Underwood
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Underwood's population was around 7,483 as of August 2025. This showed an increase of 674 people (9.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,809 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,415 in June 2024 and an additional 140 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 1,785 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Underwood's growth of 9.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (6.2%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 61.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections were used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections did not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applied proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Examining future population trends, an above median population growth is projected for the area. Based on the latest population numbers, Underwood is expected to expand by 1,084 persons to 2041, recording a gain of 13.6% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Underwood among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Underwood has averaged approximately 49 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics generates development approval data on a financial year basis, indicating 248 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with an additional five approvals in FY-26 so far. Each dwelling has supported an average of 2.4 new residents annually during these years, suggesting consistent demand that positively impacts property values. New homes are constructed at an average expected cost value of $626,000, slightly above the regional average, implying a focus on quality developments.

Commercial approvals totaling $9.0 million have been granted in FY-26, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Underwood exhibits 151.0% more construction activity per capita, offering buyers greater choice. Current building activity comprises 35.0% detached dwellings and 65.0% townhouses or apartments, skewing towards compact living options that provide affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift contrasts with the current housing mix of 85.0% houses, reflecting reduced development site availability and evolving lifestyle demands. With approximately 230 people per dwelling approval, Underwood indicates a growing market. Population forecasts project an increase of 1,016 residents by 2041.

Assuming current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Underwood has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

AreaSearch has identified 22 projects that could impact a certain area's performance, with key ones being Pacific Motorway M1 Upgrade from Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hill, Brisbane Metro from Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street, South East Busway extension to Springwood, and Pacific Motorway (M1) Upgrade from Daisy Hill to Logan Motorway. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Underwood ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Underwood has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.6%, with estimated employment growth of 5.0% over the past year as of June 2025.

In this period, 4,308 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.5% lower than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Underwood is 67.8%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Key employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Notably, transport, postal & warehousing has a high concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services have limited presence with 7.1% employment compared to the regional average of 8.9%. The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.9, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. In the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 5.0%, and labour force grew by 4.9%, resulting in a fall in unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Brisbane where employment rose by 4.4%, the labour force grew by 4.0%, and unemployment fell by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data to Sep-25 shows QLD employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with a state unemployment rate of 4.2%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, but lags behind national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Underwood's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Underwood's median income among taxpayers was $50,587 in financial year 2022, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The average income stood at $61,960 during this period. In Greater Brisbane, the median income was $55,645 and the average was $70,520. By March 2025, estimates suggest Underwood's median income will be approximately $56,511 and the average will be around $69,216, based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census figures indicate that household, family, and personal incomes in Underwood cluster around the 57th percentile nationally. In Underwood, 36.1% of locals (2,701 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, similar to the surrounding region where 33.3% occupy this range. High housing costs consume 16.5% of income in Underwood, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 64th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Underwood is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Underwood's residential structure, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 84.6% houses and 15.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Brisbane metro's 77.9% houses and 22.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Underwood was 23.8%, similar to Brisbane metro, with the rest being mortgaged (48.4%) or rented (27.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Underwood was $1,950, higher than the Brisbane metro average of $1,638. The median weekly rent figure for Underwood was recorded at $400, compared to Brisbane metro's $320. Nationally, Underwood's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceed the national figure of $375.

Underwood features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 82.0% of all households, including 46.6% couples with children, 22.2% couples without children, and 11.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 18.0%, with lone person households at 15.2% and group households making up 2.6% of the total. The median household size is 3.1 people, larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.8.

Underwood shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Underwood is notably high, with 35.0% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This compares to 16.2% in the broader SA4 region and 20.6% in the smaller SA3 area. The most common university qualification is bachelor degrees (23.2%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 30.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (18.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 33.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (12.2%), secondary education (8.6%), and tertiary education (6.2%). Faith Christian School of Distance Education offers local educational services within Underwood but has an enrollment of 0 students as of the provided date. All schools offering integrated K-12 education provide continuity throughout students' academic journey. As there are no schools located within Underwood, residents must commute to neighboring areas for educational services. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus information.

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

Transport analysis shows 19 active transport stops in Underwood, operating a mix of bus services. These stops are served by 3 different routes, offering a total of 282 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 303 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency is 40 trips per day across all routes, which equates to about 14 weekly trips per individual stop.

Underwood's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Underwood's health outcomes data shows excellent results overall, with younger age groups having particularly low prevalence of common health conditions.

Approximately 51% (~3,786 people) have private health cover, which is relatively low compared to other areas. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 6.5% and 5.4% of residents respectively. A total of 78.6% report no medical ailments, higher than Greater Brisbane's 68.5%. Underwood has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (11.2%, or 841 people), compared to Greater Brisbane at 15.4%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to being above average.

Underwood is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Underwood's cultural diversity is notable, with 47.7% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 47.2% born overseas. Christianity is the dominant religion, comprising 36.7% of Underwood's population. Islam is significantly overrepresented, making up 16.7%, compared to Greater Brisbane's average of 7.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (19.9%), English (16.2%), and Australian (15.1%). English and Australian ancestries are lower than the regional averages of 23.2% and 20.5%, respectively. Korean, Indian, and Samoan ethnicities are overrepresented in Underwood: Korean at 4.1% (regional average 1.1%), Indian at 9.1% (2.3%), and Samoan at 1.2% (2.4%).

Underwood hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Underwood has a median age of 34, which is younger than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Underwood has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (15.5%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (3.5%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the population of Underwood's 75 to 84 age group has increased from 2.8% to 3.5%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 25 to 34 has decreased from 15.5% to 14.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic shifts in Underwood. The 45 to 54 age cohort is projected to grow by 34%, adding 339 residents and reaching a total of 1,326. Meanwhile, both the 0 to 4 and 25 to 34 age groups are expected to decrease in number.