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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Karana Downs has an estimated 6,261 residents, up from 6,032 at the 2021 Census — a change of 229 people, or 3.8%. That puts 101 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to investigations by AreaSearch, the population of Karana Downs stands at approximately 6,261 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 229 individuals (3.8%) relative to the 2021 Census, which recorded 6,032 residents. This shift is calculated utilizing the ABS estimated resident population of 6,261 from June 2025 alongside 30 validated new addresses identified since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 100 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density living and potential capacity for subsequent expansion. Recent population increases were chiefly driven by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 60.2% of the total demographic gains.
AreaSearch incorporates projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024, utilizing 2022 as the base year. For locations lacking this coverage, and for the years after 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 (utilizing 2021 data) are employed. Because these state-level projections lack age breakdowns, AreaSearch applies age-group weightings aligned with the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (based on 2022 data). Looking at long-term demographic trends, the methodology forecasts a net population reduction of 99 persons by 2041. Despite this overall contraction, expansion is expected within particular age groups, most notably the 85 and over cohort, which is projected to grow by 246 individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
46 new dwellings have been approved in Karana Downs over the past five years, an average of 9 a year. That is 1.5 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 8, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
In Karana Downs, approximately 9 new residential building approvals occur annually, with 46 approvals recorded over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 8 registered during FY-26. The area added 2.8 new residents for every finished dwelling during the 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, pointing to stable demand that supports property values. The average construction cost for these new dwellings is $234,000, which sits below the wider region's average and indicates more budget-friendly construction options. Relative to Greater Brisbane, residential construction activity in Karana Downs is minimal, tracking 87.0% below the regional average per capita.
This constrained construction rate generally helps sustain demand and prices for existing properties. This volume of building is also below the nationwide average, reflecting the mature nature of the suburb and suggesting possible planning constraints. Furthermore, all recent residential building activity consisted of detached houses, preserving the low-density landscape and catering to families desiring larger properties. The ratio of 782 people per approved dwelling underscores the quiet nature of local construction activity. Given that the population is projected to remain steady or contract, Karana Downs is likely to experience less pressure on its residential supply, which may benefit home buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Karana Downs
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 24 current infrastructure and development projects close to Karana Downs, worth an estimated $2.04 billion. 8 are already under construction and 4 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and education & training. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure projects, updates, and planning decisions significantly affect property market trends. AreaSearch has tracked 2 projects with the potential to influence the local area. Notable projects include the Warrego Highway - Mount Crosby Road Interchange Upgrade, planning for the Centenary Motorway (Darra - Yamanto), the Cunningham Highway Upgrade, and the South East Queensland Inland Rail Project, with the primary details focusing on those most relevant to the suburb.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Warrego Highway - Mount Crosby Road Interchange Upgrade
Upgrade of the Warrego Highway and Mount Crosby Road interchange at Chuwar, including a new interchange at the future Moggill Pocket Arterial location, a new dual-lane bridge connecting Karalee via Junction Road, service roads with active transport paths, and minor upgrades to Mount Crosby Road. Complementary works involve rehabilitation and re-decking of the westbound Bremer River Bridge at Karalee to extend its service life and lift existing speed restrictions. The project is jointly funded 50:50 by the Australian and Queensland governments.Detailed design is underway, with additional ecological surveys required under the EPBC Act delaying the construction timeline.
Citiswich Business Park
Queensland's largest industrial development, Citiswich Business Park is a 350-hectare master-planned estate at Bundamba in the logistics hub of Brisbane's south-western corridor. Developed by Walker Corporation, the estate provides serviced industrial land and facilities for logistics, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and wholesale retail. Active staged expansion continues with Stage 6 sub-stages (6C1, 6C2, 6D) and Stage 7 (67.3 ha footprint north of Warrego Highway at Riverview) underway, alongside the $45 million SmartStores workstore development under construction at 183 Hume Drive.
Riverview Townhomes and Apartments
Residential development approved for 115 townhomes, 3 retail tenancies, and 4 apartments. Total development costs of $53.45 million.
