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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Cranbrook (Qld) has an estimated 6,096 residents, up from 5,844 at the 2021 Census — a change of 252 people, or 4.3%. Growth has averaged 0.5% a year over five years. That puts 1,814 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of broader ABS updates alongside post-Census address validations, the suburb of Cranbrook (Qld) has an estimated resident count of roughly 6,096 as of Aug 2026. This represents a 4.3% expansion (+252 people) from the 5,844 residents tallied during the 2021 Census. AreaSearch established this 6,096 figure by reviewing the ABS June 2025 ERP release and incorporating 7 validated new addresses registered since Census night. Consequently, the suburb registers a population density of 1,814 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical benchmark across nationwide locations monitored by AreaSearch.
Moreover, the suburb of Cranbrook (Qld)'s post-Census growth rate of 4.3% tracks within 2.9 percentage points of the broader SA4 region (7.2%), reflecting resilient demographic performance. Net overseas migration served as the core growth engine, generating around 82.0% of recent population additions. Projections for each SA2 area are sourced from the ABS/Geoscience Australia dataset released in 2024 (using 2022 as its base year). For timeframes beyond 2032 or locations not covered by this series, AreaSearch uses Queensland State Government SA2 figures released in 2023 from 2021 data. Because the state release omits age-specific breakdowns, AreaSearch applies proportional distributions from the 2023 Greater Capital Region projections (2022 base) across individual cohorts. Looking forward, these demographic models project a net contraction of 367 persons by 2041 for the suburb of Cranbrook (Qld). In contrast to the overall decline, certain age groups are forecast to expand, most notably persons aged 85 and over with a projected addition of 142 people. <i>See the age section for more details.</i>
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building approvals in the area are exceptionally constrained, tracking at less than 1 dwelling approvals on an annual basis (minimal dwellings over the five-year period). This subdued development environment aligns with rural market profiles where overall demand remains modest and infrastructure limits new construction volume. Notably, because the sample base is so small, single residential schemes can create marked swings in annual statistics and comparative metrics. Residential building output in the local market lags substantially behind Rest of Qld, while also falling far short of broader national construction levels.
With demographic projections pointing toward a flat or shrinking population, prospective property buyers may benefit from reduced demand pressure across the local housing market.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Cranbrook (Qld)
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 2 current infrastructure and development projects inside Cranbrook (Qld), worth an estimated $212 million. A further 31 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $9.89 billion. 12 are already under construction and 6 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and health & medical. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Major infrastructure upgrades, strategic developments, and regional investments significantly shape local economic and property trends. AreaSearch has identified 7 significant projects expected to influence the district, including the Townsville University Hospital Expansion, Cranbrook Social Housing Development, Willows Shopping Centre Redevelopment, and TropiQ - Townsville Tropical Intelligence and Health Precinct, with key initiatives highlighted below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Townsville University Hospital Expansion
A major staged expansion of Townsville University Hospital under the Queensland Government's Hospital Rescue Plan, delivering at least 165 new overnight beds, additional operating theatres, an expanded Emergency Department, and a rooftop integrated helipad. Stage 1A features a new two-storey building on the Eastern Campus and a North Block refurbishment, with Stage 1 fast-tracked for completion by 2028. Early works, including a multi-storey carpark delivered by Hutchinson Builders, are progressing alongside campus upgrades.
Cranbrook Social Housing Development
A proposed social housing complex in Cranbrook, Townsville, aimed at providing affordable accommodation with around 40 units to support low-income residents. Community feedback is being sought, and local residents have expressed concerns about the development.
Kirwan Health Campus Expansion
A 45.2 million dollar expansion and redevelopment of the Kirwan Health Campus. The project includes a new two-story facility and refurbishment of existing buildings to expand outpatient pre-natal and post-natal care (midwifery) and oral health services. It also involves upgrading the existing car park and installing technology for TeleHealth services.
Kirwan Health Campus Expansion
A 45.2 million dollar expansion of the Kirwan Health Campus involving the construction of a new two-storey Green Star-rated building and refurbishment of existing facilities. The project doubles the capacity for oral health services and significantly expands pre-natal and post-natal midwifery clinics. Key features include a new chiller plant, a 120-bay car park, and upgraded TeleHealth infrastructure to support clinical services for the growing North Queensland population.
