inala - Richlands residents have a relatively low prevalence of common health conditions compared to the general population, but higher than the national average for older and at-risk cohorts. The rate of private health cover is extremely low in this area, with approximately 46% of the total population (~10,070 people) having it, compared to 49.5% across Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are asthma (7.7%) and mental health issues (7.3%), while 73.2% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.1% in Greater Brisbane.

Inala - Richlands has 12.6% of residents aged 65 and over (2,746 people), which is lower than the 13.6% in Greater Brisbane. However, health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to presenting some challenges compared to the broader population.

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

Inala-Richlands has one of the highest levels of cultural diversity in Australia, with 49.5% of its residents born overseas and 56.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Inala-Richlands, accounting for 44.1% of the population. However, Buddhism is more prevalent here compared to Greater Brisbane, making up 12.9% versus 8.7%.

The top three ancestry groups based on country of birth of parents are Other (21.3%), Vietnamese (20.5%), and English (15.0%). Notably, Samoan (3.6%) and Australian Aboriginal (4.5%) populations are higher in Inala-Richlands compared to the regional averages of 2.7% and 2.4%, respectively.

Inala - Richlands hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Inala-Richlands has a median age of 31 years, which is younger than the Greater Brisbane average of 36 and significantly under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Inala-Richlands has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (16.3%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (12.8%). Post-2021 Census data shows that the 65-74 age group increased from 6.5% to 7.6% of the population, while the 25-34 cohort decreased from 16.4% to 15.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Inala-Richlands' age profile, with the 65-74 age group expected to grow by 998 people (60%), reaching a total of 2,655 from the current 1,656.