Boonah (Qld)

Boonah has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Boonah's population is estimated at around 2,839 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 282 people (11.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,557 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 2,704, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 76 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 255 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Boonah's 11.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%), along with the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Moving forward with demographic trends, a significant population increase in the top quartile of statistical areas across the nation is forecast, with the suburb expected to expand by 718 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 20.5% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Boonah when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Boonah shows an average of around 18 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 92 homes. In FY-26 so far, 25 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, an average of 1.9 new residents per year has arrived per new home.

This suggests a balance between supply and demand, maintaining stable market dynamics. The average construction value of new properties is $428,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In this financial year, $3.3 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's residential character.

Compared to Greater Brisbane, Boonah has approximately 75% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 84th percentile nationally, though recent construction activity has intensified. New development consists predominantly of detached houses (95.0%) with a smaller proportion of townhouses or apartments (5.0%), preserving the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. With around 115 people per dwelling approval, Boonah exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Boonah is expected to grow by 583 residents through to 2041. Development appears to be keeping pace with projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers can be anticipated as the population expands.

Boonah has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

No changes to local infrastructure, major projects, or planning initiatives have significantly impacted the area's performance. AreaSearch has identified zero projects likely to influence the area. Key projects include Wyaralong Water Treatment Plant, Inland Rail from Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton (K2ARB), Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025, and Inland Rail in Queensland Sections. Below is a list of those most relevant.

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AreaSearch analysis places Boonah well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Boonah has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 2.9% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 7.6%.

As of this date, 1,156 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.3% lower than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Boonah was significantly lower at 50.5%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 71.2%. According to Census responses, only 10.1% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.

Boonah has a particularly strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 13.8 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance is under-represented, at 12.2% of Boonah's workforce compared to 16.1% in Greater Brisbane. Employment levels increased by 7.6% and labour force grew by 6.8% during the year to December 2025, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 3.2%, labour force growth of 3.0%, with unemployment falling by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Boonah's employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment profile.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data, released for financial year 2023, shows Boonah's median income among taxpayers is $39,215. The average income in the suburb is $46,978. Both figures are below the national average. In comparison, Greater Brisbane has a median income of $58,236 and an average of $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for Boonah as of September 2025 would be approximately $43,101 (median) and $51,634 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Boonah all fall between the 4th and 7th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 30.5% of Boonah's community earns between $400 and $799 (865 individuals), unlike broader trends where 33.3% fall within the $1,500 to $2,999 range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Boonah, with only 84.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 6th percentile nationally.

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

Boonah's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.9% houses and 11.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Boonah stood at 46.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.0% and rented ones at 25.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,261, lower than Brisbane metro's $1,863. Median weekly rent in Boonah was $300, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Boonah's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 67.3% of all households, including 21.1% that are couples with children, 33.0% that are couples without children, and 12.1% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 32.7%, with lone person households at 30.8% and group households comprising 2.2%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Educational outcomes in Boonah fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 15.7%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 36.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (25.4%). A substantial 23.2% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, with 9.5% in secondary, 9.0% in primary, and 1.7% in tertiary education.

A substantial 23.2% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 9.5% in secondary education, 9.0% in primary education, and 1.7% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Boonah is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges for Boonah, according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age groups. The rate of private health cover is extremely low at approximately 46% of the total population (around 1,300 people), compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 11.9% and 9.2% of residents respectively, while 58.0% report being completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. Boonah has 36.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,027 people), higher than the 15.2% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

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

Boonah's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 89.1% of its population being citizens, 86.8% born in Australia, and 94.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Boonah, making up 58.0% of people, compared to 47.8% across Greater Brisbane. The top three ancestry groups are English (31.4%), Australian (27.8%), and German (11.1%), which is substantially higher than the regional average of 4.2%.

Notably, Korean representation is overrepresented at 1.6%, compared to 0.5% regionally, while Welsh and Polish remain at 0.5% each, matching their respective regional averages.

Boonah ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Boonah's median age is 51 years, significantly higher than Greater Brisbane's 36 and the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Boonah has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (15.9%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (8.0%). This 65-74 age group concentration is higher than the national figure of 9.5%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 10.3% to 12.6% of Boonah's population. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group has decreased from 10.9% to 8.4%, and the 25 to 34 age group has dropped from 10.0% to 8.0%. By 2041, Boonah's age composition is expected to change notably. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 121% (adding 264 people), reaching 483 from the current 218. This demographic aging trend will continue as residents aged 65 and older account for 85% of anticipated population growth. Conversely, both the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age groups are expected to decrease in number.