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 is around 24,714 as of February 2026. This reflects an increase of 2,222 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 22,492. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 24,367 in June 2024 and an additional 633 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 457 persons per square kilometer. Nambour's growth rate of 9.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of Qld's 9.1%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 62.1% 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 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; hence proportional growth weightings are applied in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort. Looking ahead, a significant population increase is forecast for the top quartile of Australian non-metropolitan areas, with Nambour expected to increase by 7,090 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an overall increase of 27.3% 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. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25844 homes were approved, with an additional 55 approved in FY26 so far. Each year, around 3.1 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built during these years.

This high demand has outpaced supply, potentially exerting upward pressure on prices and increasing buyer competition. The average construction cost of new homes is $244,000, which is lower than regional levels, offering more affordable housing options. In FY26, commercial development approvals totaled $38.3 million, indicating strong commercial development momentum.

Compared to the rest of Queensland, Nambour's construction activity per person is similar, suggesting market stability in line with regional patterns. However, recent construction activity has eased somewhat. New developments consist of 69% detached houses and 31% medium and high-density housing, providing a mix of attached housing types across various price ranges. With around 175 people per approval, Nambour reflects a developing area. Population forecasts estimate that Nambour will gain 6,743 residents by 2041. Construction is maintaining pace with projected growth, but as the population increases, buyers may face growing competition for housing.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 26 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Stage 1, Howard Street Mixed-Use Development, Nambour Place Revitalisation Project, and The Grove Nambour Heights. Relevant projects are listed below.

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. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 5.6%. In comparison, Rest of Qld's unemployment rate is 4.1%, which is 1.5% lower than Nambour's.

Workforce participation in Nambour is somewhat below standard at 63.6%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, a low 10.7% of residents work from home. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area has particular employment specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 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 data comparing working population to local population. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, labour force decreased by 2.5%, while employment declined by 1.3%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.7% and labour force expand by 2.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that 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, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 indicates Nambour SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $49,507 and an average of $60,922. This is below the national average compared to Rest of Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates as of September 2025 would be approximately $54,413 (median) and $66,959 (average). 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 (8,180 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 earnings band, reflecting patterns seen at regional levels where 31.7% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 80.2% of income remaining, ranking at the 22nd percentile.

Nambour is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Nambour, as per the latest Census evaluation, 76.9% of dwellings were houses while 23.1% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is similar to Non-Metro Qld's dwelling structure which was 76.4% houses and 23.6% 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 in the area was $1,670, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure in Nambour was $360, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Nambour's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,670 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $360 compared to the national figure of $375.

Nambour has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 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 aligns with the average in the Rest of Queensland.

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 the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 43.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (31.1%).

Educational participation is 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 81 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 50 individual routes, collectively facilitating 1,848 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 379 meters from the nearest stop. Most commutes are outward-bound due to Nambour's residential nature, with car being the dominant mode at 93%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 10.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 264 trips per day, equating to approximately 22 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

Nambour faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 49% of Nambour's total population (~12,159 people) has private health cover, compared to 52.5% in the rest of Queensland and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues affect 11.1% of residents, while arthritis impacts 9.4%. About 63.0% of residents claim to be completely free from medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. The working-age population faces substantial health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Nambour has 17.7% of residents aged 65 and over (4,371 people), lower than the 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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 data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2016, showed lower cultural diversity with 82.7% born in Australia, 89.1% being citizens, and 94.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion at 46.6%. Buddhism, however, was slightly overrepresented at 1.2%, compared to 1.1% regionally.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (32.0%), Australian (27.5%), and Irish (8.8%). Notable differences included German (5.2% vs regional 4.7%), Dutch (1.7% vs 1.1%), and New Zealand (0.9% vs 0.9%).

Nambour's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Nambour is 39 years, lower than Rest of Qld's average of 41 but close to Australia's national average of 38. The age profile shows that the 25-34 year-olds are prominent at 15.0%, while the 65-74 group is smaller at 9.7%. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has grown from 12.4% to 15.0%, and the 15-24 cohort increased from 11.5% to 12.7%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort declined from 13.1% to 11.6%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 12.5% to 11.2%. By 2041, projections indicate significant shifts in Nambour's age structure. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to increase by 1,632 people (44%) from 3,704 to 5,337. Meanwhile, the 15-24 cohort grows by a modest 7% (204 people).