Scarborough - Newport

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

Scarborough - Newport's population is 18,535 as of May 2026. This figure reflects a growth of 3,278 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,257. The increase was inferred from the estimated resident population of 18,187 in June 2025 and an additional 952 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 2,285 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth of 21.5% since the Census exceeded both the SA3 area (8.9%) and the national average. Interstate migration contributed approximately 74.9% of 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 from 2023 are adopted, based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Future population trends indicate a significant increase in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas by 2041, with Scarborough - Newport expected to increase by 4,912 persons, reflecting a total increase of 24.6% over the 16 years.

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

Scarborough - Newport has averaged approximately 284 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 1,422 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 183 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years (FY-21 to FY-25), an average of 2.7 new residents per dwelling has been observed, reflecting strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value for new homes is $384,000, which is higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development.

In FY-26, $17.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Scarborough - Newport has 118.0% more development activity per person. This provides buyers with ample choice, although recent periods have seen a moderation in development activity. The area's development level is significantly above the national average, suggesting strong developer interest. Recent construction consists of 57.0% standalone homes and 43.0% townhouses or apartments, offering options across various price points from family homes to more affordable compact living.

With around 155 people per dwelling approval, Scarborough - Newport exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the area is projected to add 4,564 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Scarborough - Newport has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 29 projects likely to affect the area. Notable ones include Stockland Newport Master Planned Community, Bruce Highway upgrade from Dohles Rocks Road to Anzac Avenue (Stage 1), Lighthouse Newport, and Stockland Newport Retirement Living expansion (Pier North). The following list details those most relevant.

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

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The labour market strength in Scarborough - Newport positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Scarborough - Newport has an unemployment rate of 1.9% as of the past year. In December 2025, this rate decreased to 2.3%, which is below Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. The workforce participation in Scarborough - Newport is 58.6%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's 69.6%.

According to Census responses, 20.8% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction shows strong specialization with an employment share of 1.2 times the regional level. In contrast, professional & technical employs only 7.6% of local workers, below Greater Brisbane's 8.9%.

Employment opportunities locally appear limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 4.3%, while labour force increased by 4.2%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Scarborough - Newport's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Scarborough - Newport SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $54,711 with an average level standing at $72,247. This is above the national average and compares to levels of $58,236 and $72,799 across Greater Brisbane respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $60,926 (median) and $80,454 (average) as of March 2026. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Scarborough - Newport, between the 45th and 50th percentiles. The data shows that 28.1% of the population (5,208 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, mirroring the surrounding region where 33.3% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 46th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

Scarborough - Newport's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 71.8% houses and 28.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Brisbane metro had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Scarborough - Newport was at 40.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.5% and rented ones at 28.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,100, higher than Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Scarborough - Newport was $405, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Scarborough - Newport's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,100 against the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375 by $30.

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

Family households constitute 71.3% of all households, including 25.5% couples with children, 35.4% couples without children, and 9.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.7%, with lone person households at 26.7% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Scarborough - Newport performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Educational attainment in Scarborough - Newport exceeds broader benchmarks significantly. Among residents aged 15+, 25.0% hold university qualifications, compared to 14.9% in the SA4 region and 19.2% in the SA3 area. Bachelor degrees are most common at 16.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (13.8%) and certificates (24.9%).

A substantial 24.3% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, comprising 8.1% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 3.6% in tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Scarborough - Newport indicates that there are 55 active transport stops currently operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 3 individual routes providing service. Collectively, these routes facilitate 529 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in the area is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 252 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward for work or other purposes. The dominant mode of transportation remains the car, used by 87% of residents.

Train usage accounts for 6%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling in the area. According to the 2021 Census, some 20.8% of residents work from home, which may be partly attributed to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages approximately 75 trips per day, equating to roughly 9 weekly trips per individual stop.

Scarborough - Newport's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Scarborough - Newport residents experienced relatively positive health outcomes, according to AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions.

The prevalence of common health conditions was low among the general population but higher than the national average for older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 55% (~10,175 people) of the total population had private health cover. The most prevalent medical conditions were arthritis (10.8%) and mental health issues (8.3%), while 63.6% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Working-age residents showed a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions than average. The area had 30.1% (5,573 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which was higher than the 15.1% in Greater Brisbane but ranked lower nationally compared to the broader population.

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

Scarborough-Newport's cultural diversity is above average, with 7.5% speaking a language other than English at home and 27.1% born overseas. Christianity dominates Scarborough-Newport, comprising 55.9%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 47.8%. The top three ancestral groups are English (32.3%), Australian (23.4%), and Irish (10.3%).

Notably, Welsh is overrepresented at 0.9% versus the regional average of 0.5%, South Australian at 0.8% compared to 0.6%, and New Zealand remains steady at 1.0%.

Scarborough - Newport hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Scarborough - Newport's median age is 49 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 years and Australia's national median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that residents aged 65-74 years are particularly prominent, making up 15.6% of the population, compared to the national figure of 9.4%. This is significantly higher than Greater Brisbane's percentage for this age group. Conversely, the 25-34 year-old cohort makes up only 6.4% of Scarborough - Newport's population, which is smaller than the proportion in Greater Brisbane. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 8.2% to 10.8%, while the 45 to 54 year-old cohort has declined from 14.8% to 13.4%. The 5 to 14 year-old group has also decreased, from 11.0% to 9.8%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Scarborough - Newport. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow by 72%, adding 1,445 residents to reach a total of 3,455. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 73% of population growth, highlighting the demographic aging trend in the area. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 year-old cohort and the 25 to 34 year-old cohort.