Kin Kora - Sun Valley

Kin Kora - Sun Valley has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Kin Kora - Sun Valley's population is around 3,578 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 45 people (1.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,533 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,578 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 4 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1,330 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth, which contributed approximately 65.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence, where utilised, AreaSearch is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Looking at population projections moving forward, a population increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is expected, with the area expected to expand by 167 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 4.7% in total over the 17 years.

Residential dwelling approval activity has been practically non-existent in Kin Kora - Sun Valley

Kin Kora - Sun Valley has minimal residential development activity, with fewer than 1 dwelling approvals annually (totalling 2 across the past five years). These low development levels reflect the rural nature of the area, where development is typically driven by specific local housing needs rather than broad market demand. Note: given the small number of approvals, individual development projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Kin Kora - Sun Valley has substantially lower development levels than the Rest of Qld. Development levels are likewise below national averages.

Kin Kora - Sun Valley has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 1 single project has been identified by AreaSearch that is likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include HPA First Project Stage 2, Hughes Road Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Toowoomba to Gladstone Inland Rail Extension, and Brookview Estate, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

The employment landscape in Kin Kora - Sun Valley shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Kin Kora - Sun Valley features a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with manufacturing and industrial sectors strongly represented, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%. As of December 2025, 1,907 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.7% above Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (70.6% compared to Regional Qld's 65.4%). Based on Census responses, a low 4.7% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are manufacturing, construction, and health care & social assistance. The area has a particular employment specialization in manufacturing, with an employment share of 2.7 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance is under-represented, with only 10.8% of Kin Kora - Sun Valley's workforce compared to 16.1% in Regional Qld. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, the labour force decreased by 3.4% combined with employment decreasing by 2.3%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 1.1 percentage points. By comparison, Regional Qld recorded employment growth of 0.7%, labour force growth of 1.0%, with unemployment rising 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Kin Kora - Sun Valley. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Kin Kora - Sun Valley's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.4% over five years and 11.9% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

The Kin Kora - Sun Valley SA2's income level is well above the national average according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. The Kin Kora - Sun Valley SA2's median income among taxpayers is $63,575 and the average income stands at $78,743, compared to figures for Regional Qld's of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $69,875 (median) and $86,546 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Kin Kora - Sun Valley, between the 46th and 51st percentiles. Income brackets indicate the largest segment comprises 34.8% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,245 residents), consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 31.7% in the same category. After housing, 86.5% of income remains for other expenses.

Kin Kora - Sun Valley is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Dwelling structure within Kin Kora - Sun Valley, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 94.3% houses and 5.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Kin Kora - Sun Valley lagged that of Regional Qld, at 29.1%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (42.4%) or rented (28.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was below the Regional Qld average at $1,517, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $273, compared to Regional Qld's $1,655 and $345. Nationally, Kin Kora - Sun Valley's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Kin Kora - Sun Valley has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 74.4% of all households, comprising 29.9% couples with children, 28.1% couples without children, and 15.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 25.6%, with lone person households at 22.8% and group households comprising 2.8% of the total. The median household size of 2.6 people is larger than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Kin Kora - Sun Valley fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (13.6%) substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 9.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 44.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (7.8%) and certificates (36.9%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.6% in primary education, 10.4% in secondary education, and 2.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 13 active transport stops operating within Kin Kora - Sun Valley, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 5 individual routes, collectively providing 170 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 231 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 93%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling. A relatively low 4.7% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 24 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 13 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Kin Kora - Sun Valley is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Kin Kora - Sun Valley faces significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~2,089 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 8.8 and 7.9% of residents, respectively, while 68.2% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Working-age residents show an above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 14.2% of residents aged 65 and over (508 people), which is lower than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Kin Kora - Sun Valley is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Kin Kora - Sun Valley was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 89.9% of its population being citizens, 87.4% born in Australia, and 94.4% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Kin Kora - Sun Valley is Christianity, which makes up 46.7% of people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Hinduism, which comprises 0.8% of the population, compared to 0.8% across Regional Qld.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Kin Kora - Sun Valley are English, comprising 30.9% of the population, Australian, comprising 30.6% of the population, and Irish, comprising 8.2% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: German is notably overrepresented at 5.3% of Kin Kora - Sun Valley (vs 4.7% regionally), Australian Aboriginal at 3.9% (vs 3.9%) and South Australian at 0.5% (vs 0.5%).

Kin Kora - Sun Valley's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The 38-year median age in Kin Kora - Sun Valley is marginally below Regional Qld's average of 41 while in line with Australia's 38 years. The 15 - 24 age group shows strong representation at 13.8% compared to Regional Qld, whereas the 65 - 74 cohort is less prevalent at 8.1%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 11.8% to 13.8% of the population, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 3.5% to 4.5%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 15.7% to 13.0% and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 15.4% to 13.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Kin Kora - Sun Valley. Leading the demographic shift, the 25 to 34 group will grow by 15% (61 people), reaching 465 from 403. Conversely, the 65 to 74 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.