Maryborough (Qld)

Maryborough is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

AreaSearch's analysis indicates Maryborough's population is approximately 19,302 as of February 2026. This represents an increase of 744 people (4.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,558. The change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 19,258 in June 2024 and an additional 86 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 229 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 81.6% 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 released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used, applying proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort. Future demographic trends suggest a population increase just below the median of national regional areas by 2041, with an expected expansion of 1,017 persons reflecting a gain of 5.0% over the 17 years based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Maryborough has seen approximately 36 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 182 homes. As of FY-26, 25 approvals have been recorded. On average, 3.9 new residents arrive per year for each dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating demand outpaces supply. New properties are constructed at an average cost of $312,000, below regional levels.

This financial year has seen $112.4 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Maryborough has significantly less development activity, 71.0% below the regional average per person. The majority of new developments consist of detached dwellings (81.0%) and attached dwellings (19.0%), maintaining the area's traditional low-density character. The estimated population density is 561 people per dwelling approval. Maryborough is expected to grow by 973 residents through to 2041, with current development well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Looking ahead, Maryborough is expected to grow by 973 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Maryborough has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 12 projects that may impact the area. Notable ones include Mary Harbour Development, Energy Storage Industries (ESI) Battery Manufacturing Facility, Homes for Queenslanders - Maryborough Social Housing, and Maryborough Manufactured Home Park Development. The following list details those most relevant.

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.

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

Maryborough has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar employment. Essential services sectors are well represented, unemployment rate is 8.3%, and estimated employment growth over the past year is 8.8%. As of September 2025, 7696 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 4.2% above Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation lags at 51.3%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census responses show a low 5.9% work from home. Dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Health care has an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level, while construction shows lower representation at 7.2%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparison. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 8.8% and labour force by 9.7%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.7 percentage points. Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Maryborough's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2023 indicates Maryborough SA2's median income among taxpayers is $44,431, with an average of $51,511. This is lower than the national average, compared to Rest of Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth from June 2023 to September 2025 (an estimated increase of 9.91%), current estimates would be approximately $48,834 for median income and $56,616 for average income as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Maryborough fall between the 2nd and 4th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income analysis shows that the largest segment comprises 32.2% earning $400 - $799 weekly (6,215 residents), differing from the surrounding region where the $1,500 - $2,999 category predominates at 31.7%. The prevalence of lower-income residents (40.7% under $800/week) suggests constrained household budgets across much of the locality. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 4th percentile nationally.

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

Maryborough's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.5% houses and 13.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Maryborough was at 39.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.1% and rented ones at 32.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure in Maryborough was $255, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Maryborough's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Maryborough features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 62.2% of all households, including 18.7% couples with children, 27.7% couples without children, and 14.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up 37.8%, with lone person households at 34.1% and group households comprising 3.7%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 9.9%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 7.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.5%) and certificates (31.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.9% in primary education, 9.7% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Maryborough has 111 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by seven different routes that collectively facilitate 527 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of public transport in Maryborough is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 472 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward using their cars, which remain the dominant mode of transportation at 91%. Five percent of residents walk to their destinations. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling in Maryborough, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 5.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 75 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately four weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, showing the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

Health performance in Maryborough is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Maryborough faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A variety of health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is extremely low, at approximately 46% of the total population (~8,898 people), compared to 52.5% in the rest of Queensland and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (13.0%) and mental health issues (11.9%). Conversely, 52.6% of residents report having no medical ailments, lower than the 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. Maryborough has a higher proportion of seniors, with 26.6% aged 65 and over (5,143 people), compared to 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with national rankings for the general population.

The latest Census data sees Maryborough placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Maryborough, as per the census conducted on Tuesday 10 June 2009, showed low cultural diversity with 87.7% of its population being citizens, 90.3% born in Australia, and 97.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Maryborough, accounting for 51.7%, compared to 52.2% across the Rest of Qld. The top three ancestral groups were English (32.7%), Australian (31.2%), and Irish (8.0%).

Notably, German ancestry was higher at 6.5% in Maryborough compared to 4.7% regionally, while Australian Aboriginal was slightly lower at 3.8% versus 3.9%, and Scottish ancestry was slightly higher at 8.0% versus 7.8%.

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

Maryborough's median age is 47 years, which is notably higher than Rest of Qld's 41 years and considerably older than Australia's national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of Qld average, Maryborough has a notable over-representation of the 65-74 age cohort (13.8% locally) while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented (10.0%). Between 2021 and now, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 10.4% to 11.3% of the population, while the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 11.3% to 10.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Maryborough's age profile will evolve significantly. The 85+ age cohort is projected to grow significantly by 364 people (54%), from 677 to 1,042. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 56% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 cohorts.