Dalby

Dalby 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 ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the population of Dalby is estimated at around 13,467 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 709 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,758. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 13,358 residents following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2025 and 130 additional validated new addresses since the Census date. Dalby's growth rate of 5.6% exceeded both its SA4 region (5.0%) and SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. 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 released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Looking ahead, lower quartile growth is anticipated for locations outside capital cities. The suburb of Dalby is expected to increase by 299 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 1.4% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Dalby according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, shows Dalby has seen around 16 new homes approved each year. Approximately 83 homes were approved over the past five financial years, between FY21 and FY25, with an additional 13 approved so far in FY26. On average, each dwelling is estimated to bring in three new residents per year over these five financial years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average construction cost of $450,000. This financial year has seen $6.4 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited focus on commercial development. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Dalby has significantly less development activity, 53.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established properties, also reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints when compared nationally. Recent development has been entirely comprised of standalone homes, preserving Dalby's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers.

The estimated count of 856 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment. Future projections show Dalby adding 190 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Seven projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly. These include Within Energy's Dalby Geothermal Project (EPG 2031), Dalby Cultural Centre, Dalby Water Supply Upgrade - Treatment Development, and ALDI Dalby Store. The following list details those likely to have the most relevance.

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.

AreaSearch analysis indicates Dalby maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Dalby has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate is 4.0%, with an estimated employment growth of 4.4% over the past year (AreaSearch aggregation). As of December 2025, there are 6,958 residents employed, with an unemployment rate matching Regional Qld's 4.0%.

Workforce participation is 69.0%, slightly higher than Regional Qld's 64.5%. Only 5.4% of residents work from home (Census responses). Major employment industries include retail trade, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Dalby specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 12.1% compared to Regional Qld's 16.1%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 4.4%, labour force by 6.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment by 1.6 percentage points (AreaSearch analysis). In contrast, Regional Qld saw employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%, with an unemployment rise of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate overall employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Dalby's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Dalby had a median income among taxpayers of $49,950. The average income stood at $58,074 in this period. This is below the national average. In comparison, Regional Qld had levels of $53,146 for median and $66,593 for average incomes. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $55,624 (median) and $64,671 (average) as of March 2026. Census data reveals that household, family and personal incomes in Dalby rank modestly, between the 33rd and 39th percentiles. Income brackets indicate that the largest segment comprises 33.9% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (4,565 residents), which is consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 31.7% in the same category. After housing expenses, 86.5% of income remains for other expenses.

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

The dwelling structure in Dalby, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.3% houses and 8.7% other dwellings. Compared to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings, this shows a higher proportion of houses in Dalby. Home ownership in Dalby was at 29.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.9% and rented ones at 35.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,300, lower than Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure in Dalby was recorded at $260, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Dalby's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 71.3% of all households, including 29.4% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 13.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.7%, with lone person households at 25.7% and group households making up 3.1%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Dalby fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 13.7%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.7%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.7%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (32.3%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.9% in primary education, 10.1% in secondary education, and 2.5% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Dalby. AreaSearch's assessment shows notable prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age groups. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~6,763 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.0 and 9.9% of residents respectively. However, 64.4% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Regional Qld. The working-age population faces significant health challenges with higher chronic condition rates. Dalby has 16.6% of residents aged 65 and over (2,235 people), lower than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Dalby's population shows low cultural diversity, with 89.6% being citizens, 91.4% born in Australia, and 94.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 65.5%, compared to 52.2% regionally. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (31.8%), English (29.1%), and Irish (8.2%).

Notably, German ancestry is higher in Dalby at 7.3% than the regional average of 4.7%. Australian Aboriginal ancestry is also higher at 6.3%, compared to 3.9% regionally, as is Filipino ancestry at 1.9%, versus 0.9% regionally.

Dalby's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in Dalby is 35 years, which is lower than Regional Queensland's average of 41 years and the national average of 38 years. The percentage of people aged 5-14 in Dalby is notably higher at 14.6% compared to Regional Queensland's average. Conversely, the percentage of people aged 65-74 is lower at 8.9%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the percentage of people aged 75-84 has grown from 4.8% to 5.8%, while the percentage of those aged 45-54 has declined from 12.7% to 11.1%. The percentage of people aged 5-14 has also decreased, from 16.1% to 14.6%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Dalby. Notably, the age group 25-34 is projected to grow by 12%, reaching 2,028 people from 1,804. However, both the 45-54 and 55-64 age groups are expected to see a reduction in numbers.