Westcourt - Bungalow

An assessment of population growth drivers in Westcourt - Bungalow reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Westcourt-Bungalow's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 6,965. This figure represents a 446-person increase (6.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,519. The growth was inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 6,833 in June 2024 and an additional 97 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 715 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Westcourt-Bungalow's growth rate of 6.8% since the census is within 1.4 percentage points of the SA3 area (8.2%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, based on 2021 data and released in 2023. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings using ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 with a base year of 2022. Future population projections indicate above median growth for regional areas nationally, with Westcourt-Bungalow expected to expand by 1,633 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 21.6% over the 17-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Westcourt - Bungalow according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Westcourt - Bungalow has granted approximately five residential properties approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 25 homes were approved, with another ten approved so far in FY26. Each dwelling built attracted an average of 9.1 people per year over these five years, indicating strong demand outpacing supply.

The average construction cost value for new homes was $276,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options. This financial year has seen $47.8 million in commercial development approvals, demonstrating significant commercial activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Westcourt - Bungalow has considerably less development activity, 79.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. Nationally, development activity is also lower, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints.

Recent building activity consists solely of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character focused on family homes. The estimated population count per dwelling approval is 4535 people, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts suggest Westcourt - Bungalow will gain 1,501 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Westcourt - Bungalow has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Area infrastructure significantly impacts local performance. AreaSearch identified 69 potential impact projects. Key initiatives include Barlow Park Upgrade, Far North Private Hospital, Mulgrave Rd improvements in Westcourt, and Cairns Youth Alcohol and Other Drugs Residential Treatment Services. Relevant projects are listed below for further detail.

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

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Employment conditions in Westcourt - Bungalow face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Westcourt - Bungalow had an unemployment rate of 8.8% with a skilled workforce and essential services sectors well represented as of September 2025. There were 3,313 residents in work at this time, while the unemployment rate was 4.8% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation lagged significantly at 60.6%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%.

According to Census responses, only 10.3% of residents worked from home. Employment was concentrated in health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade sectors. The area showed strong specialization in accommodation & food with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employed just 1.0% of local workers compared to Rest of Qld's 4.5%. There were 2.2 workers for every resident as at the Census, indicating that the area functioned as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas.

Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 1.5% while employment declined by 5.0%, resulting in a rise of 3.4 percentage points in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of Qld experienced employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with an increase of 0.3 percentage points in the unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Westcourt - Bungalow's local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.

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

Westcourt - Bungalow SA2's median income among taxpayers was $53,612 in financial year 2023, according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. The average income stood at $66,633 during this period. In comparison, Rest of Qld's median and average incomes were $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated current incomes as of September 2025 are approximately $58,925 (median) and $73,236 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Westcourt - Bungalow fall between the 10th and 24th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 28.3% of residents (1,971 people), mirroring the surrounding region where 31.7% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Westcourt - Bungalow, with only 80.0% of income remaining, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.

Westcourt - Bungalow displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Westcourt - Bungalow's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 39.7% houses and 60.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Westcourt - Bungalow was 18.9%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (19.4%) or rented (61.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure was $280, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Westcourt - Bungalow's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 47.4% of all households, including 12.9% couples with children, 20.6% couples without children, and 12.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 52.6%, with lone person households at 44.6% and group households making up 7.9%. The median household size is 2.0 people, smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Westcourt - Bungalow performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

In Westcourt-Bungalow trail region, 21.9% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.5% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 11.7% and certificates at 29.8%. Educational participation is high, with 31.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.9% in primary, 8.3% in secondary, and 5.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Westcourt - Bungalow has 22 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by nine different routes, offering a total of 1,217 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically residing 223 meters from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most residents commute outward using cars (81%), while 7% walk and 4% cycle. On average, there are 0.8 vehicles per dwelling, below the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, only 10.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 173 trips per day, translating to approximately 55 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Westcourt-Bungalow faces significant health challenges as per AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across various health conditions impacting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is slightly lower than the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the total population (~3,628 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.9 and 7.9% of residents respectively. Conversely, 67.4% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. Working-age residents show a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions than average. The area has 18.4% of residents aged 65 and over (1,279 people), lower than the 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with national rankings.

Westcourt - Bungalow 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

Westcourt-Bungalow has a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 31.9% of its population born overseas and 25.2% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Westcourt-Bungalow, comprising 47.3% of its population. Buddhism, however, is more prevalent here at 3.8%, compared to the Rest of Qld's average of 1.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.6%), Other (19.1%), and Australian (17.8%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal (8.4%) and Korean (0.9%) populations are overrepresented in Westcourt-Bungalow compared to regional averages of 3.9% and 0.2%, respectively. Filipino population is also higher at 2.5% compared to the regional average of 0.9%.

Westcourt - Bungalow's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Westcourt-Bungalow is 38 years, which is slightly below Rest of Qld's average of 41 but aligns with Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group constitutes 19.9% of the population in Westcourt-Bungalow compared to Rest of Qld, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 7.1%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. According to data from the post-2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 17.4% to 19.9%, and the 35 to 44 cohort has risen from 13.9% to 15.2%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has decreased from 9.0% to 7.1%, and the 45 to 54 group has dropped from 13.3% to 11.6%. Population forecasts for Westcourt-Bungalow indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 30%, increasing from 1,386 people in 2021 to 1,796 people by 2041. Conversely, the 15-24 cohort is expected to decline by 16 people during this period.