Palmwoods

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

Palmwoods' population is approximately 13,344 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,701 people, a 14.6% rise from the 2021 Census count of 11,643. The growth is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 13,207 in June 2024 and validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 115 persons per square kilometer. Palmwoods' growth rate exceeded both the non-metro area's 8.8% and the national average, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 78.8% to recent population gains, with all factors including overseas migration and natural growth being positive drivers.

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 or years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 (based on 2021 data) are adopted, applying proportional growth weightings for age cohorts based on ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data. Future demographic trends project an above median population growth for Australia's regional areas, with Palmwoods expected to grow by 2,399 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 16.9% over the 17-year period based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Palmwoods averaged approximately 153 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 769 homes. As of FY26, 17 approvals have been recorded. Each year, an average of 2.4 new residents were gained per dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, reflecting robust demand that supports property values. New homes are constructed at an average expected cost of $283,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

This financial year has seen $21.6 million in commercial approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Palmwoods has 12.0% less new development per person but ranks among the 85th percentile nationally, showing robust developer interest. New building activity comprises 86.0% detached dwellings and 14.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 108 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

Future projections estimate Palmwoods will add 2,262 residents by 2041 (based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 35 projects likely impacting the region. Key initiatives include the Palmwoods Sports Complex Master Plan, Palmwoods Supermarket, Palmwoods Garden Village Expansion, and Woombye - Palmwoods Local Plan Area. The following list details those most relevant:.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Palmwoods exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Palmwoods has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.8%.

As of September 2025, there are 6,825 residents employed, which is 1.3% below the Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Palmwoods is similar to the regional average at 59.1%. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, public administration & safety has lower representation at 3.4% compared to the regional average of 5.9%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparison of working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force decreased by 2.4%, employment declined by 2.0%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with an increase in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data up to 25-Nov-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01% (losing 1,210 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%, closely aligned with the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that while overall employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Palmwoods' employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch released postcode-level ATO data for financial year 2022. Palmwoods SA2's median income among taxpayers was $48,618 with an average of $63,257. This is slightly below the national average. Rest of Qld had a median of $50,780 and average of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, current estimates project median income to be approximately $55,420 and average income to be around $72,107 as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household income ranks at the 52nd percentile ($1,795 weekly) while personal income sits at the 35th percentile. Income brackets show that 34.5% of Palmwoods' population (4,603 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to the broader area's 31.7%. After housing costs, 85.0% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Palmwoods' dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 93.5% houses and 6.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). This is compared to Non-Metro Qld's 93.2% houses and 6.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Palmwoods was 38.6%, similar to Non-Metro Qld. Mortgaged dwellings were 43.5% and rented ones were 17.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent was $410, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $400. Nationally, Palmwoods' mortgage repayments were above the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 78.8% of all households, including 34.2% couples with children, 33.3% couples without children, and 10.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 21.2%, with lone person households at 18.5% and group households accounting for 2.6%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.6.

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

Palmwoods' residents aged 15+ have 24.7% with university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 17.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are held by 41.8%, including advanced diplomas (12.8%) and certificates (29.0%). Educational participation is high, with 28.3% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (9.9%), secondary (9.3%), and tertiary (4.0%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.9% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 4.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Palmwoods has 17 operational public transport stops offering a combination of train and bus services. These stops are served by 34 unique routes, collectively facilitating 666 weekly passenger journeys. The transport accessibility is assessed as moderate, with residents on average situated 531 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 95 trips per day, translating to approximately 39 weekly trips per individual stop.

Palmwoods's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Palmwoods' health metrics align closely with national benchmarks.

Common health conditions are seen across both young and old age cohorts at a fairly standard level. The rate of private health cover is approximately 51% of the total population (~6,832 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis (9.1%) and mental health issues (8.4%). Approximately 68.0% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 66.4% across Rest of Qld. Around 19.9% of residents are aged 65 and over (2,662 people). Health outcomes among seniors in Palmwoods perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Palmwoods had lower cultural diversity, with 80.4% born in Australia, 89.4% being citizens, and 95.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 46.5%. Buddhism was overrepresented at 1.9%, compared to 1.4% regionally.

The top three ancestry groups were English (34.7%), Australian (26.6%), and Scottish (9.5%). Notably, German (5.2%) and South African (0.6%) ethnicities were slightly overrepresented compared to regional averages of 5.0% and 0.5%, respectively.

Palmwoods hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Palmwoods's median age is 44 years, which is slightly higher than the Rest of Qld average of 41 and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent at 14.6%, while the 25-34 age group is comparatively smaller at 10.1% compared to Rest of Qld. Between 2021 and now, the proportion of Palmwoods' population aged 15-24 has increased from 10.7% to 11.8%. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 45-54 has decreased from 15.2% to 13.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Palmwoods. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow by 40%, adding 537 residents to reach a total of 1,879. Meanwhile, the number of individuals aged 15-24 is expected to decrease by 50%.