Miles - Wandoan

An assessment of population growth drivers in Miles - Wandoan reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Miles - Wandoan is approximately 4,401 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 221 individuals (5.3%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded 4,180 residents. The adjustment is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 4,394 combined with 190 validated new addresses registered after the Census. This population size corresponds to a density of 0.40 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density with significant space per inhabitant. The 5.3% growth rate of Miles - Wandoan since the 2021 census was higher than both the SA3 region (3.5%) and the SA4 region, positioning it as a local growth leader. The primary driver of this population increase was natural increase, which accounted for roughly 70.5% of the total population growth in recent times.

AreaSearch utilises population projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline for each SA2 region. In instances where these projections are unavailable, or for periods past 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 (using 2021 baseline data) are applied. Because the state-level projections lack age breakdown details, AreaSearch allocates growth weightings across age groups based on the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (using 2022 baseline data). Looking forward, the population is projected to align with the lower quartile of national regional growth, with an estimated addition of 135 individuals by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP data, representing a cumulative increase of 2.9% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Miles - Wandoan according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

An average of approximately 5 new residential approvals have been issued annually in Miles - Wandoan, yielding 29 total dwellings over the previous 5 financial years. For the current FY-26 period, 2 approvals have been documented so far. With an average of 5.9 new residents per built dwelling arriving annually over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, residential supply is falling short of demand, which typically intensifies buyer competition and exerts upward pressure on prices, with new homes constructed at an average value of $337,000 in line with wider regional averages. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $27.6 million have been registered in the current financial year, indicating steady activity in commercial development.

When compared to the Rest of Qld, construction activity per capita in Miles - Wandoan is 16.0% lower, placing the area in the 25th percentile of all analyzed locations nationally, which restricts choices for buyers and elevates interest in the established housing market. This level of building activity is also below the national average, reflecting a mature market and potential development constraints. Recent residential building permits consist of 67.0% standalone houses and 33.0% multi-unit dwellings, indicating a growing proportion of medium-density choices that diversify options across price points, ranging from standard family homes to more affordable compact dwellings. This pattern represents a notable shift from the current housing stock (which is 88.0% standalone houses), pointing to a reduction in available developable land and reflecting shifting lifestyle choices and affordability pressures. The ratio of 1272 people per residential approval highlights the quiet and low-intensity nature of local development.

Long-term forecasts suggest Miles - Wandoan will add 128 residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. Current levels of construction appear to be balanced with future needs, supporting stable market conditions without major price inflation.

Miles - Wandoan has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure, planning initiatives, and major developments have a significant impact on local performance. AreaSearch has identified 9 projects that are expected to influence the area. Key developments include the Arrow Energy Surat Gas Project North, Arrow Energy Surat Gas Project, Bungaban Renewable Energy Project, and Western Downs Green Power Hub, with details on the most relevant projects provided in the following list.

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

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AreaSearch analysis indicates Miles - Wandoan maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Miles - Wandoan possesses a skilled labor force distributed across multiple sectors, with an unemployment rate standing at 3.9% and an estimated annual job growth rate of 1.1%. As of March 2026, there are 2,458 employed residents, matching the Regional Qld unemployment rate of 3.9%, while the participation rate is significantly higher at 72.1% compared to 64.3% in Regional Qld. Census data indicates that a moderate 20.3% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure reflects some influence from Covid-19 restrictions.

The major employment sectors for residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, construction, and retail trade. The region exhibits high specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, where the share of employment is 7.0 times the regional average. Conversely, the health care & social assistance sector is underrepresented, employing 7.5% of the local workforce compared to 16.1% across Regional Qld. At the time of the Census, there were 0.7 jobs for every resident, indicating a higher-than-average level of local employment opportunities.

According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics, the latest 12-month period recorded a 1.1% rise in employment alongside a 2.3% increase in the labor force, resulting in a 1.1 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. By comparison, Regional Qld saw employment grow by 0.1% and its labor force expand by 0.3%, with a 0.1 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide context for future labor demand in Miles - Wandoan. These five-year and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential employment trends. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the expansion rates vary widely by industry. Projecting these industry-specific trends onto the local employment distribution suggests that employment in Miles - Wandoan would rise by 4.7% over five years and 10.7% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation for comparison that does not account for localized population projections.

