Nambour

Nambour lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Nambour's population was approximately 24,474 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,982 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 22,492. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 24,367 in June 2024 and an additional 630 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 453 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Nambour has shown resilient growth with a compound annual growth rate of 2.1%, surpassing non-metro areas. Interstate migration contributed approximately 62.1% to overall population gains during recent periods.

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 and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings using ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 with a base year of 2022. By 2041, the area is forecast to increase by 7,090 persons, reflecting an overall increase of 28.5% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Nambour was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Nambour has received approximately 168 dwelling approvals annually. Between FY21 and FY25844 homes were approved, with an additional 50 approved in FY26 to date. Each year, around 3.1 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built over the past five financial years.

This high demand has outpaced supply, potentially influencing prices and buyer competition. The average expected construction cost of new homes is $244,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options. In FY26, commercial development approvals totaled $38.3 million, indicating robust commercial development activity in the area.

Compared to the rest of Queensland, Nambour's construction activity per person is comparable, supporting market stability. However, recent construction activity has eased slightly. Detached houses make up 69% of new developments, with medium and high-density housing comprising the remaining 31%. This mix offers various housing types across price ranges. With around 175 people moving in for each approval, Nambour reflects a growing area. By 2041, it is projected to gain approximately 6,983 residents based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Construction pace has been reasonable so far but may face increasing competition as the population grows.

Nambour has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

The performance of an area can be significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 26 projects likely to impact the area. Notable among these are the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Stage 1 project, the Howard Street Mixed-Use Development, The Grove Nambour Heights development, and the Nambour Place Revitalisation Project. The following list details those projects considered most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Nambour recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Nambour has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate as of September 2025 is 5.6%.

There are 12,028 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 1.5% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation is similar to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area has a particular specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Meanwhile, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence with 1.8% employment compared to 4.5% regionally. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population count. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, labour force decreased by 2.5% while employment declined by 1.3%, causing unemployment rate to fall by 1.1 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Qld where employment grew by 1.7%. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows QLD employment contracted by 0.01% (losing 1,210 jobs), with state unemployment rate at 4.2%, aligning with national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Nambour's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates that Nambour SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $47,549 and an average of $58,616. These figures are below the national average. For comparison, Rest of Qld's median was $50,780 with an average of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates suggest approximately $54,201 (median) and $66,816 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Nambour rank modestly, between the 24th and 27th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that 33.1% of the community, equivalent to 8,100 individuals, fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band. This pattern is similar to regional levels where 31.7% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Nambour, with only 80.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 22nd percentile.

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

In Nambour, as per the latest Census evaluation, 76.9% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 23.1% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 82.9% houses and 17.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Nambour stood at 27.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 41.7% and rented ones at 31.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,670, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,777. Median weekly rent in Nambour was $360, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $385. Nationally, Nambour's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Nambour has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 69.4% of all households, including 28.1% couples with children, 26.2% couples without children, and 14.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.6%, with lone person households at 27.0% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in Nambour aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 18.5%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 43.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (31.1%). Educational participation is high at 28.0%, with 10.0% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Nambour has 83 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 40 different routes, together enabling 1,942 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 378 meters to the nearest stop.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 277 trips per day, amounting to around 23 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Nambour is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Nambour. Both younger and older age groups experience high prevalence of common health conditions.

Only approximately 49% (~12,016 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues affect 11.1% of residents, with arthritis impacting 9.4%. Around 63.0% report no medical ailments, compared to 66.0% in the rest of Queensland. The area has 17.8% (4,351 people) aged 65 and over, with seniors' health outcomes presenting challenges broadly aligned with the general population's profile.

Nambour ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Nambour, as per a study, showed lower cultural diversity with 82.7% of its population born in Australia, 89.1% being citizens, and 94.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Nambour, accounting for 46.6%. Buddhism, however, was slightly overrepresented at 1.2%, compared to the regional average of 1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32%), Australian (27.5%), and Irish (8.8%). Notably, German (5.2%) and Dutch (1.7%) were also overrepresented in Nambour compared to regional averages of 5.1% and 1.6%, respectively. New Zealanders made up 0.9%, slightly lower than the regional average of 1%.

Nambour's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Nambour is 39 years, which is lower than the Rest of Qld's average of 41 but close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 are prominent at 14.7%, while those aged 65-74 are comparatively smaller at 9.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has grown from 12.4% to 14.7% of the population. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 12.5% to 11.4%, and the 5-14 group has dropped from 13.1% to 12.1%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Nambour's age structure. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to increase by 1,746 people (49%) from 3,590 to 5,337. Meanwhile, the 15-24 cohort grows by a modest 9% (279 people).