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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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Cranley has an estimated 2,656 residents, up from 2,281 at the 2021 Census — a change of 375 people, or 16.4%. Growth has averaged 4.2% a year over five years, faster than 87% of areas nationally. 159 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 46.0% of that increase. That puts 255 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
Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census the suburb of Cranley has an estimated population of 2,656 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 375 people (16.4%) compared to the 2,281 people recorded in the 2021 Census. This change is calculated from the resident population of 2,656, which AreaSearch estimated after evaluating the ABS June 2025 ERP data release alongside 159 validated new addresses identified since the Census date. This population level yields a density ratio of 254 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and capacity for subsequent expansion.
The 16.4% growth rate in the suburb of Cranley since the 2021 census outperformed the SA3 area (9.2%) and the SA4 region, establishing the locality as a regional growth leader. Population growth was driven primarily by interstate migration, which accounted for approximately 46.0% of all population increases in recent times, though overseas migration and natural growth also registered positive contributions. AreaSearch incorporates ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, published in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For SA2 areas lacking this data, and for all years after 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 and based on 2021 data are utilized. Because these state-level projections lack age breakdowns, AreaSearch scales cohort growth proportionally using the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 (based on 2022 data). Demographic trends point to a population growth rate slightly below the median for non-metropolitan Australia, with the suburb of Cranley projected to grow by 248 persons to 2041 under aggregated SA2 projections, representing an overall expansion of 9.3% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
129 new dwellings have been approved in Cranley over the past five years, an average of 25 a year. That places the area in the 65th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 9 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 20, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
According to AreaSearch evaluations of ABS building approvals allocated from statistical area data, Cranley averages approximately 25 dwellings approved annually, with an estimated total of 129 homes over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26, 19 approvals have been logged. With an average of 3.8 people moving to the area for every completed home between FY-21 and FY-25, demand outstrips new supply, a dynamic that typically drives price growth and heightens buyer competition. Approved new properties carry an average construction cost of $506,000, which is slightly higher than the regional average, indicating a focus on premium builds.
Cranley records 105.0% higher new home approvals per capita than the Rest of Qld, offering buyers more options despite a recent slowdown in construction activity. This volume is significantly higher than the national average, pointing to strong developer interest. Detached houses account for 75.0% of the new builds, while attached dwellings make up 25.0%, preserving the low-density character of the area and appealing to buyers seeking extra space. The ratio stands at roughly 276 people per dwelling approval, showing capacity for further expansion. Long-term projections indicate Cranley will add 248 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. Current development trends suggest the supply of new housing is positioned to accommodate this demand, creating favorable buying conditions and potentially supporting population growth above current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Cranley
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 3 current infrastructure and development projects inside Cranley, worth an estimated $100 million. A further 55 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $8.93 billion. 18 are already under construction and 16 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities 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
Local infrastructure projects, major planning decisions, and new developments have a significant impact on local performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 10 projects that are expected to influence the area. Prominent developments include the New Toowoomba Hospital, Kearney West Estate, Toowoomba Fairways Country Club Retirement Village, and Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba, with key details provided in the list below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Toowoomba Fairways Country Club Retirement Village
A $100 million retirement village development featuring 183 units by Country Club Living. This major aged care and lifestyle project provides modern retirement living options in the Cotswold Hills area with resort-style amenities, including a private 9-hole golf course, swimming pool, and clubhouse.
New Toowoomba Hospital
The $1.98 billion New Toowoomba Hospital is a major redevelopment at the Baillie Henderson Hospital campus. Under the Queensland Government Hospital Rescue Plan, the facility will feature 538 overnight beds, including an 84-bed acute mental health facility. The project consolidates health services onto a single site, including a new cardiac catheterisation lab, expanded emergency department, surgical suites, and a multi-storey car park. As of May 2026, main structural works are advancing with the installation of approximately 1500 precast columns and stair cores reaching up to 10 storeys.
Kearney West Estate
Master-planned residential estate by Clive Berghofer Land Sales in Kearneys Spring, Toowoomba. The estate comprises approximately 350 residential lots delivered over multiple stages. Stages 1 to 4 are sold and completed. Stage 5, comprising 34 lots and a new West Street roundabout connection, remains on hold pending Ergon Energy relocation of underground high voltage power infrastructure.
Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba
A luxury over-50s lifestyle resort in Cranley, featuring designer homes and world-class facilities including an award-winning Pinnacle Country Club with an infinity-edge pool. Offers a pet-friendly community.
Bridge Street Community
Extension to the existing relocatable home park providing an additional 60 dwelling sites for over 50s lifestyle village, increasing total sites to 245. Includes new community facilities such as pool, multi-purpose room, library/craft area, alfresco seating, BBQ area, bar, and amenities, with refurbishment of some existing facilities.
Toowoomba Day Surgery Theatre
$42 million over four years to construct a two-theatre day surgery unit at Baillie Henderson Hospital Campus.
Hill Street Social and Affordable Housing
Development of 27 purpose-built residential units for social and affordable housing across two buildings, including 19 one-bedroom units, six two-bedroom units, and two four-bedroom townhouses, designed to meet accessibility standards.
Glenvale Town Centre
A 6.06-hectare master-planned mixed-use precinct designed to serve the expanding Toowoomba community. The development is anchored by a full-line Woolworths supermarket with an innovative e-commerce hub. The centre includes specialty retail, fast food outlets, a 7-Eleven service station, a tavern, and essential services such as medical facilities, childcare, and indoor sports spaces. It is estimated to create over 700 jobs during construction and operation.
936 residents of Cranley are employed, from a labour force of 990. Unemployment sits at 5.5%, with participation at 41.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth, so in an area growing as fast as this one it understates the likely rise in local jobs. The working-day population is estimated at 4,525, about 170% of the resident population, so the area draws in more workers than it sends out. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Cranley has a skilled labor pool with strong representation in essential services, and an unemployment rate of 5.5% according to AreaSearch aggregations of statistical area data. As of March 2026936 residents are employed. The unemployment rate is 1.5% higher than the 3.9% recorded in Regional Qld, while participation in the workforce is notably lower at 41.4% compared to 64.3% in Regional Qld. Census data indicates that only 5.9% of workers worked from home, though this may have been influenced by COVID-19 restrictions. The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade.
Healthcare & social assistance shows a particularly high concentration, employing workers at 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is underrepresented, employing only 1.6% of Cranley's workforce compared to 4.5% in Regional Qld. With 1.8 jobs available for every resident worker at the time of the Census, the locality serves as an employment hub, drawing in commuting workers from neighboring areas. Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data aggregated from broader statistical areas, the 12 months leading to March 2026 saw the labor force shrink by 4.5% and total employment fall by 6.2%, driving the unemployment rate up by 1.7 percentage points. During the same period, Regional Qld experienced employment growth of 0.1% and labor force growth of 0.3%, with its unemployment rate rising by 0.1 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 offer additional context on future demand in Cranley. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce mix to model potential growth. Nationwide employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary by industry. Projecting these industry-specific trends onto the local labor profile suggests Cranley's employment could grow by 6.5% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation that does not incorporate local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Cranley is $1,112 a week (about $58,000 a year), with median personal income at $634 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $44,152 a year against an average of $54,251. 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
Taxpayer income levels in the suburb of Cranley are below the national average according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income for local taxpayers is $44,152, and the average income is $54,251, compared to Regional Qld averages of $53,146 and $66,593. Applying the Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023 yields estimated current figures of approximately $49,168 for the median and $60,414 for the average as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census reveals that Cranley's household, family, and personal incomes all rank between the 8th and 16th percentiles nationwide.
