Salisbury - Nathan

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

Salisbury - Nathan's population is around 8,220 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 658 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,562 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 8,181 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 46 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 860 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Salisbury - Nathan has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.9%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 75.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 and based on 2022 data. Examining future population trends, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation is expected, with the area expected to increase by 533 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 6.0% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Salisbury - Nathan when compared nationally

Salisbury - Nathan has seen approximately 23 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 118 homes. As of FY-26, 17 approvals have been recorded. On average, each home built between FY-21 and FY-25 attracts around 5.2 new residents annually, indicating high demand outstripping supply, which typically drives price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction cost for new homes is $407,000, higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development.

This financial year has seen $52.2 million in commercial approvals, suggesting robust commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Salisbury - Nathan has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks at the 49th percentile nationally, offering limited buyer choices and supporting demand for existing properties. This is partly due to its mature nature and possible planning constraints. Recent building activity comprises entirely detached houses, maintaining the area's low-density character and appealing to space-seeking buyers with around 339 people per dwelling approval.

By 2041, Salisbury - Nathan is projected to add approximately 494 residents based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Current construction levels should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially allowing growth beyond current forecasts.

Salisbury - Nathan has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 26 projects likely affecting the area. Notable ones are Cross River Rail - Salisbury Station Upgrade, Salisbury Marketplace, Nathan project, Salisbury and Moorooka Neighbourhood Plan, and Salisbury Train Station Transit Oriented Development (TOD). 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.

AreaSearch analysis indicates Salisbury - Nathan maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Salisbury - Nathan has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 3.9%, reflecting relative employment stability over the past year. As of September 2025, 4709 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate aligning with Greater Brisbane's 4.0%.

Workforce participation stands at 73.2% compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. Census responses indicate that 21.6% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Notably, employment in education & training is at 1.4 times the regional average.

Retail trade has a limited presence with 7.7% employment compared to the regional average of 9.4%. The area hosts more jobs than residents, with 1.1 workers per resident, functioning as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 0.4%, labour force grew by 0.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment rise by 3.8%, labour force grow by 3.3%, and unemployment fall by 0.5 percentage points during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Salisbury - Nathan's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though these are simplified extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

The Salisbury-Nathan SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $59,118 and an average income of $69,477 in the financial year 2023, according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This compares to Greater Brisbane's median income of $58,236 and average income of $72,799 for the same period. By September 2025, estimates based on a 9.91% Wage Price Index growth suggest the median income will be approximately $64,977 and the average income around $76,362. Census data shows that incomes in Salisbury-Nathan cluster around the 69th percentile nationally. The largest income segment comprises 32.7% of residents earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (2,687 residents). This is consistent with broader trends across the broader area where 33.3% fall into the same category. High housing costs consume 15.3% of income in the area, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 73rd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

In Salisbury - Nathan, as per the latest Census evaluation, 89.6% of dwellings were houses while 10.3% comprised semi-detached properties, apartments, and other types. In contrast, Brisbane metropolitan area had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Salisbury - Nathan stood at 25.8%, similar to Brisbane metro's rate, with mortgaged dwellings at 44.3% and rented ones at 29.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than the Brisbane metro average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Salisbury - Nathan was recorded at $385 compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, mortgage repayments were above the Australian average of $1,863 and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Salisbury - Nathan features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 71.4% of all households, including 33.7% couples with children, 24.3% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 28.6%, with lone person households at 22.9% and group households making up 5.9%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Brisbane average.

Salisbury - Nathan shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

In Salisbury, residents aged 15 and above exhibit a notable educational advantage with 37.4% holding university qualifications, surpassing Queensland's 25.7% and Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 24.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.0%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.7% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (19.0%). Educational participation is high, with 32.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.3% in tertiary education, 9.1% in primary education, and 6.9% pursuing secondary education.

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

Transport analysis shows 49 active transport stops in Salisbury - Nathan, serving mixed bus routes. These stops are covered by 23 routes, offering 4,759 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is good, with residents typically 246 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward; cars dominate at 79%, followed by buses at 8% and trains at 7%. Average vehicle ownership is 1.4 per dwelling. In 2021 Census data, 21.6% of residents worked from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 679 trips daily across all routes, or approximately 97 weekly trips per stop.

Health outcomes in Salisbury - Nathan are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Salisbury's health indicators show below-average outcomes according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts. Private health cover is at approximately 54% of the total population (~4,430 people), slightly above the average SA2 area rate. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (10.3%) and asthma (7.7%), with 70.6% of residents reporting no medical ailments compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Under-65 population health outcomes are better than average, while those aged 65 and over (12.0%, or 986 people) face some challenges, ranking lower nationally than the broader population. This is lower than Greater Brisbane's 15.2%.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Salisbury - Nathan was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Salisbury-Nathan was found to have a culturally diverse population, with 24.6% born overseas and 18.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Salisbury-Nathan, accounting for 43.6% of its population. Hinduism is notably overrepresented, comprising 3.0% compared to 2.2% across Greater Brisbane.

The top three ancestry groups are English (25.0%), Australian (23.6%), and Other (9.7%). Some ethnic groups have notable representation differences: Russian at 0.5% vs regional 0.3%, Vietnamese at 1.2% vs regional 0.8%, and Serbian at 0.4% vs regional 0.2%.

Salisbury - Nathan hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Salisbury - Nathan has a median age of 34 years, which is lower than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Salisbury - Nathan has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (15.8%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (5.8%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the population aged 15-24 has increased from 14.9% to 15.8%, while the 0-4 age group has decreased from 6.5% to 5.3% and the 25-34 age group has dropped from 16.4% to 15.3%. By the year 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic shifts in Salisbury - Nathan. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to grow by 21%, adding 222 residents and reaching a total of 1,272. Conversely, both the 5-14 and 0-4 age groups are expected to decrease in number.