Southport - South

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

Southport - South's population is approximately 20,304 as of May 2026. This figure represents a growth of 1,411 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,893. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 20,247 in June 2025 and an additional 588 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,053 persons per square kilometer, placing Southport - South in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. The area's growth rate of 7.5% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's growth rate of 7.3%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during this period.

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 based on 2021 data are adopted, with proportional growth weightings applied for age cohorts in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data. By 2041, Southport - South's population is forecast to increase by 5,669 persons, reflecting a total increase of 27.6% over the 16-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Southport - South among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Southport - South has received approximately 138 dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 691 homes were approved. In FY26 alone, 520 dwellings have been approved so far.

On average, 1.7 people have moved to the area each year for every dwelling built over these five years. This balance between supply and demand supports stable market conditions. The average construction value of new properties is $386,000. In FY26, there has been $54.7 million in commercial approvals, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Comparatively, Southport - South's development activity is 48.0% higher than the regional average per person over the past five years.

This balance between supply and demand supports current property values while providing buyer choice. However, recent construction has shown a moderation in activity. Recent developments consist of 13.0% detached houses and 87.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 35.0% houses). This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. Southport - South has experienced around 266 people per dwelling approval. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by approximately 5,612 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 32 projects expected to impact the region. Notable ones include Paradiso Place, Monarch Place - Imperial Square Stage 2, Griffith University Village Student Accommodation Tower, and Quest Southport. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Southport - South remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Southport - South has a well-educated workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. Its unemployment rate is 5.1%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.8% over the past year as of December 2025. There are 10,780 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 6.0%, slightly above Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation is similar to Regional Qld's 64.5%. Census responses show that 13.1% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade. The area specializes in accommodation & food with an employment share of 1.6 times the regional level, but agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 0.4% versus Regional Qld's average of 4.5%.

Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. In the 12-month period ending December 2025, employment increased by 2.8% and labour force by 2.5%, causing a 0.2 percentage point decrease in unemployment rate. Regional Qld experienced employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released May-25, project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Southport - South's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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

The Southport - South SA2 has a median taxpayer income of $47,075 and an average of $57,964 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is lower than national averages, with Regional Qld having a median income of $53,146 and an average income of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 are approximately $52,423 (median) and $64,549 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Southport - South fall between the 24th and 25th percentiles nationally. The largest income segment comprises 29.6% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly, with 6,009 residents falling into this category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 77.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 17th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Southport - South displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Southport - South's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 34.7% houses and 65.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Regional Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Southport - South was 26.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.2% and rented ones at 49.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, higher than Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $435, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Southport - South's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

Southport - South features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 58.9% of all households, including 18.5% couples with children, 26.0% couples without children, and 12.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 41.1%, with lone person households at 31.6% and group households comprising 9.5%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

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

Southport's residents aged 15+ have a higher university qualification rate of 31.2%, compared to the Rest of Qld's 20.6% and SA4 region's 25.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 21.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.0% of residents holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.9%) and certificates (21.1%). Educational participation is high at 32.0%, with 8.7% in tertiary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 6.7% pursuing primary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.7% in tertiary education, 8.3% in secondary education, and 6.7% pursuing primary education.

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

Southport - South has 56 active public transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These are covered by 10 routes facilitating 2,280 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 189 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this predominantly residential area. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 81%, while walking accounts for 4%. The average vehicle ownership is 1.0 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 13.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 325 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 40 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Southport - South are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Southport - South shows below-average health indicators based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~9,786 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (8.4%) and arthritis (8.0%). 69.5% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. The under-65 population has better than average health outcomes. As of 2021, the area has 19.3% of residents aged 65 and over (3,910 people), lower than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Southport - South was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Southport scores highly in cultural diversity, with 25.1% speaking a language other than English at home and 39.5% born overseas by June 2021. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 46.0%. Judaism is overrepresented at 0.3%, compared to Regional Qld's 0.1%.

Top ancestry groups are English (26.3%), Australian (19.3%), and Other (12.2%). Korean (1.9%) and Russian (0.6%) are notably overrepresented, while Maori is slightly higher at 1.2% compared to regional averages of 0.2%, 0.2%, and 0.8% respectively.

Southport - South's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Southport - South is 38 years, slightly below Regional Queensland's average of 41 but inline with Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 20.9% of the population, higher than Regional Queensland's percentage, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 7.3%. This concentration in the 25-34 age group is significantly above the national average of 14.6%. According to post-2021 Census data, the area has seen a decrease in median age from 39 years to 38 years, with the 25-34 age group growing from 16.9% to 20.9% of the population. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 9.3% to 7.3%, and the 45-54 age group has decreased from 12.3% to 10.8%. By 2041, Southport - South is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25-34 age cohort expected to grow by 1,882 people (44%) from 4,239 to 6,122. In contrast, the 15-24 age cohort shows minimal growth of just 3% (89 people).