Coopers Plains

Population growth drivers in Coopers Plains are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

The population of the Coopers Plains statistical area (Lv2) was estimated at around 6,280 as of November 2025, reflecting an increase of 605 people since the 2021 Census. The 2021 Census reported a population of 5,675 in the Coopers Plains (SA2). This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 6,255 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 26 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio was 1,488 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The Coopers Plains (SA2) experienced a growth of 10.7% since the 2021 census, exceeding the national average of 9.7%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 80.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in the area.

For projections, AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted, with proportional growth weightings applied where necessary. Looking ahead, significant population increase is forecast for the Coopers Plains (SA2), with an expected increase of 2,009 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 31.4% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Coopers Plains when compared nationally

Coopers Plains averaged approximately 43 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 216 homes were approved, with an additional 10 approved in FY-26. On average, about 1.6 new residents arrived annually for each new home over the past five financial years. However, this figure has recently intensified to 7 people per dwelling over the past two financial years.

The average construction value of development projects was around $554,000, indicating a focus on premium market properties. This year, there have been approximately $10.8 million in commercial approvals, suggesting moderate levels of commercial development.

New development primarily consists of detached dwellings (84.0%) and medium to high-density housing (16.0%), maintaining the area's suburban character while attracting space-seeking buyers. Currently, around 224 people are associated with each dwelling approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Coopers Plains is projected to grow by approximately 1,974 residents by 2041. If current development rates persist, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Coopers Plains has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Henson Road Industrial Estate, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital Expansion, Cross River Rail - Salisbury Station Upgrade, and Salisbury Marketplace. The following list details those most relevant:.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Coopers Plains shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Coopers Plains has a highly educated workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 5.7%.

Employment stability has been relatively consistent over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 3,386 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 1.7% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation is broadly similar to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.

Notably, accommodation & food services have a high concentration with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, construction is under-represented, with only 5.5% of Coopers Plains's workforce compared to Greater Brisbane's 9.0%. There are 1.2 workers for every resident, indicating that the area functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 0.1% while labour force grew by 0.7%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points in Coopers Plains. In comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 3.8%, labour force growth of 3.3%, with a decrease in unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. Providing broader context, state-level data from 25-Nov shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01% (losing 1,210 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%, closely aligned with the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, offer insight into potential future demand within Coopers Plains. These projections suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Coopers Plains's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Coopers Plains has a median taxpayer income of $47,547 and an average income of $56,386 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is lower than Greater Brisbane's median income of $58,236 and average income of $72,799. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth suggest the median income will be approximately $52,259 and the average income will be around $61,974. As per the 2021 Census figures, incomes in Coopers Plains rank modestly, between the 32nd and 41st percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. The income bracket of $1,500 - $2,999 captures 34.2% of the community (2,147 individuals), similar to the broader trend across regional levels at 33.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 39th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Coopers Plains is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile

Coopers Plains dwelling structure comprised 76.0% houses and 24.1% other dwellings as of the latest Census. Home ownership stood at 23.2%, with 27.1% of dwellings mortgaged and 49.6% rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,755. Weekly rent median was $369. Nationally, Coopers Plains's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863. Rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Coopers Plains features high concentrations of group households, with a median household size of 2.6 people

Family households compose 65.1% of all households, including 26.1% couples with children, 26.0% couples without children, and 10.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.9%, with lone person households at 25.4% and group households comprising 9.4%. The median household size is 2.6 people.

Educational attainment in Coopers Plains aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Coopers Plains has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above. Specifically, 40.8% have university qualifications, surpassing both Queensland's state average of 25.7% and Australia's national average of 30.4%. This significant educational advantage indicates the area's strong potential for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 24.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 27.0% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (16.5%). Educational participation is notably high in Coopers Plains, with 31.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.3% in tertiary education, 7.4% in primary education, and 5.3% pursuing secondary education.

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

Transport analysis shows 44 active stops operating in Coopers Plains. These include train and bus services. There are 32 routes serving these stops, providing a total of 2,982 weekly passenger trips.

Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 165 meters to the nearest stop. Service frequency is 426 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 67 weekly trips per individual stop.

Coopers Plains's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Coopers Plains residents exhibit relatively positive health outcomes, with low prevalence of common conditions among the general population compared to national averages but higher among older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately half (50%) of Coopers Plains residents have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 8.1% and 7.2% of residents respectively. Most residents (72.7%) report being completely free from medical ailments compared to none in Greater Brisbane. The area has a senior population of 12.7%, or 797 people, with health outcomes among seniors requiring more attention than the broader population.

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

Coopers Plains has high cultural diversity, with 49.9% speaking a language other than English at home and 49.9% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 40.5%. Hinduism is overrepresented at 10.8%, compared to none in Greater Brisbane.

The top three ancestry groups are English (16.6%), Australian (16.2%), and Other (16.2%). Indian (7.8%) Filipino (3.5%) and Serbian (0.8%) ethnicities are notably overrepresented.

Coopers Plains's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Coopers Plains has a median age of 32 years, which is lower than the Greater Brisbane average of 36 and significantly below the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Coopers Plains has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (23.7%), but fewer residents aged 45-54 (9.5%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is notably above the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of residents aged 35-44 has increased from 15.4% to 17.7%, while the proportion of those aged 55-64 has decreased from 8.7% to 7.6%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest significant changes in Coopers Plains' age profile. The 45-54 age cohort is expected to expand considerably, growing by 436 people (73%), from 596 to 1,033 individuals.