Charters Towers City

Charters Towers City is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, as of Nov 2025, the Charters Towers City statistical area (Lv2) has an estimated population of around 2,306. This reflects a growth of 87 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,219. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 2,294 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 2 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 787 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. The Charters Towers City (SA2) saw a growth rate of 3.9% since the 2021 census, exceeding the SA3 area's growth rate of 3.8%. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during this period.

AreaSearch adopts 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 used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies 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, projections indicate a decline in overall population by 30 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, led by the 25 to 34 age group with an anticipated increase of 85 people.

The level of residential development activity in Charters Towers City is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Charters Towers City has seen approximately five dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, about 25 homes were approved, with one more in FY26 so far. This new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, with an average of 0.3 people moving to the area per dwelling built annually during these years.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $264,000, which is below regional levels, indicating more affordable housing choices. In FY26, $1.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Charters Towers City shows similar construction activity per person, supporting market stability aligned with regional patterns, although recent activity has eased slightly. This activity is also below the national average, suggesting an established area with potential planning limitations. New developments consist of 67.0% detached dwellings and 33.0% attached dwellings, expanding medium-density options and offering a mix of housing alternatives across price brackets.

This shift reflects reduced development site availability and changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements, differing from the current housing mix of 86.0% houses. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 660 people, indicating a quiet, low-activity development environment. With stable or declining population forecasts, Charters Towers City may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Charters Towers City has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified four projects expected to influence the region: Renew Charters Towers, Queensland Inland Freight Route (Mungindi to Charters Towers), Grand Secret Estate, and Goldtower Central. The following details projects deemed most relevant.

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Employment conditions in Charters Towers City face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Charters Towers City had an unemployment rate of 11.1% as of September 2025, with 925 residents employed. This rate was 7.1% higher than the Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation in Charters Towers City was at 50.4%, significantly lower than the Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries for employment among residents were health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area had a particular specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.8 times higher than the regional level. However, construction was under-represented, with only 5.1% of Charters Towers City's workforce compared to 10.1% in Rest of Qld.

Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force increased by 0.3%, while employment declined by 1.6%, causing a rise in unemployment rate by 1.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with an unemployment rate increase of 0.3 percentage points. State-level data up to 25-Nov-25 showed Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01%, with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia projected a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Charters Towers City's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The median taxpayer income in Charters Towers City is $49,524, with an average of $59,556, according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is lower than national averages; Rest of Qld's median income is $53,146 and average income is $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since FY 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $54,432 (median) and $65,458 (average). Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Charters Towers City fall between the 6th and 11th percentiles nationally. Income distribution reveals 29.1% of residents earn between $400 - $799, differing from surrounding regions where $1,500 - $2,999 is dominant at 31.7%. After housing costs, 86.3% of income remains, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.

Charters Towers City is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Charters Towers City's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.0% houses and 14.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is compared to Non-Metro Qld's 89.5% houses and 10.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Charters Towers City was at 34.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.9% and rented ones at 42.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,009, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,213. The median weekly rent figure in Charters Towers City was recorded at $220, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $202. Nationally, Charters Towers City's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Charters Towers City features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 57.3% of all households, including 15.4% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 13.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 42.7%, with lone person households at 38.6% and group households comprising 4.0%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 14.6%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 35.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (7.4%) and certificates (28.1%). Educational participation is high at 34.5%, comprising secondary education (15.9%), primary education (11.8%), and tertiary education (2.0%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 34.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.9% in secondary education, 11.8% in primary education, and 2.0% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Health data shows significant issues affecting Charters Towers City, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover stands at approximately 51%, covering around 1,171 people. Asthma and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.3% and 9.2% of residents respectively. Notably, 62.1% of residents report no medical ailments compared to 66.2% in the rest of Queensland. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 20.1%, or 463 people, than the rest of Queensland at 24.3%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, performing better than the general population in certain health metrics.

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

Charters Towers City, as per the data, showed lower cultural diversity with 83.6% of its population being citizens, 91.0% born in Australia, and 94.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 54.0% of the population, compared to 70.7% across the rest of Queensland. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (32.9%), English (27.2%), and Irish (9.3%).

Notable differences existed in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal was higher at 8.3%, Maori at 0.4%, and Scottish at 7.7%.

Charters Towers City's median age exceeds the national pattern

Charters Towers City has a median age of 40, close to Rest of Qld's figure of 41 but exceeding the national norm of 38. The 15-24 age group is strongly represented at 14.9%, compared to Rest of Qld, while the 35-44 cohort is less prevalent at 11.3%. According to the 2021 Census, the 15-to-24 age group has grown from 13.2% to 14.9%, and the 25-to-34 cohort increased from 10.1% to 11.2%. Conversely, the 5-to-14 cohort declined from 14.9% to 13.6%, and the 45-to-54 group dropped from 12.3% to 11.1%. Demographic modeling suggests Charters Towers City's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 25-to-34 group projected to grow by 29% (74 people), reaching 333 from 258. Population declines are projected for the 65-to-74 and 55-to-64 cohorts.