Willows Shopping Centre Redevelopment
Major redevelopment and expansion of Willows Shopping Centre including new fresh food precinct and introduction of ALDI, TK Maxx, and Planet Fitness. Centre sold for $212 million in 2024 featuring 44,507sqm GLA on 15.39-hectare site.
Willowbank Estate
Residential land estate by Parkside Land on Willowbank Drive at the top end of Kirwan, adjacent to the Tropics Golf Club and Willows golf course precinct, within the City of Townsville. The estate integrates over 50 hectares of formal and informal parkland with an extensive network of bike, walking, and bushland hiking trails, plus cricket fields, a basketball court, and children's playgrounds. A new limited land release is being brought to market, with the developer's official estate page confirming a premium elevated position offering mountain views.Expressions of interest are open for the new stage after the estate's earlier release sold out.
Garbutt - Upper Ross Road (Riverway Drive) Stage 2 Duplication
Stage 2 upgrades a 3.1 km section of Riverway Drive in Kelso, Townsville, including widening a 1.6 km section between Allambie Lane and Hammond Way to four lanes, plus median treatments and right turn improvements on the remaining 1.5 km to Dunlop Street. The project also delivers new and upgraded signalised intersections at Rosewood/Buunong Avenue, Yut Fay Avenue and Ponti Road, along with active transport links and bus stop upgrades. Construction started on 30 September 2024 and is expected to finish by mid-2027, weather and construction conditions permitting.The project supports more than 140 local jobs and serves around 17,000 motorists daily, targeting safety, network reliability and congestion relief for the Upper Ross growth area.
TropiQ - Townsville Tropical Intelligence and Health Precinct
A 442-hectare tropical intelligence and health precinct valued at 5.9 billion dollars, developed jointly by James Cook University, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, and Townsville City Council. Located adjacent to Townsville University Hospital and Lavarack Barracks, the precinct integrates world-class tropical research, health innovation, and defence simulation. Ongoing components include major expansions to the Townsville University Hospital, the NQ Spark defence simulation facility, a Technology Innovation Complex, and extensive residential and commercial development programs.
2,710 residents of Cranbrook (Qld) are employed, from a labour force of 2,926. Unemployment sits at 7.4%, with participation at 57.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 5,327, about 87% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labour pool displays strong representation across essential service sectors alongside an overall jobless rate of 7.4%, as measured across aggregated statistical areas by AreaSearch. With 2,710 residents employed as of March 2026, the area's unemployment rate sits 3.5% above Regional Qld's 3.9%, highlighting room for labour market gains, while the participation rate of 57.2% falls noticeably short of Regional Qld's 64.2%. In addition, Census records indicate only 5.7% of workers operated from home, though pandemic-related movement restrictions during that period may have influenced this outcome. The primary employment drivers for the local workforce consist of health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.
Conversely, the agriculture, forestry & fishing industry is under-indexed, engaging just 0.6% of local workers compared to 4.5% across Regional Qld. Comparing Census figures for the working population against total resident counts indicates that this largely residential community provides relatively few jobs internally. An examination of aggregated SALM and ABS figures by AreaSearch reveals that over the 12 months to March 2026, the local workforce shrank by 1.9% while employment dropped 3.1%, pushing the jobless rate up by 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Qld saw jobs rise 0.1%, the labour force increase 0.3%, and unemployment edge up 0.1 percentage points. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia's Mar-26 national forecasts provide an indication of medium- to long-term hiring demand. Projected nationwide employment increases of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years vary widely across specific industries. When these industry-level projections are applied to the local workforce composition, modeled employment indicates potential gains of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years (a baseline weighted scenario for illustrative purposes that excludes localised demographic forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Cranbrook (Qld) is $1,400 a week (about $73,000 a year), with median personal income at $703 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $46,927 a year against an average of $55,470. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's compilation of ATO postcode records for financial year 2023, Cranbrook's taxable median income stands at $46,927, alongside a mean of $55,470. These earnings trail nationwide benchmarks as well as Regional Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023 brings estimated current figures to roughly $52,258 (median) and $61,771 (average) as of March 2026. Figures from the 2021 Census place household, family, and individual incomes between the 28th and 29th percentiles nationally. Furthermore, 31.2% of the local population (1,901 individuals) earns between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the 31.7% recorded across the regional benchmark.