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

Based on AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode-level ATO statistics released for the 2023 financial year, the median taxpayer income in the Miles - Wandoan SA2 was $47,320, while the average income was $52,854. These figures are below the national averages and compare to $53,146 (median) and $66,593 (average) in Regional Qld. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates would be approximately $52,696 for the median and $58,858 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reports that personal weekly income sits at the 43rd percentile ($774 weekly), while household income is at the 22nd percentile. Income distribution details show that 30.7% of the population (1,351 individuals) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which is similar to the 31.7% in this bracket across Regional Qld. Housing expenses are manageable, with residents retaining 90.3% of their income, though disposable income is below average at the 31st percentile.

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

The housing stock in Miles - Wandoan at the time of the latest Census consisted of 87.8% standalone houses and 12.2% other housing types (including apartments, semi-detached, and alternative dwellings), compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other options in Regional Qld. The rate of outright home ownership in Miles - Wandoan was high at 39.0%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (21.1%) or rented (39.9%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,018, which is lower than the Regional Qld average of $1,655, while the median weekly rent was $200, compared to $345 in Regional Qld. Nationally, mortgage repayments in Miles - Wandoan are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are below the national average of $375.

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

Family households make up the majority of households at 66.6%, consisting of couples without children (30.9%), couples with children (25.0%), and single-parent families (9.5%). Non-family households constitute the remaining 33.4%, with single-person households representing 30.2% and group households making up 2.9%. The median household size is 2.4 persons, which is slightly lower than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

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

The region presents educational challenges, with the proportion of residents holding university qualifications (16.3%) sitting below the national level of 30.4%, representing a potential focus area for educational development. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 14.2%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.1%) and postgraduate degrees (1.0%). Vocational and technical training is prominent, with 40.6% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications in these fields, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (30.6%).

Enrollment rates in education are high, with 31.3% of the local population engaged in formal study. This comprises 13.7% in primary school, 8.4% in secondary school, and 2.8% in higher education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Miles - Wandoan's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Health indicators in Miles - Wandoan are generally close to national levels, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and the prevalence of chronic illnesses. The rate of standard health conditions is typical, though it exceeds the national average within older age brackets. The percentage of residents with private health insurance is low at approximately 46% of the population (~2,037 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%.

Asthma and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 8.6% and 8.5% of the population respectively, while 67.7% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 67.6% in Regional Qld. Chronic health issues show an above-average prevalence among the working-age population. The area has 19.7% of its population aged 65 and over (866 people). While seniors' health metrics present some challenges, they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Miles - Wandoan displays lower levels of cultural diversity, with citizens making up 82.3% of the population, 90.6% born in Australia, and 94.5% using only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, representing 65.6% of the population, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld.

Regarding parental country of birth, the three most common backgrounds in Miles - Wandoan are Australian at 35.4% of the population (which is higher than the regional average of 26.5%), English at 28.5%, and Irish at 8.1%. There are also differences in other backgrounds, with German ancestry overrepresented at 5.7% of the population (compared to 4.7% regionally), Australian Aboriginal at 4.9% (compared to 3.9%), and Filipino at 1.3% (compared to 0.9%).

Miles - Wandoan's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age of 38 years in Miles - Wandoan is slightly below the Regional Qld average of 41, while matching the national median of 38 years. The 25 - 34 age bracket is well represented at 16.7% compared to Regional Qld, while the 15 - 24 cohort is less common at 9.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 increased from 15.2% to 16.7%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.5% to 9.9%, and the 15 to 24 cohort declined from 10.5% to 9.4%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate demographic shifts, with the 25 to 34 cohort expected to grow by 15% (112 people) to reach 846 from 733, while the 55 to 64 and 5 to 14 cohorts are projected to decrease.