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 around 20,523 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,630 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 18,893 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 19,921 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 542 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,086 persons per square kilometer. Southport - South's population growth rate of 8.6% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area at 8.5%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, based on 2021 data and released in 2023. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of regional areas by 2041, with Southport - South expected to expand by 6,093 persons, reflecting an increase of 26.8% over 17 years 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 approved approximately 138 dwellings each year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, it approved a total of 691 homes. In FY-26 alone, it has already approved 96 homes.

On average, about 1.7 people move to the area annually for each dwelling built over these five financial years. This balance between supply and demand supports stable market conditions. The average construction cost value for new properties is around $386,000. In FY-26, commercial approvals have reached approximately $54.7 million, indicating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Southport - South has recorded relatively higher construction activity, with a 48.0% increase per person over the past five years.

This balance between buyer choice and property value support is notable. However, development activity has shown some moderation in recent periods. Recent construction comprises approximately 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 moving in per dwelling approval, indicating a developing market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, it is projected to grow by approximately 5,491 residents through to 2041. Development activity appears to be keeping pace with this projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers may arise as the population expands.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 30 such projects likely affecting the area. Notable ones include Paradiso Place, One Park Lane, 21 Minnie Street Affordable Housing, and Onyx Residences, with the following list detailing 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.

Southport - South shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Southport - South has a well-educated workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. Its unemployment rate was 5.2% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.2%.

As of September 2025, 10,658 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 5.3%, slightly higher than Rest of Qld's 4.1%. Workforce participation was broadly similar to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Dominant employment sectors among residents included health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade. The area had a particular specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing showed lower representation at 0.4% versus the regional average of 4.5%.

Employment opportunities appeared limited locally based on Census data analysis. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 2.2%, and labour force grew by 2.3%, keeping unemployment relatively stable. Rest of Qld experienced employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with a rise in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 showed Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01%, with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, covering five and ten-year periods ending May-30, projected national employment growth of 6.6% and 13.7% respectively. Applying these projections to Southport - South's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years.

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

The median taxpayer income in Southport - South SA2 is $44,931, with an average of $56,755 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is lower than national averages; Rest of Qld has a median income of $50,780 and an average of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 are approximately $51,217 (median) and $64,695 (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 (6,074 residents), aligning with regional trends where this cohort represents 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe; only 77.1% of income remains, ranking at the 17th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Southport - South displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Southport - South's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 34.7% houses and 65.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 44.5% houses and 55.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Southport - South stood at 26.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.2% and rented ones at 49.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,750. The median weekly rent figure was $435, higher than Non-Metro Qld's $420. Nationally, Southport - South's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,733 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher at $435 versus 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 constitute 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 comprise the remaining 41.1%, with lone person households at 31.6% and group households making up 9.5%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.3.

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

Southport's educational attainment is notably high, with 31.2% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, compared to the broader Queensland benchmark of 20.6% and the SA4 region average of 25.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 21.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 34.0% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (12.9%) and certificates (21.1%). Educational participation is high in Southport, with 32.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 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 good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Southport-South has 57 active public transport stops. These are served by a mix of lightrail and bus routes, totalling 10 individual routes. The combined weekly passenger trips amount to 2,412.

Residents' average distance to the nearest stop is 189 meters. Daily service frequency averages 344 trips across all routes, equating to about 42 weekly trips per 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 has below-average health outcomes, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 48%, covering about 9,912 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues affect 8.4% of residents, while arthritis impacts 8.0%. About 69.5% report no medical ailments, similar to the Rest of Qld's 69.4%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 19.0% (3,901 people), compared to Rest of Qld's 17.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 46.0%. Judaism is overrepresented at 0.3%, compared to 0.2% regionally.

The top three ancestry groups are English (26.3%), Australian (19.3%), and Other (12.2%). Korean is notably overrepresented at 1.9%, Russian at 0.6%, and Maori at 1.2%.

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

The median age in Southport - South is 38 years, which is slightly below Rest of Qld's average of 41 but aligns with Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 20.8% of the population in Southport - South, higher than Rest of Qld, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 7.6%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows that Southport - South has become younger, with the median age dropping from 39 to 38 years between censuses. The 25 to 34 age group grew from 16.9% to 20.8%, while the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 9.3% to 7.6%. Additionally, the 45 to 54 age group decreased from 12.3% to 11.0%. By 2041, Southport - South is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 25-34 age cohort is expected to grow significantly by 2,098 people (49%), increasing from 4,262 to 6,361. Conversely, the 15-24 age group shows minimal growth of just 1%, adding only 34 people.