Lockyer Valley - West
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Lockyer Valley - West's population is around 12,982 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,039 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,943 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,806 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 251 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 8.8 persons per square kilometer. Lockyer Valley - West's growth of 8.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the non-metro area average of 8.6%. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 57.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for the area, expected to expand by 2,475 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 17.7% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Lockyer Valley - West among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Lockyer Valley - West has averaged approximately 70 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is provided by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 352 homes approved over the past five financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), and 14 approved so far in FY-26. On average, each dwelling built has resulted in 2.6 new residents per year over these five financial years, indicating consistent demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value of new homes being built is $551,000.

This year, $33.0 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Lockyer Valley - West demonstrates comparable construction activity per capita, contributing to market stability in line with regional trends. Recently approved constructions comprise 98.0% detached houses and 2.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

With around 160 people per approval, Lockyer Valley - West reflects a developing region. Future projections indicate an addition of 2,299 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, presenting favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Lockyer Valley - West has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

A total of 106 infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include the Lockyer Energy Project, Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley Escarpment Mountain Bike Trails, Rifle Range Road Reconfiguration, and St Peters Close Estate. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

The exceptional employment performance in Lockyer Valley - West places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Lockyer Valley - West has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar employment. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are strongly represented, with an unemployment rate of 1.8% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year is estimated at 14.0%. The area has 7,178 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 2.1%, which is below Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation stands at 62.5%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and construction.

The area shows strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share of 2.8 times the regional level. However, accommodation & food has limited presence at 4.2% compared to the regional average of 8.3%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population data. In a 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 14.0%, while labour force grew by 12.8%, causing unemployment rate to fall by 1.1 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.8% and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points during the same period. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23%, with a state unemployment rate of 4.2%. National unemployment rate is 4.5%, with national employment growth at 0.26% over the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that while national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, local growth patterns in Lockyer Valley - West may differ based on its employment mix, with projected growth of approximately 5.7%% over five years and 12.4% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Lockyer Valley - West had a median taxpayer income of $48,316 and an average of $57,441. This is lower than the national average. The Rest of Qld had a median of $50,780 and an average of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, current estimates for Lockyer Valley - West are approximately $53,974 (median) and $64,167 (average) as of March 2025. Census 2021 income data shows incomes in Lockyer Valley - West rank modestly, between the 36th and 47th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. Income analysis reveals that 35.1% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999, similar to regional patterns where 31.7% fall within this range. After housing costs, residents retain 86.9% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Lockyer Valley - West is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Lockyer Valley - West, as assessed at the latest Census, 96.0% of dwellings were houses with 3.9% classified as other types such as semi-detached and apartments. This differs from Non-Metro Qld's distribution of 81.4% houses and 18.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lockyer Valley - West stood at 37.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 47.7% and rented ones at 14.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,600, exceeding Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent in the area was $310, matching Non-Metro Qld's figure. Nationally, Lockyer Valley - West's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,600 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were significantly lower at $310 against the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 80.1% of all households, including 36.3% couples with children, 32.6% couples without children, and 10.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 19.9%, with lone person households at 17.5% and group households comprising 2.3%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Lockyer Valley - West fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 16.9%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 11.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 41.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (31.3%).

Educational participation is high at 30.1%, including 11.4% in primary, 10.8% in secondary, and 3.2% in tertiary education. Ten schools operate within Lockyer Valley - West, educating approximately 603 students. These schools focus on primary education with secondary options available nearby due to limited local capacity (4.6 places per 100 residents vs 17.2 regionally).

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

Public transport analysis shows three active transport stops operating within Lockyer Valley - West. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with one individual route providing service. Collectively, they offer 20 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated limited, with residents typically located 3966 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages two trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately six weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Lockyer Valley - West faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~6,270 people), compared to 51.0% across Rest of Qld and the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues impact 9.8% of residents, while arthritis affects 9.4%, with 66.3% declaring themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.3% across Rest of Qld.

The area has 17.5% of residents aged 65 and over (2,265 people), which is lower than the 18.8% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Lockyer Valley-West showed a low cultural diversity level, with 90.2% citizens, 89.3% born in Australia, and 96.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, at 62.1%, compared to 58.8% regionally. Ancestry-wise, Australian was highest at 30.2%, followed by English at 29.8%, and German at 10.9%.

Notable differences included Dutch (1.4% vs regional 1.0%), Australian Aboriginal (2.8% vs 3.3%), and South African (0.4% vs 0.3%).

Lockyer Valley - West's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Lockyer Valley - West is 41 years, matching Rest of Qld's average and somewhat higher than Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Qld, Lockyer Valley - West has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (14.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.4%). According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 increased from 11.7% to 12.7%, while the proportion of residents aged 5-14 decreased from 14.6% to 12.9%. The proportion of residents aged 45-54 also dropped, from 14.2% to 13.0%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Lockyer Valley - West's age structure. Notably, the number of residents aged 25-34 is projected to grow by 37%, reaching 1,842 from 1,348. Conversely, the number of residents aged 15-24 is projected to decline by 62 people.