Norman Gardens
Statistical Area - sa2

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

As of August 2025, Norman Gardens' population is approximately 11,279, indicating a rise of 570 people since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 10,709. This increase, representing a 5.3% growth, is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 11,204 as of June 2024 and an additional 127 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density stands at 313 persons per square kilometer, offering significant space per person and potential room for further development. Over the past decade, Norman Gardens has exhibited a compound annual growth rate of 1.1%, surpassing its SA3 area's growth. Natural growth contributed approximately 45.5% to overall population gains during recent periods, with overseas migration and interstate migration also being positive factors. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 based on 2021 data, for years post-2032.

Considering projected demographic shifts, Norman Gardens is expected to increase by approximately 1,136 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of around 9.4% over the 17-year period.

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

Norman Gardens has recorded approximately 26 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 131 homes approved over the past five financial years (between FY-2021 and FY-2025), and 7 approved so far in FY-2026. An average of 4.1 new residents per year has been arriving per dwelling constructed over these five financial years. Supply is substantially lagging demand, indicating heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

New dwellings are developed at an average value of $363,000, which is under regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing choices for buyers. In FY-2026, $38.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Norman Gardens records about 62% of the building activity per person and ranks among the 38th percentile of areas assessed nationally, suggesting more limited housing choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. Recent construction comprises 83.0% detached houses and 17.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

The estimated count of 525 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Looking ahead, Norman Gardens is expected to grow by 1,061 residents through to 2041. Development is keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as the population expands.

Norman Gardens has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 36 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Capricorn Square Essential Service Centre, The Gardens Estate Norman Gardens, Ninja-Themed Playground Springfield Drive, and Central Queensland University Norman Gardens Campus. The following list details those most relevant.

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

AreaSearch assessment positions Norman Gardens ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Norman Gardens has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.5% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.3%.

As of June 2025, there are 6,316 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is 0.4% below Rest of Qld's rate. Workforce participation is 63.4%, comparable to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Norman Gardens has a particular employment specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.2 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 6.2% versus the regional average of 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 4.3%, labour force grew by 5.3%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 0.9 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Qld where employment rose by 1.8%, labour force grew by 2.0%, and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows Queensland employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. This compares favourably to national unemployment rate of 4.5%, lagging national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 estimate national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Norman Gardens' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Norman Gardens' median income among taxpayers is $57,652, with an average of $68,044. This is higher than the national average, compared to Rest of Qld's median of $50,780 and average of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Norman Gardens would be approximately $64,403 (median) and $76,012 (average) as of March 2025. Census 2021 income data indicates that incomes in Norman Gardens cluster around the 54th percentile nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 33.9% of residents (3,823 people), consistent with surrounding regional trends at 31.7%. After housing costs, residents retain 87.2% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

As of the latest Census, dwelling structures in Norman Gardens consisted of 87.1% houses and 12.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Qld's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Norman Gardens was at 33.5%, with the rest being mortgaged (37.7%) or rented (28.8%), similar to Non-Metro Qld's figures. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Norman Gardens was $1,625, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. Median weekly rent in Norman Gardens was $300, the same as Non-Metro Qld's figure. Nationally, mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863 and rents were substantially below the national average of $375.

Norman Gardens has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 74.5% of all households, including 33.0% couples with children, 28.4% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.5%, with lone person households at 22.9% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is greater than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Norman Gardens fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational qualifications in Norman Gardens lag behind regional averages, with 22.4% of residents aged 15 years and over holding university degrees compared to 30.4% nationally. This discrepancy indicates potential for educational improvement and skill enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 35.5% of residents aged 15 years and over holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 8.7% and certificates for 26.8%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 11.3% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 6.0% pursuing tertiary education. Norman Gardens' three schools have a combined enrollment of 1,104 students. The area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 990). Educational mix includes one primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school. School places per 100 residents (9.8) are below the regional average (17.6), suggesting some students may attend schools in nearby areas. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Norman Gardens is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Norman Gardens faces significant health challenges with common health conditions being somewhat prevalent across all age groups, but notably higher among older cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 53%, covering about 6,022 people in total. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.0% and 7.6% of residents respectively. Around 67.8% of residents claim to have no medical ailments, compared to 64.7% across Rest of Qld. Norman Gardens has 17.4% of its population aged 65 and over (1,961 people), which is lower than the 18.5% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to the challenges they face.

In terms of cultural diversity, Norman Gardens records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Norman Gardens, as per the findings, aligns with its broader area's average in terms of cultural diversity: 87.5% citizens, 83.3% born in Australia, and 85.6% using English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 59.5%, compared to 56.3% regionally. The top three ancestral groups are Australian (29.8%), English (28.2%), and Other (7.5%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal is higher at 4.9% (vs regional 5.1%), German is at 4.7% (vs 4.9%), and Filipino is at 2.2% (vs regional 1.0%).

Norman Gardens's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

At 37 years, Norman Gardens's median age is significantly below the Rest of Qld average of 41 as well as essentially aligned with the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Rest of Qld average, the 15-24 cohort is notably over-represented at 13.8% locally, while the 55-64 year-olds are under-represented at 10.8%. Following the census conducted on 27 August 2021, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 12.6% to 13.8% of the population, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 8.5% to 9.6%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 14.5% to 12.3%. Demographic modeling suggests that Norman Gardens's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 29%, adding 469 residents to reach 2,062. On the other hand, both the 55 to 64 and the 5 to 14 age groups will see reduced numbers.