Munro Development
Azure is building the Munro development at Bundamba, comprising 100 homes.
Bundamba Creek Environmental Restoration & Linear Park
A multi-stage environmental restoration program along Bundamba Creek jointly funded by the Australian Government's Urban Rivers and Catchments Program ($3M) and Ipswich City Council ($1M). Works include streambank stabilisation, erosion control, weed removal, native revegetation and habitat enhancement across priority sites including Jack Barkley Park at North Booval. Since September 2024, over 781 metres of creek bank and more than one hectare of riparian land have been restored, with nearly 50,000 native plants installed. The broader program also incorporates Ironpot Creek and Woogaroo Creek.Longer-term plans include creation of a continuous linear park and shared pathway with boardwalks and community recreation areas.
Bundamba Industrial Precinct Expansion
Expansion of the Bundamba Industrial Precinct to deliver new serviced industrial lots, road and utility infrastructure, and improved freight access including integration with the Bundamba Bypass and surrounding transport network. The project continues to be identified by Ipswich City Council as a strategic employment and industrial growth area.
Bundamba State Secondary College Redevelopment
Major $80+ million redevelopment and expansion of Bundamba State Secondary College, including new teaching blocks, a performing arts centre, sports facilities, a leadership centre with rock climbing facilities, and an upgraded administration building. The school now operates with a maximum enrolment capacity of 1,124 students. An enrolment management plan was gazetted in August 2025, reflecting the expanded capacity delivered by the redevelopment.
145 Chermside Road East Ipswich - Multiple Residential
Material Change of Use application for Multiple Residential (3 townhouses) at 145 Chermside Road East Ipswich.
3,883 residents of Karana Downs are employed, from a labour force of 3,922. Unemployment sits at 1.0%, with participation at 76.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 4,707, about 75% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local workforce in Karana Downs is highly educated with a strong representation in key service sectors, an unemployment rate of only 1.0%, and an annual employment growth rate estimated at 10.5%. As of March 2026, employed residents numbered 3,883, while the unemployment rate was 3.3% lower than the Greater Brisbane average of 4.3%. The participation rate of 76.4% is also substantially higher than the Greater Brisbane level of 70.4%. Census data indicates that 24.6% of working residents operated from home, though this figure reflects historical pandemic containment measures. The primary employment sectors for local workers are health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction.
The suburb exhibits a notable concentration in education & training, with employment representation reaching 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing represents just 3.1% of local employment compared to 5.6% across the region. The comparison between local jobs and resident workers suggests that residents mostly commute outside the immediate area for employment. According to SALM and ABS statistics compiled by AreaSearch, employment grew by 10.5% over the 12-month period, while the labour force expanded by 10.1%, leading to a 0.4 percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 3.2% and labour force growth of 3.4%, alongside a 0.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. Industry growth trajectories can be estimated by looking at Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment projections from May-25. These five and ten-year national outlooks have been applied to the local workforce structure. While national employment is projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary by sector. Applying these national sector trends to the Karana Downs workforce profile suggests local employment increases of 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, representing a basic weighting extrapolation that does not account for local population changes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Karana Downs is $2,385 a week (about $124,000 a year), with median personal income at $962 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $62,124 a year against an average of $70,427. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to the latest ATO tax data for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Karana Downs SA2 recorded a median income of $62,124 and an average income of $70,427. These figures exceed national benchmarks, comparing to a median of $58,236 and an average of $72,799 in Greater Brisbane. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $69,181 for the median and $78,428 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb ranked between the 74th and 87th percentiles nationally.
The largest income group comprises 33.6% of residents (2,103 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the regional distribution where 33.3% fall into this band. High-income households earning over $3,000 weekly make up 37.6% of the local total, supporting consumer demand. Residents retain 87.5% of their income after meeting housing costs, indicating strong discretionary capacity, and the area is positioned in the 8th decile of the SEIFA index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Karana Downs had 2,054 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 1% apartments. 58% are owned with a mortgage, 10% rented and 32% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $400 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,918 a month. Rent absorbs 16.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 18.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the latest Census, the housing stock in Karana Downs consisted of 95.8% standalone houses and 4.3% other dwelling types, such as apartments and townhouses, compared to 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings in metropolitan Brisbane. Fully owned properties accounted for 31.6% of homes, with the remaining dwellings occupied by mortgage holders (58.0%) or tenants (10.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,918, which is higher than the Brisbane metropolitan average of $1,863. The median weekly rent stood at $400, compared to the metropolitan median of $380.
