Kelso

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 approximately 11,180 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 497 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,683. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates and validated new addresses between June 2025 and the Census date. Kelso's population density is around 65 persons per square kilometer. Since the Census, Kelso has grown by 4.7%, compared to the SA4 region's 7.1%. Natural growth contributed approximately 70.4% 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 (based on 2021 data) are adopted, with proportional growth weightings applied for age cohorts. By 2041, Kelso is projected to grow by 1,481 persons, reflecting a total gain of 13.2% over the 16-year period.

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

Kelso has seen approximately 24 dwellings granted development approval annually. Between financial years FY-21 and FY-25123 homes were approved, with an additional 20 approved in FY-26 to date. On average, 2.8 people have moved to the area per new home constructed over these five financial years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $210,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. This year, $410,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, implying a predominantly residential focus. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Kelso has roughly half the building activity per person and ranks among the 17th percentile nationally, indicating limited buyer options while driving demand for established homes. This level is also below the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations.

Recent construction comprises 94.0% standalone homes and 6.0% medium to high-density housing, maintaining Kelso's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 935 people, reflecting its quiet, low-activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate Kelso will gain 1,481 residents by 2041 (based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Kelso has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include River Parks Estate, Pinnacle Views Estate, Riverway Plaza Stage 2 Extension, and Ross River Dam to Douglas Water Treatment Plant Pipeline Renewal. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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The labour market performance in Kelso lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Kelso's workforce in December 2025 comprised 5,123 residents with an unemployment rate of 6.8%. This rate was 2.8% higher than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%, and the participation rate was lower at 62.0%. According to Census data, a small proportion (4.4%) worked from home.

Key employment sectors were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Notably, public administration & safety had high employment levels, at 1.8 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employed only 0.9% of local workers, below Regional Qld's 4.5%. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Kelso's labour force increased by 0.1%, while employment decreased by 0.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 0.7 percentage points.

In comparison, Regional Qld saw employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kelso's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by approximately 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released on 1 July 2023, Kelso SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $55,788. The average income stood at $62,330. This was below the national average and compared to levels of $53,146 and $66,593 across Regional Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $62,126 (median) and $69,411 (average) as of March 2026. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Kelso, between the 43rd and 44th percentiles. Income analysis shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 38.0% of residents (4,248 people), reflecting patterns seen in the region where 31.7% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 45th percentile.

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

In Kelso, as recorded in the latest Census, 98.0% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 1.9% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This differs from Regional Qld's distribution of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kelso stood at 23.7%, compared to Regional Qld's figure. The majority of dwellings were mortgaged (43.8%) or rented (32.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500, lower than the Regional Qld average of $1,655 and significantly below the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Kelso was $300, which is substantially lower than both the Regional Qld figure of $345 and the national average 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%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Regional Queensland 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 Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.6%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.8%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 44.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (34.1%). Educational participation is high, with 34.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 14.1% in primary, 10.4% in secondary, and 3.5% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably 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.

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

The analysis of public transport in Kelso indicates that there are 16 active transport stops currently operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes. There is one individual route servicing these stops, collectively providing 241 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to transport in Kelso is rated as limited, with residents typically located 687 meters away from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. The car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 94%.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.7 per dwelling, which is above the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 4.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 34 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 15 weekly trips per individual stop.

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 according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantially higher than average, with older age cohorts experiencing an even greater degree of these issues. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (around 5,634 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Queensland and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 11.1% of residents and arthritis impacting 8.8%, while 64.2% claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Regional Queensland. Working-age population health is notably challenging due to elevated chronic condition rates. Kelso has 13.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,531 people), lower than the 20.4% in Regional Queensland. Senior health outcomes present some challenges, ranking lower nationally compared to 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 Australian citizens, born in Australia (90.6%), speaking English only at home (95.5%). The predominant religion in Kelso is Christianity, practiced by 51.4%, compared to the regional average of 52.2%. In terms of ancestry, the top groups are Australian (29.4%), English (27.8%), and Australian Aboriginal (8.5%).

Notably, German ancestry is overrepresented at 3.9% in Kelso compared to the regional figure of 4.7%, while Samoan (0.2%) and Maori (0.5%) are present but not significantly different from regional averages (0.2% and 0.8% respectively).

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

The median age in Kelso is 34 years, which is notably lower than Regional Queensland's average of 41 years and substantially under the Australian median of 38 years. Relative to Regional Queensland, Kelso has a higher concentration of residents aged 15-24 (14.9%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (8.1%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the age group of 25 to 34 years has grown from 12.6% to 15.0% of Kelso's population, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 3.2% to 4.5%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group declined from 17.2% to 14.1%, and the 45 to 54 age group dropped from 13.4% to 12.2%. By 2041, Kelso is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25 to 34 age group projected to grow by 27%, reaching 2,139 people from the current 1,680. Meanwhile, both the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.