Middle Ridge
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Middle Ridge's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 8,201 people. This figure reflects a growth of 606 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,595. The increase was inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,120 in June 2024 and an additional 102 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 944 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Middle Ridge's growth rate of 8.0% positions it close to the non-metro area's growth rate of 8.6%. Primary driver for this growth was interstate migration, contributing approximately 76.0% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023, based on 2021 data, are used. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) are applied. Future population dynamics anticipate an increase just below the median for locations outside capital cities. Based on current numbers, Middle Ridge is expected to gain 728 persons by 2041, representing a total increase of 7.9% over the 17-year period.

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

Middle Ridge has received approximately 45 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that between FY-21 and FY-25, around 227 homes were approved, with no approvals yet in FY-26. On average, each dwelling adds about 2.9 new residents per year over the past five financial years. New homes are built at an average construction cost of $616,000.

This financial year has seen $2.6 million in commercial approvals, indicating limited focus on commercial development. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Middle Ridge's new home approvals per capita are similar, suggesting market stability aligned with regional trends, though building activity has slowed recently. New developments consist of 47.0% standalone homes and 53.0% attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living for affordability and suitability for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This marks a shift from the current housing mix, which is predominantly houses (93.0%). The area's quiet development environment is reflected in its estimated 440 people per dwelling approval.

Future projections estimate Middle Ridge will add 647 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 13 projects expected to influence the region. Notable initiatives include Gabbinbar Retirement Village, 306 Ramsay Street Residential Development, Pinnacle of Kearneys, and Kearney West Estate, with the following list outlining those likely most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Middle Ridge performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Middle Ridge has an educated workforce with high representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 1.0% as of June 2025, which is below the Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 13.3%. The area had 4,316 residents employed in June 2025, with a workforce participation rate of 61.7%, slightly higher than Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance is particularly specialized, employing 1.4 times the regional level.

In contrast, construction employs only 6.5% of local workers, compared to Rest of Qld's 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 13.3%, labour force by 13.0%, resulting in a fall in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.8% and an increase in unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows QLD employment contracted by 0.23%, with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. National comparisons show QLD lagging national employment growth of 0.26% but with a lower unemployment rate of 4.2% compared to the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest Middle Ridge's local employment growth could be approximately 7.1% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Middle Ridge's median income among taxpayers was $63,164 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $77,612 during the same period. This compares to figures for Rest of Qld which were $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $70,561 (median) and $86,700 (average) as of March 2025. According to Census 2021 income data, incomes in Middle Ridge cluster around the 72nd percentile nationally. The largest income bracket comprises 32.8% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with 2,689 residents falling into this category. This is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region where 31.7% earn within the same range. Higher earners represent a substantial presence in Middle Ridge, with 32.7% exceeding $3,000 weekly. After housing costs, residents retain 88.9% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Middle Ridge's residential structure, as per the latest Census, had 93.0% houses and 7.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Non-Metro Qld had 81.4% houses and 18.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Middle Ridge was 44.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.7% and rented ones at 20.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, compared to Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent in Middle Ridge was $420, while Non-Metro Qld's figure stood at $310. Nationally, Middle Ridge's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Middle Ridge features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 81.1% of all households, including 37.5% couples with children, 35.0% couples without children, and 7.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 18.9%, with lone person households at 17.4% and group households accounting for 1.9%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Middle Ridge exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Middle Ridge significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 34.4% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 20.6% in Rest of Qld and 23.1% in the SA3 area. Bachelor degrees lead at 22.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.4%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 29.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (19.2%). Educational participation is notably high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.9% in primary education, 9.8% in secondary education, and 4.6% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational provision includes Middle Ridge State School and OneSchool Global QLD - Toowoomba, collectively serving 703 students as of the latest available data. Middle Ridge demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1049) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes one primary school and one K-12 school. Limited local school capacity means many families travel to nearby areas for schooling, with a ratio of 8.6 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 17.2.

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

Middle Ridge has 19 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by two routes in total, offering 132 weekly passenger trips combined. The transport accessibility is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 456 meters away from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 18 trips per day across both routes, which translates to approximately six weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Middle Ridge is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Middle Ridge faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 59% of its total population (4,822 people) have private health cover, compared to 51.0% across the rest of Queensland.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, impacting 9.2 and 7.3% of residents respectively. About 67.9% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.3% across the rest of Queensland. As of 2018, 23.5% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,925 people), which is higher than the 18.8% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Middle Ridge, surveyed between 26th August 2016 and 25th September 2016, exhibited above-average cultural diversity with 20.6% of its population born overseas and 15.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Middle Ridge, comprising 66.1% of people, compared to 58.8% across Rest of Qld. Amongst ancestry groups, English led with 27.8%, followed by Australian at 24.0% and Irish at 9.7%.

Notably, German ethnicity was slightly overrepresented in Middle Ridge at 7.9% (regional average: 8.0%), South African at 0.7% (regional average: 0.3%), and Scottish at 8.7% (regional average: 7.9%).

Middle Ridge hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Middle Ridge's median age is 43 years, which is higher than Rest of Qld's average of 41 and exceeds the national average of 38 by a substantial margin. The age group 5-14 has a strong representation at 14.8%, compared to Rest of Qld, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 7.6%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35-44 age group has increased from 13.1% to 14.5% of the population. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 12.8% to 11.4%. By 2041, Middle Ridge's age profile is projected to evolve significantly. The 75-84 cohort is expected to grow by 34%, adding 223 residents to reach 882. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 53% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 55-64 and 5-14 age cohorts.