Nationally, local mortgage costs exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are above the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Karana Downs counted 2,054 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.9 people each. 45% are couples with children, more than in 88% of areas nationally, against 31% couples without children. 13% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 85.9% of all local households, consisting of couples with children at 44.5%, couples without children at 31.3%, and single-parent homes at 9.6%. Non-family households account for 14.1% of the total, with single-person households representing 13.2% and group houses making up 0.9%. The median household occupancy is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
33.3% of adults in Karana Downs hold a university qualification, including 20.7% with a bachelor degree and 8.0% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 23.7% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 589 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,042 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The level of education in Karana Downs is high compared to the wider region, with 33.3% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 17.2% in the SA3 and 18.8% in the SA4. This educational profile positions the suburb well for professional opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 20.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 8.0% and graduate diplomas at 4.6%. Technical and vocational credentials are also common, with 36.1% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications such as advanced diplomas (12.4%) and certificates (23.7%). A total of 31.0% of the local population is enrolled in some form of study.
This cohort includes 10.7% attending primary schools, 10.0% in secondary education, and 5.6% enrolled in tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Karana Downs means driving: households keep an average of 2.1 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
69.0% of residents in Karana Downs report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 75% of areas nationally. 4.1% need daily assistance with core activities, and 54.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
An evaluation of health indicators reveals positive outcomes in Karana Downs, based on analysis of mortality rates and chronic health conditions. Younger age groups show very low rates of common illnesses, and private health insurance coverage is high, encompassing roughly 54% of the population, or about 3,387 residents. The primary medical diagnoses in the suburb are mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 8.7% and 8.4% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 69.0% of residents reported having no chronic health conditions, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Health profiles for working-age residents are standard.
Residents aged 65 and older represent 17.3% of the population (1,084 people), exceeding the Greater Brisbane benchmark of 15.1%. The health status of seniors is positive, though it ranks lower nationally than the younger cohorts in the suburb.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Karana Downs is largely Australian-born, at 77.6% of residents, with 6.0% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (31.4%) and Australian (24.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The suburb displays lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with 77.6% of residents born in Australia, 91.4% holding citizenship, and 94.0% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 47.0% of the population. However, Judaism shows a minor overrepresentation at 0.2% of the population, compared to 0.1% across Greater Brisbane. Regarding family heritage and parental birthplace, the three largest ancestral groups are English at 31.4%, Australian at 24.7%, and Irish at 9.3%. There are also distinct concentrations of other backgrounds, with Dutch ancestry representing 2.2% of residents compared to 1.2% regionally, Welsh at 0.9% compared to 0.5% regionally, and South Australian at 1.1% compared to 0.6% regionally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Karana Downs is 43. That is 1 year older than at the 2021 Census. 20.1% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age in Karana Downs is 43 years, which is older than the Greater Brisbane average of 36 years and the national median of 38 years. The 45 - 54 age bracket is highly represented at 17.1% of the population, whereas the 25 - 34 cohort is smaller at 7.3%. The proportion of residents aged 45 - 54 is higher than the national figure of 12.0%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age cohort has increased from 4.0% to 6.0%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 cohort declined from 14.3% to 12.7%, and the 5 to 14 cohort decreased from 15.1% to 13.6%.
Projections for 2041 suggest changing demographics, led by a 223% growth in the 85+ cohort (an increase of 238 people), growing from 107 to 346. The combined 65+ age groups are expected to represent 100% of net population growth, highlighting the aging trend, while the 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 brackets are projected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Karana Downs
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 30 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (6,032 at the 2021 Census → 6,261 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (310031290). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.