Ipswich - East
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Ipswich - East's population was around 18,957 as of November 2025. This reflected an increase of 982 people from the 2021 Census figure of 17,975. The increase was inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 18,923 in June 2024 and additional 22 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 1,651 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 63.5% to overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data were used, applying proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population dynamics projected an above median growth for statistical areas nationwide by 2041, with Ipswich - East expected to expand by 3,957 persons, recording a gain of 20.7% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Ipswich - East recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Ipswich East has recorded approximately 38 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 190 homes were approved, with an additional 5 approved so far in FY26. On average, about 1.4 people moved to the area each year for each dwelling built during these years.

This suggests a balance between supply and demand, contributing to stable market conditions. The average construction cost value of new properties is $349,000. In terms of commercial development, there have been $6.7 million in approvals this financial year, indicating limited focus on commercial projects compared to residential ones. When compared to Greater Brisbane, Ipswich East has significantly less development activity, approximately 83.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new homes typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. However, development activity has picked up in recent periods. Nationally, development activity is also lower than the national average, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints.

The current dwelling approvals consist of 35.0% detached dwellings and 65.0% medium and high-density housing. This shift from the current housing mix (currently 84.0% houses) reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The location has approximately 276 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Future projections show Ipswich East adding around 3,923 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Ipswich - East has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 30 projects that could impact the region. Notable projects include Mary and Williams Streets Intersection Upgrade, Emerald Hill Estate Brassall, East Ipswich Train Station Upgrade, and Ipswich Hospital Expansion Stage 2, with the following list detailing those 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.

Employment drivers in Ipswich - East are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Ipswich East has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominent in essential services. The unemployment rate was 6.8% as of June 2021, with an estimated employment growth of 0.6% over the past year.

As of June 2025, 8,641 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 7.3%, compared to Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation was lower at 55.2% compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Leading industries included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Manufacturing stood out with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services were under-represented at 4.7%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 8.9%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data on working population versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 0.6% and labour force grew by 0.2%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Brisbane had employment growth of 4.4% and labour force growth of 4.0%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ipswich East's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2022 shows median income in Ipswich - East was $51,155 and average income was $56,488. This contrasts with Greater Brisbane's median income of $55,645 and average income of $70,520 during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth rate of 13.99% from July 2022 to September 2025, estimated median income in Ipswich - East would be approximately $58,312 and average income would be around $64,391 by the end of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Ipswich - East fall between the 18th and 25th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income distribution data reveals that 29.9% (5,668 individuals) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, consistent with broader regional trends where 33.3% fall into the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Ipswich - East, with only 83.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 18th percentile nationally.

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

Ipswich-East's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 83.9% houses and 16.0% other dwellings (including semi-detached, apartments, and 'other' dwellings). This compares to Brisbane metro's 88.4% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ipswich-East stood at 27.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.7% and rented ones at 40.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,323, below Brisbane metro's average of $1,517. Median weekly rent in Ipswich-East was recorded at $290, compared to Brisbane metro's $300. Nationally, Ipswich-East's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 63.2% of all households, including 22.5% couples with children, 22.6% couples without children, and 16.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 36.8%, with lone person households at 32.8% and group households comprising 4.0%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

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

The area has lower university qualification rates than the Greater Brisbane average, with only 16.4% of residents holding such qualifications compared to 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are most common among these at 11.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 39.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (29.9%). Educational participation is high, with 28.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes primary education (10.3%), secondary education (8.4%), and tertiary education (4.0%). The area has four schools with a combined enrollment of 1,686 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 955) with balanced educational opportunities. These include three primary schools and one K-12 school. Local school capacity is limited at 8.9 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 18.0, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Ipswich - East has 98 active public transport stops. These are a mix of train and bus services. There are 53 individual routes operating in total, providing 2,472 weekly passenger trips collectively.

The accessibility rating for transport is good, with residents typically located 215 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 353 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 25 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Ipswich - East faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of the total population (~9,099 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 13.1 and 10.6% of residents respectively. Conversely, 57.0% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly lower than the 62.2% across Greater Brisbane. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.3% (3,656 people), compared to 15.3% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors are broadly similar to those of the general population.

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

Ipswich - East had a cultural diversity index below average, with 88.5% of its population being citizens, 86.3% born in Australia, and 94.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Ipswich - East, comprising 49.9% of people, compared to 49.5% across Greater Brisbane. The top three ancestry groups were English (29.4%), Australian (28.2%), and Irish (8.8%).

Notably, German ancestry was proportionally equal at 6.4%, Samoan slightly lower at 0.9%, and Maori slightly lower at 0.8% compared to regional averages.

Ipswich - East's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Ipswich - East is 39 years, slightly higher than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 years and close to Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Ipswich - East has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (12.7%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (12.4%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 75-84 has increased from 5.9% to 6.4%, while the proportion of those aged 5-14 has decreased from 12.8% to 11.6%. By 2041, Ipswich - East's age composition is projected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 75-84 is expected to grow by 78%, reaching 2,165 from 1,215. Those aged 65 and above are projected to comprise 57% of the population growth. Conversely, declines in population are projected for those aged 0-4 and 25-34.