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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Toowoomba - East has an estimated 10,847 residents, up from 10,533 at the 2021 Census — a change of 314 people, or 3.0%. Growth has averaged 0.6% a year over five years. That puts 559 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, AreaSearch analysis indicates that the population of Toowoomba - East stands at around 10,847, representing an addition of 314 people (3.0%) compared to the 10,533 people counted at the 2021 Census. This adjustment draws on the ABS estimated resident population figure of 10,831 recorded as of June 2025, alongside 25 validated new addresses identified since the Census date. With a density ratio calculated at 558 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers generous living space and capacity for prospective development. Recent demographic expansion has stemmed mostly from overseas migration, which generated approximately 81.5% of total net gains.
For SA2 modelling, AreaSearch utilises ABS/Geoscience Australia projections published in 2024 using 2022 as the base benchmark. Whenever an SA2 area lacks coverage or for timeframes post-2032, Queensland State Government SA2 projections released in 2023 from 2021 data are incorporated. Because these state forecasts omit age breakdowns, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings derived from ABS Greater Capital Region projections (issued in 2023, based on 2022 figures) across age groups. Looking ahead, Toowoomba - East is projected to track within the lower quartile growth of Australia's non-metropolitan areas, adding 487 persons by 2041 according to recent annual ERP data, which translates to a total rise of 4.3% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
121 new dwellings have been approved in Toowoomba - East over the past five years, an average of 24 a year. That is 2.3 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 24 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 67% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential building approvals across Toowoomba - East have averaged around 24 per annum, amounting to 121 homes throughout the past 5 financial years. Between FY-22 and FY-26 across the past 5 financial years, approximately 2.7 people moved locally for each new dwelling completed, signaling resilient housing demand that underpins asset values. Developers are constructing upscale residences at an average expected build cost of $851,000, highlighting an orientation toward the high-end market. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $32.3 million this financial year, reflecting substantial capital expenditure in the local business sector.
Building activity in Toowoomba - East remains comparatively subdued, tracking 61.0% below the per-capita regional benchmark across Rest of Qld and trailing the national average as well, indicative of an established urban footprint with planning constraints despite a recent uptick. The resulting limitation on new supply generally reinforces demand and pricing for established housing stock. Current construction comprises 67.0% detached dwellings alongside 33.0% medium and high-density housing, where an expanding array of apartments and townhouses delivers diverse choices from detached family residences to compact options. A ratio of 433 people per residential approval highlights this calm construction landscape. Demographic projections from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate suggest Toowoomba - East will welcome 471 additional residents by 2041. Given ongoing building rates, prospective residential supply appears well matched to incoming requirements, fostering balanced conditions for purchasers while offering headroom for expansion beyond anticipated levels.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Toowoomba - East
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 9 current infrastructure and development projects inside Toowoomba - East, worth an estimated $116 million. A further 81 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $8.39 billion. 25 are already under construction and 27 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, education & training and health & medical. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Strategic infrastructure developments and major planning ventures play a decisive role in shaping local prospects. AreaSearch has identified 34 projects anticipated to influence Toowoomba - East, led by prominent undertakings such as the Toowoomba Escarpment Mountain Bike Trails (Jubilee Park), Fairleigh Residences, AusRocks Brookview Quarry, and YWCA East Toowoomba Social and Affordable Housing, which highlight the key initiatives detailed below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Toowoomba Escarpment Mountain Bike Trails (Jubilee Park)
Development of new and upgraded mountain bike trails focused on Jubilee Park as part of the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley Escarpment Mountain Bike Master Plan. Planning is currently underway for Stage 1. With 6.6 million in secured funding, the project aims to expand the existing 28 km of single track into a mountain bike centre of excellence ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
Fairleigh Residences (The Kitchener)
Boutique luxury apartment development by FKG Group, constructed by wholly-owned subsidiary GFG Projects, featuring 18 exquisitely designed residences across 6 levels. The development offers sweeping views of the Mothers Memorial and Queens Park, with amenities including a private roof terrace, pool, gym, yoga room and entertainment area. Features 2-4 bedroom apartments with generous balconies and media rooms. Prices start from $1.75 million. Only 5 residences remaining as of mid-2025.
Rifle Range Road Reconfiguration
Development application RAL/2025/5915 for the reconfiguration of two lots into 51 residential lots on a 12.11 hectare former Defence rifle range site. The application remains under assessment by Toowoomba Regional Council following referral agency reviews, information requests and decision period extensions. Defence Housing Australia is the landowner, with the application managed by CPLK Property Pty Ltd and Property Projects Australia.
