Mareeba
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Mareeba's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 12,669. This figure represents an increase of 844 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 11,825. The ABS estimated Mareeba's population to be 12,602 in June 2024. An additional 165 validated new addresses have been added since the Census date, contributing to this growth. This results in a density ratio of 26 persons per square kilometer, indicating ample space per person. Mareeba's growth rate of 7.1% since the 2021 Census exceeds that of its SA3 area (7.0%), positioning it as a regional growth leader.

Overseas migration accounted for approximately 46.4% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all factors including interstate migration and natural growth contributed positively to this increase. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data or years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort when utilising these state projections. Looking ahead, Australia's regional areas are projected to have above median population growth. Based on the latest numbers, Mareeba is expected to grow by 2,430 persons by 2041, recording an overall gain of 18.6% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Mareeba among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Mareeba has averaged approximately 72 new dwelling approvals each year over the past five financial years. This totals 360 homes from FY-18 to FY-22. As of FY-26, 30 approvals have been recorded. Each year, an average of 2.2 new residents has been gained for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $403,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. This financial year has seen $16.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Mareeba has slightly more development, with 12.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period, offering reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand.

Recent construction comprises 87.0% detached dwellings and 13.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. The location has approximately 180 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Population forecasts project Mareeba to gain 2,363 residents by 2041. Construction is keeping pace with projected growth, although buyers may face increasing competition as the population grows.

Mareeba has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 5thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Mareeba Retail Centre, Haren Street Residential Aged Care Facility, Mareeba CBD Project Blueprint, and Homes for Queenslanders - Mareeba Social Housing. The following details those most relevant:.

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

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

Mareeba has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominent essential services sectors, and an unemployment rate of 6.1% as of June 2025. There are 5,833 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 2.2% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation stands at 54.6%, below Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key employment industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing (at 3.8 times the regional average), health care & social assistance (13.5%), and retail trade. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. In the year to June 2025, Mareeba's labour force decreased by 1.5% and employment declined by 3.1%, leading to a 1.6 percentage point rise in unemployment rate.

Comparatively, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%. State-level data for Sep-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, compared to the national rate of 4.5% and national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but industry-specific projections suggest Mareeba's growth could be approximately 5.5% over five years and 12.0% over ten years.

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 Mareeba had a median income of $45,578 and an average income of $52,997. These figures are below the national averages. The Rest of Qld had a median income of $50,780 and an average of $64,844 during this period. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, current estimates for Mareeba would be approximately $50,915 (median) and $59,203 (average) as of March 2025. The 2021 Census indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Mareeba fall between the 19th and 26th percentiles nationally. Income brackets show that 29.3% of Mareeba's population earns within the $1,500 - 2,999 range, reflecting patterns seen across broader areas where similarly 31.7% occupy this bracket. After housing costs, 85.4% of income remains in Mareeba, ranking at the 21st percentile nationally.

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

Mareeba's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.3% houses and 10.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Qld's 91.0% houses and 9.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mareeba stood at 40.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.9% and rented ones at 32.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,495, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,430. Median weekly rent in Mareeba was recorded at $285, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $270. Nationally, Mareeba's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Mareeba has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 69.5% of all households, including 24.7% couples with children, 30.6% couples without children, and 13.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 30.5%, with lone person households at 26.8% and group households at 3.6%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.4.

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

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 15.2%, 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 common at 11.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 38.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (28.9%).

Educational participation is high at 28.7%, including 12.0% in primary education, 9.8% in secondary education, and 2.1% pursuing tertiary education. Mareeba's 5 schools have a combined enrollment of 2,531 students. Education provision is balanced with 3 primary and 2 secondary schools serving distinct age groups. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health outcomes in Mareeba are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Mareeba shows below-average health indicators with common conditions slightly more prevalent than average across younger and older age groups. Private health cover rate is very low at approximately 47% (~5,916 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (8.5%) and mental health issues (6.6%). 69.3% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 67.5% in Rest of Qld. Mareeba has 21.9% of residents aged 65 and over (2,771 people), lower than the 25.1% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Mareeba was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mareeba, surveyed in 2016, exhibited above-average cultural diversity with 19.0% of its population born overseas and 14.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Mareeba, accounting for 58.6%, compared to 52.6% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (24.6%), English (23.3%), and Italian (10.7%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher in Mareeba at 8.8% compared to the regional average of 6.6%. Spanish and Croatian populations also showed notable differences, with Spanish at 0.6% (vs regional 0.3%) and Croatian at 0.8% (vs regional 0.4%).

Mareeba's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Mareeba was 41 years as of the 2021 Census, aligning with Rest of Qld's average but slightly higher than Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Qld, Mareeba had a larger proportion of residents aged 75-84 (8.2%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (11.7%). Post-census, the 35-44 age group increased from 10.6% to 11.7%, and the 15-24 cohort grew from 10.7% to 11.8%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort decreased from 12.5% to 11.4%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Mareeba's age structure. Notably, the 25-34 group is projected to grow by 31%, reaching 2,272 from 1,729, while the 15-24 cohort is expected to decline by 131 people.