Tara

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

Tara's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 4,033 people. This figure represents an increase of 182 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,851. The growth was inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 4,030 in June 2025 and an additional 315 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a population density ratio of 0.30 persons per square kilometer. Tara's 4.7% growth since the Census exceeded the SA3 area average of 3.5%, indicating it as a region leader in growth. Overseas migration contributed approximately 39.4% to overall population gains, with other factors such as interstate migration and natural growth also being positive.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered or 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 as per ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data. Future demographic trends suggest a decline of 241 persons by 2041, with the 75 to 84 age group projected to increase by 52 individuals.

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 around 4 dwelling approvals annually. Between FY21 and FY25, 22 homes were approved, with a further 9 approved in FY26 so far. Over the past five financial years, an average of 0.4 new residents per year arrived per new home.

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 FY26, $4.3 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating limited commercial development focus. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Tara records approximately 69% of building activity per person and ranks among the 34th percentile nationally, offering more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings.

Building activity has accelerated in recent years but remains below the national average, suggesting established nature and potential planning limitations. Recent building activity consists entirely of detached houses, preserving Tara's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated 470 people per dwelling approval reflects its quiet development environment. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Tara may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Tara has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include New Tara Hospital, Origin Energy Darling Downs Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Western Downs Green Power Hub, and Moonie Oil Field CO2 EOR Project. 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's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs, with varied sector representation and an unemployment rate of 12.8%. Over the past year, employment has remained relatively stable. As of December 2025, 1,591 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 8.8% above Regional Queensland's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in Tara is lower at 54.7%, compared to Regional Queensland's 64.5%. Census responses indicate that 25.3% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The leading employment industries are agriculture, forestry & fishing, education & training, and health care & social assistance. Tara specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 9.2 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented, at 7.6% compared to Regional Queensland's 16.1%. The area may have limited local employment opportunities, as suggested by the difference between Census working population and resident population numbers. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.4%, while labour force grew by 6.0%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 4.9 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Queensland saw employment rise by 0.7%, labour force grow by 1.0%, and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Tara's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 4.6% over five years and 10.5% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on June 30, 2023, Tara SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $41,300 with an average level of $50,115. This was lower than the national average and compared to levels of $53,146 and $66,593 in Regional Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since June 2023, current estimates would be approximately $45,992 (median) and $55,808 (average) as of March 2026. Census data from 2021 showed incomes in Tara fell between the 2nd and 3rd percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The earnings profile indicated that 30.9% of the population earned within the $400-$799 range, unlike surrounding regions where 31.7% earned within the $1,500-$2,999 range. Economic circumstances reflected financial pressure, with 41.9% of households having weekly budgets below $800. Despite modest housing costs, with 91.9% of income retained, disposable income ranked at just the 6th percentile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in Tara, as evaluated at the latest Census, consisted of 94.1% houses and 5.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. The level of home ownership in Tara was at 57.7%, with the remaining dwellings being mortgaged (20.0%) or rented (22.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $790, which is below Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure in Tara was recorded at $180, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Tara's median monthly mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are 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 Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 10.6%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.3%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.3%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.2%) and certificates (31.3%). Educational participation is high at 28.3%, with 13.8% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.8% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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 as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across various health conditions that affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of Tara's total population (~1,851 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (11.8%) and mental health issues (9.9%). Conversely, 58.2% of residents claim no medical ailments, lower than the 67.6% in Regional Qld. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. Tara has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.9%, compared to Regional Qld's 20.4%. While national rankings for senior health outcomes are broadly similar to the general population, some challenges exist among older residents in Tara.

The latest Census data sees Tara placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Tara's population showed low cultural diversity, with 85.5% being citizens, 90.7% born in Australia, and 96.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 59.5%, compared to 52.2% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (32.5%), English (30.8%), and Scottish (8.4%).

Notably, German ancestry was higher in Tara at 5.9% than the regional average of 4.7%. Australian Aboriginal ancestry also stood out at 5.6%, compared to 3.9% regionally, and Hungarian ancestry was slightly higher at 0.3% versus 0.2% regionally.

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

Tara's median age is 47 years, notably higher than Regional Qld's median age of 41 years and considerably older than the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Regional Qld average, the 55-64 cohort is over-represented in Tara at 17.3%, while the 15-24 cohort is under-represented at 9.7%. This concentration of the 55-64 age group is well above the national average of 11.2%. Between January 2021 and present, the population aged 25 to 34 has grown from 9.2% to 10.4%, while the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 5.9% to 7.1%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 15.2% to 12.9%, and the 65 to 74 group has dropped from 14.5% to 13.1%. Demographic projections suggest that by 2041, Tara's age profile will evolve significantly. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to expand by 48 people (17%), from 285 to 334. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 85% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 65 to 74 cohorts.