Net of housing obligations, households retain 86.1% of their earnings for general living costs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Cranbrook (Qld) had 2,232 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 82% detached houses and 2% apartments. 32% are owned with a mortgage, 33% rented and 35% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $293 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 20.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Based on the most recent Census, the residential landscape is made up of 81.5% houses and 18.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Regional Qld's split of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Outright home ownership matches the Regional Qld benchmark at 34.6%, while mortgaged properties account for 32.2% and rental accommodation represents 33.2%. Typical monthly mortgage payments stand at $1,300, well below Regional Qld's $1,655, while median weekly rent is $293 against Regional Qld's $345. On a broader scale, local mortgage servicing costs are markedly cheaper than the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents track considerably lower than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Cranbrook (Qld) counted 2,232 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.5 people each. 24% are couples with children, against 26% couples without children. 29% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the majority of dwellings at 66.9%, encompassing 24.4% couples with children, 26.0% couples without children, and 14.6% single parent families. The remaining 33.1% are non-family residences, consisting of lone person households at 28.8% and group households at 4.8%. The average household size sits at 2.5 people, identical to the Regional Qld benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
21.0% of adults in Cranbrook (Qld) hold a university qualification, including 14.1% with a bachelor degree and 4.6% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 26.9% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 2,186 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 982 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Higher education attainment lags behind national standards, with 21.0% of individuals aged 15+ holding a tertiary qualification compared to 30.4% in Australia, pointing to opportunities for upskilling. By specific degree level, bachelor degrees account for 14.1%, postgraduate qualifications represent 4.6%, and graduate diplomas make up 2.3%. Technical and vocational training remains prominent, with 36.4% of the population aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, divided between advanced diplomas (9.5%) and certificates (26.9%). Formal study engagement is substantial across the community, with 28.3% of the population actively attending an educational institution. This enrollment breakdown includes 9.0% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 6.4% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Cranbrook (Qld) reaches 24 stops on 9 routes, timetabled for about 1,000 services a week. The typical home sits about 230 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.3 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local transit network features 24 active transport stops accommodating various bus services. These stops are integrated across 9 individual routes that generate 1,012 weekly passenger trips. Commuter access is strong, with residents living an average of 230 meters from their closest transit point. Given the area's residential profile, outbound travel is high, with private vehicles accounting for 90% of journeys. Vehicle availability averages 1.3 per dwelling, below regional norms, while 5.7% of residents worked from home during the 2021 Census (a metric potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions). Public transport operations provide an average of 144 trips per day across the network, translating to roughly 42 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
62.8% of residents in Cranbrook (Qld) report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 85% of areas nationally. 7.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 49.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of mortality statistics and chronic disease trends point to meaningful public health hurdles, with widespread health conditions across both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is subdued, encompassing around 49% of residents (~2,998 people), trailing both Regional Qld (52.5%) and the Australian benchmark (55.7%). The most frequently reported health conditions locally are arthritis and mental health issues, each affecting 9.9 and 9.9% of residents, while 62.8% reported having no long-term medical conditions compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Chronic illness rates are elevated within the working-age cohort.
Furthermore, seniors aged 65 and over account for 21.3% of the community (1,298 people), with elderly health metrics tracking above national figures.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cranbrook (Qld) is largely Australian-born, at 80.8% of residents, with 13.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (25.3%) and English (25.0%). 6.3% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures indicate an above-average multicultural profile, with 19.2% of residents born overseas and 13.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant faith, practiced by 57.6% of residents compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Looking at parentage and heritage, the leading reported backgrounds are Australian (25.3%), English (25.0%), and Other (9.0%). Certain cultural communities show pronounced local concentration, including Filipino residents at 2.9% (vs 0.9% regionally), Australian Aboriginal people at 6.3% (vs 3.9%), and Samoan heritage at 0.3% (vs 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Cranbrook (Qld) is 40. 27.9% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Demographic distribution closely parallels Regional Qld, with the maximum variation across the four main age brackets reaching only 1.9 percentage points. As of August 2026, the estimated median age remains at 40, matching the 2021 Census and sitting 1 year below the Regional Qld figure of 41 recorded at that time. Across specific cohorts, the 45 - 64 age group has decreased from 24.9% at the Census to an estimated 22.7%. By 2041, retirees and seniors (65+) are projected to experience the strongest expansion, rising by 137 (11%) to reach 1,435, whereas child, young adult, and middle-aged cohorts are forecast to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Cranbrook (Qld)
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 7 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (5,844 at the 2021 Census → 6,096 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL30743). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.