Glenella

An assessment of population growth drivers in Glenella reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

The population of Glenella is estimated at 4,643 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 98 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,545. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population being 4,587 following examination of ABS data released in June 2024 and validation of three new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 417 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed approximately 39.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors.

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, with proportional growth weightings applied where necessary. Considering projected demographic shifts, the suburb of Glenella is expected to increase by 920 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 22.3% over the 17 years.

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

Glenella has seen minimal development activity over the past five years, with an average of less than one approval per year. This totals two approvals in total during this period. Such low levels are typical in rural areas where housing demands are modest and construction activity is constrained by local demand and infrastructure capacity.

It should be noted that yearly growth figures and relativities can fluctuate significantly due to the small number of approvals. Glenella's development levels are notably lower than those of the rest of Queensland. This trend is also reflected on a national scale, with activity levels below the national average.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified twelve projects expected to influence the region. Notable initiatives include Mackay Port Access Bruce Highway to Mackay Slade Point Road Stage 1, Magpies Sporting Club Redevelopment, Mackay Educational Precinct, and Mackay Ring Road - Stage Two. The following list details those most relevant.

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.

Employment conditions in Glenella rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Glenella has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 1.1% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.6%.

Glenella's unemployment rate is 2.9% below Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%, with workforce participation at 75.8% compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, 6.0% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, mining, and retail trade. Mining employs a high proportion of local workers, with an employment share of 3.3 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 1.3%.

Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.6% and labour force increased by 4.6%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment rise by 1.7%, the labour force grow by 2.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Glenella. Over five years, national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% and over ten years by 13.7%. Applying these projections to Glenella's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 13.1% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Glenella had a median income among taxpayers of $62,449. The average income stood at $78,127. This is above the national average and compares to levels of $53,146 and $66,593 across Rest of Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year ended June 2023, current estimates for Glenella would be approximately $68,638 (median) and $85,869 (average) as of September 2025. According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family and personal incomes in Glenella rank highly nationally, between the 77th and 91st percentiles. Income brackets indicate that 31.8% of locals (1,476 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 weekly category. A substantial presence of higher earners is noted, with 41.5% exceeding $3,000 weekly. After housing costs, residents retain 88.2% of their income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

In Glenella, as per the latest Census evaluation, 95.4% of dwellings were houses, with 4.7% being other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, or 'other' dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro Qld's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glenella stood at 32.5%, similar to Non-Metro Qld's rate. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (46.3%) or rented (21.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,904, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure for Glenella was recorded at $450, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345 and the national average of $375. Nationally, Glenella's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863.

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

Family households account for 84.3% of all households, including 43.4% couples with children, 30.6% couples without children, and 9.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 15.7%, with lone person households at 13.2% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

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

Educational qualifications in Glenella trail behind national averages. 21.6% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 39.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 9.6% and certificates at 29.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.9% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes secondary education (11.6%), primary education (10.9%), and tertiary education (3.2%).

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

Glenella has seven active public transport stops, all of which operate buses. These stops are served by one route collectively offering 59 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 376 meters from the nearest stop. Glenella, being primarily residential, sees most residents commuting outward; cars remain the dominant mode at 95%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.9, higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages eight trips per day across all routes, equating to about eight weekly trips per individual stop.

Glenella's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Glenella's health data shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions. Common health issues are seen across all age groups, with asthma and arthritis being the most prevalent at 6.9% and 6.6%, respectively.

Approximately 72.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Rest of Qld. Private health cover is high, at around 58% (about 2,700 people), compared to the state average of 52.5%. The under-65 population has better than average health outcomes. Glenella has a lower proportion of residents aged 65 and over, at 13.5% (626 people), compared to Rest of Qld's 20.4%, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Glenella records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Glenella's cultural diversity aligns with its regional average, with 87.9% citizens, 81.7% born in Australia, and 88.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Glenella at 61.5%, compared to 52.2% regionally. The top three ancestry groups are English (27.2%), Australian (26.3%), and Scottish (7.8%).

Notably, Maltese (2.8%) South African (1.3%) and German (4.9%) populations in Glenella differ from regional averages of 0.4%, 0.5% and 4.7% respectively.

Glenella's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Glenella is 38 years, slightly below Rest of Qld's average of 41 but in line with Australia's median age of 38 years. The age group of 45-54 has a strong representation at 15.3%, compared to Rest of Qld, while the 65-74 cohort is less prevalent at 6.7%. Post-Census data from 2021 shows that the 15 to 24 age group increased from 12.9% to 14.6%, and the 25 to 34 cohort rose from 9.1% to 10.5%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group decreased from 15.3% to 13.3%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 16.7% to 15.3%. Population forecasts for Glenella indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 35 to 44 age group is projected to grow by 28%, adding 198 people, reaching a total of 900 from the current figure of 701. In contrast, the 15 to 24 cohort shows minimal growth of just 1%, with an increase of only 5 people.