Kelso
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Kelso's population is 11,208 as of August 2025. This shows a growth of 525 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,683. This increase is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data and validated new addresses. Kelso's population density is 65 persons per square kilometer. The area's 4.9% growth since the census is comparable to its SA4 region (6.9%). Natural growth contributed approximately 79.8% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses 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 from 2023 are used, applying proportional growth weightings where necessary. Based on projected demographic shifts, Kelso is expected to increase by 1,609 persons to 2041, with a total increase of 14.4% over the 17 years.

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

Kelso has averaged approximately 24 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data, produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, shows 123 dwellings approved between FY-21 and FY-25. As of FY-26, 13 approvals have been recorded. Over the past five financial years (FY-21 to FY-25), an average of 2.8 people moved to Kelso per new home constructed, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $361,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options for purchasers. In FY-26, $410,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating the area's residential nature. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Kelso has roughly half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 17th percentile nationally, suggesting limited housing choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings. This is below the national average, indicating Kelso's established character and potential planning limitations.

New building activity shows 94.0% standalone homes and 6.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's low-density nature with a focus on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 935 people, reflecting its quiet, low-activity development environment. Future projections indicate Kelso adding approximately 1,611 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Kelso has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects potentially impacting this area. Notable ones include River Parks Estate, Pinnacle Views Estate, Riverstone Estate, and Riverway Plaza Redevelopment & Stage 2 Extension. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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

Kelso's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate as of June 2025 was 7.6%.

At this time, 5,158 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 3.7% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%, indicating potential improvement areas. Workforce participation was at 61.5%, slightly above Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Major employment sectors included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Notably, public administration & safety had employment levels 1.8 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing showed lower representation at 0.9% compared to the regional average of 4.5%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census working population versus resident population data. Over a 12-month period, Kelso's labour force decreased by 1.9%, and employment fell by 3.8%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.8 percentage points. This contrasted with Rest of Qld where employment grew by 1.8% and labour force expanded by 2.0%. State-level data for Sep-25 showed Queensland's employment had contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs) with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%, compared to a national unemployment rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicated growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kelso's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, although these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Kelso had a median income among taxpayers of $52,829 and an average income of $59,185. These figures are lower than the national averages of $50,780 and $64,844 respectively in Rest of Qld. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, estimated median income is approximately $59,015 and average income is around $66,116 as of March 2025. The 2021 Census reveals Kelso's household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly between the 43rd and 44th percentiles. Income analysis shows 38.0% of Kelso's population (4,259 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, similar to the regional average of 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Kelso, with only 84.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 45th percentile.

Kelso is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Kelso, as per the latest Census evaluation, 98.0% of dwellings were houses, with 1.9% being other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, or 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Non-Metro Qld's composition of 81.3% houses and 18.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kelso stood at 23.7%, with mortgaged dwellings making up 43.8% and rented ones 32.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent in Kelso was $300, compared to Non-Metro Qld's figure of $305. Nationally, Kelso's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Kelso features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 78.7% of all households, including 32.1% couples with children, 26.6% couples without children, and 18.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 21.3%, with lone person households at 18.4% and group households comprising 2.9% of the total. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.0%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 8.6%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.8%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.6%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 44.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (34.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 34.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.1% in primary education, 10.4% in secondary education, and 3.5% pursuing tertiary education. Kelso State School, established in 1987, serves the local educational needs within Kelso, with an enrollment of 327 students as of 2021. The school focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. Local school capacity is limited, with only 2.9 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 16.7, leading many families to travel for schooling.

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

Kelso has 16 operational public transport stops. These are served by bus routes only. There are 241 weekly passenger trips in total.

Residents' average distance to the nearest stop is 687 meters. On average, there are 34 daily trips across all routes, equating to around 15 weekly trips per individual stop. Transport accessibility is rated as limited.

Health performance in Kelso is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

Kelso faces significant health challenges with a higher prevalence of common conditions compared to averages. Older age cohorts experience these issues to an even greater extent. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of Kelso's total population (~5,503 people), compared to Rest of Qld's 53.3% and the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are most common, affecting 11.1% and 8.8% of residents respectively. However, 64.2% of Kelso residents report no medical ailments, compared to Rest of Qld's 67.8%. Kelso has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 13.3% (1,494 people), compared to Rest of Qld's 14.9%. While this may seem less concerning, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

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

Kelso's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.3% of its population being citizens, 90.6% born in Australia, and 95.5% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Kelso is Christianity, comprising 51.4% of the population, compared to 52.7% across Rest of Qld. In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are Australian (29.4%), English (27.8%), and Australian Aboriginal (8.5%).

Notably, German ethnicity is slightly overrepresented at 3.9%, while Samoan and Maori are each present at 0.2% and 0.5% respectively, mirroring regional percentages.

Kelso hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

The median age in Kelso is 34 years, which is lower than the Rest of Queensland's average of 41 years and also lower than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Queensland, Kelso has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (14.6%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (8.1%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 12.6% to 14.7%. Conversely, the population aged 5 to 14 has decreased from 17.2% to 14.7%. By the year 2041, Kelso's age composition is expected to change significantly. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 33%, adding 534 people and reaching a total of 2,178 from the previous count of 1,643. Meanwhile, both the 15 to 24 and 5 to 14 age groups are expected to see reductions in their numbers.