AusRocks Brookview Quarry
A $15 million quarry development by AusRocks Pty Ltd in East Toowoomba. This project will provide essential construction materials and aggregate supply to support the region's growing infrastructure and development needs.
YWCA East Toowoomba Social and Affordable Housing
A 16-unit social and affordable housing project aimed at providing dwellings in East Toowoomba, Queensland. Plans were lodged with the Queensland government for approval in May 2025.
Fairleigh Residences
A luxury boutique development featuring 18 executive residences spanning six levels, including a private roof terrace with pool, gym, yoga room, and entertainment area, offering sweeping views of Mothers Memorial and Queens Park in a tranquil setting.
Mater Dei Primary School Early Years Precinct
A $50 million Early Years Precinct proposed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba for Mater Dei Primary School in East Toowoomba. The project is listed in the Toowoomba Development Status Report 2024 (Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, in consultation with Toowoomba Regional Council) under proposed healthcare and education developments, with a construction cost of $50 million. Mater Dei Primary School is a Catholic co-educational school serving Prep to Year 6 students under the Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools.
Eastville Shopping Centre
Completed food and beverage focused retail precinct anchored by national fast food and casual dining tenants serving the East Toowoomba catchment. Recent relaunch promotes the EATSville dining hub with an expanded mix of dine in and takeaway options.
5,460 residents of Toowoomba - East are employed, from a labour force of 5,613. Unemployment sits at 2.7%, with participation at 64.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.1% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labor pool in Toowoomba - East is highly qualified, with substantial participation in essential services and a low jobless rate of 2.7%. As of March 2026, employed residents total 5,460, with unemployment sitting 1.2% under the 3.9% recorded for Regional Qld and labor force engagement matching the regional figure of 64.2%. Census figures indicated that 11.9% of workers performed duties from home, an outcome influenced by Covid-19 restrictions. Resident workers are primarily engaged in health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The district exhibits a strong concentration in health care & social assistance, capturing an employment share 1.4 times greater than the regional benchmark.
Conversely, construction accounts for a smaller footprint, employing 7.4% of the Toowoomba - East workforce versus 10.1% across Regional Qld. Comparing Census employment counts to resident population numbers suggests a notable proportion of workers travel beyond local boundaries for employment. Over the year to March 2026, AreaSearch evaluation of ABS and SALM figures shows a 6.8% contraction in the local workforce and a 7.5% drop in employed residents, lifting unemployment by 0.7 percentage points. Over the same period, Regional Qld saw employment rise by 0.1%, the labour force increase by 0.3%, and unemployment increase by 0.1 percentage points. Looking at future labor demand, Jobs and Skills Australia national forecasts from Mar-26 across five and ten-year horizons were aligned with the local industry profile. While countrywide employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, sector trajectories vary; weighting these outlooks to the industry structure of Toowoomba - East points to potential local job gains of 7.1% over five years and 14.8% over ten years (noting this is a weighted illustrative calculation that excludes local demographic projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Toowoomba - East is $1,814 a week (about $94,000 a year), with median personal income at $915 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $66,669 a year against an average of $81,741. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to AreaSearch ATO postcode statistics for financial year 2023, earnings in the Toowoomba - East SA2 rank exceptionally high on a national scale, featuring a median income of $66,669 and an average of $81,741, compared with Regional Qld marks of $53,146 (median) and $66,593 (average). Accounting for an 11.36% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated figures reach approximately $74,243 for median income and $91,027 on average as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census positions local personal, family, and household earnings around the 61st percentile across the nation.
