Tara
Statistical Area - sa2

Tara has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Tara's population was approximately 4,223 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 372 people from the 2021 Census count of 3,851. The change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 4,000 in June 2024 and an additional 279 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 0.30 persons per square kilometer. Tara's growth rate of 9.7% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (5.2%) and SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 47.5% to overall population gains recently.

All migration factors were positive contributors. AreaSearch uses 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 from 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted, applying proportional growth weightings for age cohorts according to ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Projections indicate a decline of 250 persons by 2041, with specific age cohort growth anticipated, led by the 75 to 84 age group projected to increase by 60 people.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Tara, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Tara has received approximately 4 dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 22 homes were approved, with an additional 6 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 0.4 new residents have arrived per new home each year over these five years.

This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new homes was $198,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY-26, commercial approvals worth $4.3 million have been registered, indicating limited focus on commercial development in Tara compared to other areas. Relative to the rest of Queensland, Tara records about three-quarters the building activity per person.

Nationally, it places among the 35th percentile of areas assessed, suggesting more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings. However, building activity has accelerated in recent years. Recent building activity in Tara consists entirely of detached houses, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 470 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Tara may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Tara has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 10thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects likely to affect the region. Notable ones include New Tara Hospital, Origin Energy Darling Downs Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Western Downs Green Power Hub, and Sixteen Mile Solar Farm. 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 conditions in Tara face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Tara has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 10.9% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.3%.

As of June 2025, 1,599 residents are employed, while the unemployment rate is 7.0% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation lags at 46.6%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Leading employment industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, education & training, and health care & social assistance. Tara has a high specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing (9.2 times the regional level), but under-represents health care & social assistance (7.6% vs Rest of Qld's 16.1%).

Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 1.3%, labour force grew by 5.8%, leading to a 4.0 percentage point rise in unemployment. This contrasts with Rest of Qld's 1.8% employment growth, 2.0% labour force growth, and 0.2 percentage point unemployment increase. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Tara's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 4.6% over five years and 10.5% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Tara had a median income of $39,433 and an average income of $44,751. Nationally, the median was $50,780 and the average was $64,844. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median would be approximately $44,950 and the average around $51,012, based on a 13.99% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. Census 2021 data places Tara's household, family, and personal incomes between the 2nd and 3rd percentiles nationally. In Tara, 30.9% of individuals earn within the $400 - $799 range, unlike surrounding regions where 31.7% earn between $1,500 - $2,999. Economic pressures are evident with 41.9% of households having weekly budgets below $800. Despite modest housing costs, retaining 91.9% of income, Tara's disposable income ranks at the 6th percentile nationally.

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

In Tara, as per the latest Census evaluation, 94.1% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 5.9% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro Qld's 90.3% houses and 9.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tara stood at 57.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.0% and rented ones at 22.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $790, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,300. The median weekly rent in Tara was recorded at $180, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $230. Nationally, Tara's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 62.3% of all households, including 21.8% couples with children, 28.8% couples without children, and 10.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 37.7%, with lone person households at 32.7% and group households making up 4.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Tara faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area has lower university qualification rates at 10.6% compared to the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common (8.3%), followed by graduate diplomas (1.3%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.0%). Vocational credentials are held by 40.5% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.2% and certificates at 31.3%. Educational participation is high, with 28.3% currently enrolled in formal education: 13.8% in primary, 8.8% in secondary, and 1.8% in tertiary education.

Nine schools operate within Tara, educating approximately 570 students. The area has varied educational conditions, including 8 primary and 1 K-12 school.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Tara is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Tara faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Private health cover stands at approximately 49%, covering around 2,073 people, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (11.8% of residents) and mental health issues (9.9%). Conversely, 58.2% report no medical ailments, lower than Rest of Qld's 67.6%. Tara has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.8% (919 people), compared to Rest of Qld's 18.2%. Health outcomes among seniors align with the general population's health profile.

Tara is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Tara's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 85.5% of its population being citizens, 90.7% born in Australia, and 96.6% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Tara is Christianity, which accounts for 59.5% of the population, compared to 64.6% across the Rest of Qld. Regarding ancestry, the top three represented groups in Tara are Australian (32.5%), English (30.8%), and Scottish (8.4%).

Notably, certain ethnic groups have different representations: German is overrepresented at 5.9% compared to the regional average of 5.3%, Australian Aboriginal is underrepresented at 5.6% versus 6.7%, and Hungarian is also underrepresented at 0.3% compared to 0.1%.

Tara hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Tara's median age is 47 years, which exceeds Rest of Qld's median age of 41 years by a significant margin. This is also considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of Qld average, Tara has an over-representation of the 55-64 cohort at 17.2% locally, while the 35-44 age group is under-represented at 10.4%. The concentration of the 55-64 cohort in Tara is well above the national average of 11.2%. Between 2021 and present, the population aged 25 to 34 has grown from 9.2% to 10.4%, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 5.9% to 7.0%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 15.2% to 13.2%, and the 5 to 14 age group dropped from 12.2% to 10.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Tara's age profile. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to expand by 35 people (12%), from 293 to 329. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 88% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 65 to 74 cohorts.