Curra

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, as of Feb 2026 the estimated population of Curra is around 2,586. This reflects an increase of 482 people (22.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,104 people. The change was inferred from the resident population of 2,369 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 59 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 25 persons per square kilometer. Curra's growth rate of 22.9% since the 2021 census exceeded both the Rest of Qld (9.1%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 80.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of national regional areas is expected. The suburb of Curra is expected to grow by 232 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a decline of 1.8% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Curra averaged around 17 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY21 and FY25, approximately 89 homes were approved, with 9 more in FY26 so far. Each dwelling supported an average of 2.5 new residents annually over the past five financial years, reflecting healthy demand that should sustain property values.

New homes are being built at an average cost of $435,000. This year, $740,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Curra exhibits similar construction activity per person, maintaining market balance with surrounding areas.

All new constructions have been standalone homes, preserving Curra's low-density character and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 130 people per approval, Curra reflects a developing area. Stable or declining population is expected, potentially reducing housing pressure and creating buyer opportunities.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects that may affect this region: Lower Wonga Solar Farm (Proposed), Curra Town Centre Development, Woolooga Solar Farm, and EQUIS Lower Wonga (Woolooga) BESS. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Curra recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Curra has a balanced workforce with representation across white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is notable in terms of its size. In the past year, unemployment stood at 7.0% with an estimated employment growth rate of 9.2%.

As of September 2025, 1,004 residents are employed, but the unemployment rate is higher than Rest of Qld's at 3.0%. Workforce participation lags behind Rest of Qld at 55.3% compared to its 65.7%. Only 9.9% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

Retail trade is particularly strong with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services employ only 1.0% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 5.1%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. In the past year, employment increased by 9.2%, but labour force grew more at 10.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.9 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Qld where employment rose by 1.7% and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Curra. Applying these projections to Curra's current employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.5% over ten years.

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

The median taxpayer income in Curra suburb is $35,741 and the average is $43,443 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is lower than national averages of $53,146 median and $66,593 average in Rest of Qld. By September 2025, estimated incomes based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% would be approximately $39,283 median and $47,748 average. Census 2021 data shows Curra's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 2nd and 6th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort in Curra spans 31.7% of locals (819 people) earning $800 - $1,499 per week, differing from surrounding regions where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is predominant at 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Curra with only 83.9% of income remaining post-housing costs, ranking at the 8th percentile nationally.

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

Curra's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 95.1% houses and 4.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Curra stood at 40.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 48.2% and rented ones at 11.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,268, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure in Curra was $300, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Curra's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Curra has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 74.2% of all households, including 28.1% couples with children, 32.9% couples without children, and 12.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 25.8%, with lone person households at 21.8% and group households comprising 3.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Curra exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 7.0%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 5.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.1%) and graduate diplomas (0.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 46.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas (9.6%) and certificates (37.0%).

Educational participation is high at 26.7%, including 11.7% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 2.1% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Curra faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 44% of Curra's total population (~1,148 people), compared to 52.5% in the rest of Queensland and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 12.1% and 11.4% of residents respectively. However, 57.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Curra has 22.5% of residents aged 65 and over (581 people), higher than the 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Curra's population shows low cultural diversity, with 85.3% born in Australia, 90.3% being citizens, and 97.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, practiced by 48.4%, compared to 52.2% regionally. The top ancestral groups are English (33.6%), Australian (31.1%), and Irish (7.7%).

Notably, Maori representation is higher than regional average at 0.9% vs 0.8%. German and Dutch ancestry also match the regional average at 4.7% and 1.6%, respectively.

Curra hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Curra has a median age of 45, which is higher than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and above the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent at 14.9%, while the 25-34 group is smaller at 9.6% compared to Rest of Qld. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national figure of 9.5%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.6% to 6.9%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 9.6% to 10.8%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 16.8% to 15.2%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 13.7% to 12.1%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Curra's age structure. The 75 to 84 group is expected to grow by 17 people, reaching 209 from 178. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 57% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 65 to 74 and 35 to 44 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.