The $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket accounts for 29.2% of residents (3,167 individuals), aligning with the 31.7% share recorded regionally. Furthermore, households keep 86.9% of their earnings after accommodation expenses, underscoring solid discretionary capacity, while SEIFA metrics situate the area in the 7th decile for income.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Toowoomba - East had 4,025 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 77% detached houses and 5% apartments. 31% are owned with a mortgage, 35% rented and 35% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $315 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,798 a month. Rent absorbs 17.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.9%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census dwelling records indicate that standalone houses make up 76.8% of properties in Toowoomba - East, while semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings comprise 23.2%, closely tracking Regional Qld proportions of 76.4% and 23.6%. Outright home ownership matches the Regional Qld level at 34.5%, while 30.7% of properties carry a mortgage and 34.8% are occupied by tenants. Median mortgage repayments sit higher than the regional benchmark at $1,798 monthly (versus $1,655 across Regional Qld), whereas weekly median rent is $315 compared to $345 regionally. Relative to countrywide standards, local mortgage repayments sit beneath the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents remain well below the national mark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Toowoomba - East counted 4,025 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 27% are couples with children, against 28% couples without children. 32% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families form 65.6% of all households in Toowoomba - East, consisting of 28.0% couples without children, 27.1% couples with children, and 9.7% single parent families. The remaining 34.4% are non-family arrangements, with lone person dwellings representing 31.9% and group living accounting for 2.6%. The typical household size stands at a median of 2.3 people, below the Regional Qld benchmark of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
37.7% of adults in Toowoomba - East hold a university qualification, including 23.8% with a bachelor degree and 9.5% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 77% of areas nationally. A further 19.5% hold a vocational qualification. 8 schools serve the area, with 4,690 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,068 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Qualifications across Toowoomba - East exceed wider regional figures by a wide margin, with 37.7% of citizens aged 15+ possessing university degrees, compared to 20.6% across Rest of Qld and 23.1% in the SA3 area, providing a solid foundation for knowledge-intensive sectors. Attainment is headed by bachelor degrees at 23.8%, with postgraduate qualifications at 9.5% and graduate diplomas at 4.4%. Technical and vocational credentials are also widespread, held by 29.9% of persons aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 19.5%. Learning engagement across the suburb is considerable, as 33.5% of residents are actively undertaking formal study.
Within this cohort, 13.2% attend secondary education, 9.2% are in primary education, and 5.5% are engaged in tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Toowoomba - East reaches 47 stops on 5 routes, timetabled for about 220 services a week. The typical home sits about 420 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.3 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit provision across Toowoomba - East features 47 operational bus stops connected by 5 individual routes that run a combined 216 weekly passenger trips. Network proximity is moderate, placing residents an average of 418 meters from their closest transit point. Commuter patterns in this predominantly residential district show a strong outward flow, with private car travel accounting for 91% of journeys and 6% walking. Households maintain an average of 1.3 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional norm, while 11.9% of the workforce worked from home at the 2021 Census amidst potential COVID-19 conditions.
Daily transit schedules average 30 trips across the entire route network, corresponding to roughly 4 weekly trips for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
68.4% of residents in Toowoomba - East report no long-term health condition. 5.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 59.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.7 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch health metrics show positive outcomes in Toowoomba - East regarding mortality and chronic illness, with limited prevalence of standard conditions across older and younger demographics alike. Additionally, private health insurance coverage is notably elevated, encompassing approximately 60% of residents (6,497 people), relative to 52.5% across Regional Qld. Mental health conditions and arthritis represent the most prevalent diagnoses locally, affecting 9.1 and 7.7% of the community respectively, while 68.4% of residents reported having no medical ailments, exceeding the 67.6% recorded for Regional Qld. General health across working-age cohorts remains standard, while seniors—who represent 20.2% of the population aged 65 and over (2,187 people)—exhibit above-average wellness measures, aligning with countrywide norms for the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Toowoomba - East is largely Australian-born, at 84.3% of residents, with 8.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (29.2%) and Australian (25.2%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Demographic indicators reflect lower cultural diversity in Toowoomba - East compared to broader averages, with 84.3% of individuals born in Australia, 89.2% holding citizenship, and 91.4% speaking solely English at home. Christianity stands as the predominant faith, practiced by 57.3% of residents. Meanwhile, religious affiliations classified as Other show the clearest overrepresentation, accounting for 2.2% locally versus 0.8% across Regional Qld. Parental ancestry records reveal English as the primary background in Toowoomba - East at 29.2%, followed by Australian at 25.2% and Irish at 11.5%. Certain distinct heritage lines also show higher local shares, including Scottish heritage at 10.2% (against 7.8% regionally), German at 6.6% (versus 4.7%), and Welsh ancestry at 0.6% (compared to 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Toowoomba - East is 40. 24.9% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Toowoomba - East presents a younger age distribution relative to Regional Qld. Updated estimates to August 2026 show children and young adults (0 - 24) representing 33.3% of the community versus 29.6% regionally, while young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) make up 22.8% compared to the regional 25.5%. This establishes an estimated median age of 40, matching the 2021 Census figure and sitting 1 year younger than the Regional Qld benchmark of 41 from that Census. Middle aged and young retiree cohorts (45 - 64) have seen their proportion reduce since the Census from 25.8% to an estimated 23.8%.
Forward projections to 2041 anticipate the highest expansion in the young to middle aged cohort, increasing by 374 residents (15%) to 2,846, whereas the counts of children and young adults, along with middle aged and young retiree cohorts, are forecasted to decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Toowoomba - East
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2026 3 months ago all 9 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 25 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (10,533 at the 2021 Census → 10,847 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (317011457). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.