The income distribution shows that 34.3% of the population (911 individuals) earn between $800 and $1,499, whereas the wider region is led by the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket at 31.7%. Although residents retain 87.0% of their income due to modest housing costs, the overall disposable income ranks in the 11th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Cranley had 950 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 68% detached houses and 1% apartments. 16% are owned with a mortgage, 27% rented and 57% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $330 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,517 a month. Rent absorbs 29.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 31.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The housing stock in Cranley at the time of the latest Census consisted of 67.8% separate houses and 32.3% other dwelling types, such as apartments and semi-detached properties, compared to Regional Qld's mix of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Outright home ownership in Cranley was notably higher than the regional rate at 57.1%, with 15.7% of properties mortgaged and 27.2% rented. The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,517 and median weekly rent of $330 were both lower than the Regional Qld averages of $1,655 and $345. Locally, mortgage costs are significantly below the national average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well below the Australian average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Cranley counted 950 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,106 today, averaging 2.1 people each. 14% are couples with children, fewer than in 95% of areas nationally, against 40% couples without children. 33% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 63.6%, consisting of couples without children at 39.6%, couples with children at 13.7%, and single parents at 8.9%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 36.4% of households, with single-person households at 32.8% and group homes at 3.7%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
18.6% of adults in Cranley hold a university qualification, including 13.7% with a bachelor degree and 2.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 24.5% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The region presents educational challenges, with the university qualification rate (18.6%) sitting significantly lower than the national average of 30.4%. This highlights both an area of need and a target for educational programs. Among university graduates, bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational and technical training is common, with 35.6% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (24.5%). A notable 21.6% of the local population is enrolled in formal study. This includes 7.2% in primary schools, 5.0% in secondary schools, and 3.6% in higher education or vocational courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Cranley means driving: households keep an average of 1.0 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Analysis of public transit indicates there are 2 active transport stops within Cranley, consisting of bus services. These stops connect to 1 distinct routes that provide a combined total of 112 weekly passenger journeys. Transit access is moderate, with residents living an average of 592 meters from the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, resulting in most residents commuting out of the suburb, with private vehicles remaining the primary choice at 97%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.0 per household, below the regional average. A relatively small 5.9% of workers worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.
Service frequency averages 16 runs per day across all active routes, which translates to approximately 56 weekly trips at each transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
50.8% of residents in Cranley report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 92% of areas nationally. 14.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 48.7% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.7 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Significant health issues are present in Cranley, according to AreaSearch analyses of mortality and chronic illness data, affecting both younger and older residents. The rate of private health insurance is low, covering approximately 49% of the population (~1,293 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent health issues locally are arthritis and mental health conditions, affecting 14.0% and 11.3% of residents respectively. Conversely, 50.8% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Chronic disease rates are elevated among the working-age population.
Residents aged 65 and older make up 47.0% of the population (1,248 people), which is significantly higher than the regional share of 20.4%. Health profiles for these seniors are generally consistent with national averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cranley is largely Australian-born, at 83.7% of residents, with 7.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (31.7%) and Australian (27.1%). 3.1% 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
Cranley displays lower levels of cultural diversity than the national average, with citizens making up 88.6% of the population, 83.7% of residents born in Australia, and 92.8% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 68.0% of residents, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Looking at parent countries of birth, the largest ancestry groups in Cranley are English at 31.7%, Australian at 27.1%, and Irish at 8.9%. Certain backgrounds show higher representation locally than regionally: German ancestry is recorded for 7.4% of residents (compared to 4.7% regionally), Filipino ancestry at 1.9% (compared to 0.9%), and Hungarian ancestry at 0.3% (compared to 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Cranley is 60, older than 98% of areas nationally. 23.3% 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
The median age in Cranley is 60, which is higher than the regional median of 41 and the national median of 38 years. The 75 - 84 cohort is heavily represented at 22.3% of the population compared to Regional Qld, while the 45 - 54 group is less common at 5.1%. This 75 - 84 concentration is also much higher than the national figure of 6.1%. Since 2021, the 25 to 34 age bracket has risen from 10.8% to 13.5%, and the 85+ cohort has increased from 7.5% to 9.0%.
In contrast, the 5 to 14 group fell from 7.6% to 5.2%, and the 45 to 54 group decreased from 6.5% to 5.1%. Demographic projections suggest the age structure in Cranley will change substantially by 2041. The 85+ bracket is projected to increase by 77% (184 people), rising from 239 to 424 residents. Population aging is expected to continue, with seniors aged 65 and older making up 77% of all projected growth, while the 5 to 14 and 45 to 54 brackets will contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Cranley
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | May 2026 3 months ago all 13 measures |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jun 2026 2 months ago all 3 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 Jun 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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) | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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 — 159 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (2,281 at the 2021 Census → 2,656 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 May 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 (SAL30744). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.