Kuranda
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Kuranda are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Kuranda's population is approximately 5,050 as of August 2025. Between the 2021 Census and June 2024, it grew by about 224 people to reach around 5,040. This increase represents a growth rate of 4.6%, compared to the SA3 area's growth of 7.0%. The population density is approximately 8.5 persons per square kilometer. Migration from interstate contributed significantly to this growth, accounting for about 55.8% of overall population gains. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by these data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. Future population trends suggest an above-median growth for national regional areas, with Kuranda projected to grow by 876 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 17.1% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Kuranda when compared nationally

Kuranda has recorded approximately 13 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows 66 homes approved over the past five financial years, between FY20-21 and FY25-26. As of FY26, there is one approval so far. On average, 5.3 people have moved to Kuranda annually for each dwelling built in those five years.

This demand outpaces supply, putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. The average construction cost value of new homes is $592,000. In FY26, $494,000 worth of commercial approvals have been registered, indicating a predominantly residential focus. Compared to the Rest of Queensland, Kuranda has roughly half the construction activity per person and ranks in the 50th percentile nationally.

This suggests market maturity and possible development constraints. New developments consist of 91% standalone homes and 9% attached dwellings, maintaining Kuranda's low-density character with a focus on family homes. There are approximately 332 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. Looking ahead, Kuranda is projected to grow by 866 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Kuranda has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 4thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 35 projects likely impacting the region. Key initiatives include Kuranda Subdivision Project, Northern Beaches Water Network Upgrade, The Palms, Seascape Terraces, Trinity Park. Relevant projects are listed below.

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

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

Kuranda has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well-represented. Its unemployment rate is 7.5%.

As of June 2025, 2,326 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 3.6% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation lags at 52.7% compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Public administration & safety is particularly specialized with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

Manufacturing employs only 3.9% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 5.6%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Between Jun-24 and Jun-25, labour force decreased by 1.5%, while employment dropped by 3.4%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 1.8 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%, with unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows Queensland employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, but lags behind national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 estimate a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kuranda's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Kuranda's median income is $42,477 and the average income is $55,533. This is lower than national averages. In comparison, Rest of Qld has a median income of $50,780 and an average income of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for Kuranda as of March 2025 would be approximately $47,451 (median) and $62,036 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, household, family, and personal incomes in Kuranda fall between the 15th and 24th percentiles nationally. The $1,500 - $2,999 earnings band captures 30.3% of Kuranda's community (1,530 individuals), similar to the region where 31.7% occupy this bracket. After housing costs, 85.1% of income remains, ranking at the 26th percentile nationally. Kuranda's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Kuranda, as evaluated at the 2016 Census, comprised 91.9% houses and 8.1% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 91.0% houses and 9.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kuranda was 41.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.9% and rented dwellings at 21.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kuranda was $1,647, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $1,430. The median weekly rent in Kuranda was $270, the same as Non-Metro Qld and significantly lower than the national average of $375. Nationally, Kuranda's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,647 compared to Australia's average of $1,863.

Kuranda features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.0% of all households, including 24.4% couples with children, 33.9% couples without children, and 10.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 30.0%, with lone person households at 25.6% and group households comprising 4.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Kuranda aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 25.1% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the SA3 area average of 17.9%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 16.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 43.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas (13.4%) and certificates (30.3%).

Educational participation is high at 31.6%, including 11.4% in primary education, 10.9% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education. Educational institutions include Cairns Hinterland Steiner School and Kuranda District State College, serving a total of 490 students. Kuranda's school conditions are typical Australian standards (ICSEA: 971), offering balanced educational opportunities. Both schools provide integrated K-12 education for academic continuity. School places per 100 residents stand at 9.7, lower than the regional average of 16.8, with some students likely attending schools in nearby areas.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Kuranda's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates relatively positive outcomes for Kuranda residents. Prevalence of common health conditions is quite low across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~2,403 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 8.7 and 7.2% of residents respectively. Seventy-point-six percent declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.5% across Rest of Qld. The area has 22.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,109 people), which is lower than the 25.1% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

In terms of cultural diversity, Kuranda records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Kuranda's cultural diversity aligns with the wider area, with 83.2% citizens, 75.9% born in Australia, and 91.5% speaking English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 36.7%. The 'Other' category is slightly overrepresented at 0.9%, compared to 0.8% regionally.

Top ancestral groups include English (28.7%), Australian (21.5%), and Australian Aboriginal (9.2%). Notably, Dutch representation is higher in Kuranda at 2.5% versus 1.1% regionally, French at 0.9% versus 0.4%, and German at 5.1% versus 4.3%.

Kuranda hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Kuranda's median age of 47 years is notably higher than Rest of Qld's 41 and exceeds the national norm of 38. Compared to the Rest of Qld average, Kuranda has a significantly higher proportion of people aged 55-64 (17.7% vs 12.9%) and a lower proportion of those aged 25-34 (8.2% vs 10.3%). Nationally, the 55-64 age group comprises 11.2%. Between 2021 and 2026, Kuranda's population aged 75 to 84 grew from 6.0% to 7.0%, while those aged 35 to 44 decreased from 12.6% to 11.5%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Kuranda's age profile. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to expand by 159 people (38%), growing from 416 to 576. Conversely, the number of people aged 15-24 is expected to fall by 5.