Glass House Mountains

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

As of November 2025, the estimated population of Glass House Mountains is around 6,235. This represents an increase of 634 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,601. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 6,133 residents as of June 2024, based on ABS ERP data, and an additional 167 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 86 persons per square kilometer. Glass House Mountains' 11.3% growth since the 2021 census exceeds both the non-metro area's 8.8% and the national average, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 52.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, Glass House Mountains is expected to grow by 958 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 14.0% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Glass House Mountains among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for Glass House Mountains shows around 42 residential properties granted approval per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 214 homes. By FY-26, four approvals have been recorded so far. The average number of new residents per year for every home built in the area between FY-21 and FY-25 is 3.1. This indicates significant demand outpacing supply, which typically puts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $350,000, under regional levels, suggesting more accessible housing choices for buyers. In FY-26, approximately $1.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating a predominantly residential focus. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Glass House Mountains shows around half the construction activity per person while placing among the 75th percentile of areas assessed nationally.

Recent construction comprises 93% standalone homes and 7% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 164 people per dwelling approval, Glass House Mountains shows characteristics of a growth area. The latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate projects Glass House Mountains to add 871 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

Five infrastructure projects may significantly affect a region's performance: Glass House Mountains Surf Park, Beerwah Station Upgrade, Australia Zoo, and Beerwah Marketplace Shopping Centre. AreaSearch has identified these five projects as potentially influential.

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AreaSearch assessment positions Glass House Mountains ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Glass House Mountains has a balanced workforce comprising white and blue collar jobs, with construction being notably prominent. The unemployment rate stands at 2.8%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, 3120 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.1% lower than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is similar to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key employment sectors include construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area specializes in construction, with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, retail trade employs only 8.0% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 10.0%. Local employment opportunities appear limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between Jun-24 and Jul-25, labour force decreased by 2.1%, employment declined by 0.8%, causing unemployment rate to fall by 1.3 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Qld, where employment rose by 1.8% and unemployment increased by 0.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's Sep-22 national employment forecasts project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Glass House Mountains' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022, Glass House Mountains had a median income among taxpayers of $49,936. The average income stood at $60,610 in this period. This is lower than national averages, with Rest of Qld having levels of $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates for median income would be approximately $56,922 as of September 2025. The average income estimate by this date is around $69,089. From the 2021 Census, household incomes rank modestly in Glass House Mountains, between the 36th and 49th percentiles. Income data shows that 35.7% of the population (2,225 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, similar to the surrounding region where 31.7% occupy this bracket. After housing expenses, 85.1% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Glass House Mountains is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

The dwelling structure in Glass House Mountains, as assessed at the latest Census, consisted of 98.3% houses and 1.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 93.2% houses and 6.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glass House Mountains was at 37.4%, similar to Non-Metro Qld, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (46.1%) or rented (16.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,820, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure was $400, matching Non-Metro Qld's figure. Nationally, Glass House Mountains' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Glass House Mountains features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 81.3% of all households, including 33.9% couples with children, 35.4% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 18.7%, with lone person households at 15.8% and group households comprising 3.3%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.6 people.

Glass House Mountains shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 16.3%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 45.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.9% and certificates at 33.9%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.6% in primary, 8.6% in secondary, and 3.4% in tertiary education. Glass House Mountains State School serves the area, enrolling 403 students. It offers primary education only, with secondary options available nearby. The school's ICSEA score is 993, indicating typical Australian school conditions. There are 6.5 school places per 100 residents in the area, below the regional average of 10.5. Some students may attend schools in adjacent areas due to this.

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

The Glass House Mountains have three operational public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 32 different routes that collectively facilitate 470 weekly passenger trips. The transport accessibility is evaluated as limited, with residents typically residing 1394 meters away from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 67 daily trips across all routes, equating to around 156 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Glass House Mountains is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Glass House Mountains faces significant health challenges.

Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is approximately 51% of the total population (~3,193 people), slightly lagging that of the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 9.5 and 8.9% of residents respectively. 64.9% of residents declare themselves as completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 66.4% across Rest of Qld. The area has 19.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,184 people), which is lower than the 20.1% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Glass House Mountains, surveyed in August 2016, had a population with 83.2% born in Australia, 89.3% being citizens, and 95.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 46.7%, compared to 44.6% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were English (33.2%), Australian (27.3%), and Scottish (8.8%).

Notably, Dutch (1.9%) and German (5.3%) were slightly overrepresented compared to regional averages of 1.6% and 5.0%, respectively. New Zealanders made up 1.1% of the population, slightly higher than the regional average of 1.0%.

Glass House Mountains hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Glass House Mountains is 41 years, which matches Rest of Queensland's average but is older than Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Queensland, Glass House Mountains has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (14.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.6%). According to the 2021 Census, the 35-44 age group increased from 12.8% to 14.1%, while the 65-74 cohort decreased from 12.0% to 10.5% and the 55-64 group dropped from 13.5% to 12.2%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Glass House Mountains' age structure. The 35-44 age group is expected to grow by 28%, reaching 1,124 people from 879. Conversely, the 55-64 and 15-24 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.