Gracemere

Gracemere lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of November 2025, Gracemere's population is estimated at around 12,876 based on ABS population updates and new addresses validated by AreaSearch. This reflects an increase of 853 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,023. The change is inferred from the resident population of 12,806 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 64 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 183 persons per square kilometer. Gracemere's growth rate of 7.1% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (6.6%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 70.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and interstate migration were positive factors.

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 released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data are applied where utilised. Demographic trends project an above median population growth for regional areas, with Gracemere expected to increase by 3,044 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 23.1% in total over the 17 years.

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

Gracemere has seen approximately 27 dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS data. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 135 homes were approved, with a further 3 approved in FY-26. Each year, an average of 5.8 people have moved to the area per dwelling built over these five financial years.

This substantial lag between supply and demand has resulted in heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $341,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options. In FY-26, there have been $5.4 million in commercial approvals, indicating the area's residential character. Comparatively, Gracemere has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person when measured against the Rest of Qld.

Nationally, it ranks among the 37th percentile of areas assessed, leading to relatively constrained buyer choice and interest in existing dwellings. This lower activity reflects market maturity and possible development constraints. New building activity is predominantly detached houses at 87.0%, with medium and high-density housing making up the remaining 13.0%. This maintains the area's traditional low density character, appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval in Gracemere is 446 people. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is forecasted to gain 2,976 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match this population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Gracemere has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Area infrastructure changes greatly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified 16 potential impact projects. Key ones are Gracemere State High School, Gracemere Residential Housing Estates, Central Queensland Livestock Exchange Upgrade, and Gracemere Shoppingworld Expansion. Below is a list of those likely most relevant.

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

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The employment landscape in Gracemere shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Gracemere has a balanced workforce comprising white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well-represented with an unemployment rate of 5.6% as of June 2025.

This rate is 1.7% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. The employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.4%. Workforce participation in Gracemere stands at 64.4%, exceeding Rest of Qld's rate of 59.1%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and transport, postal & warehousing.

The area specializes significantly in mining, with an employment share 2.3 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has a lower representation at 1.5% compared to the regional average of 4.5%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 4.4%, labour force grew by 5.3%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.8% and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points during the same period. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (Sep-22) project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Gracemere's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Gracemere is $53,803 and average income is $64,339. This contrasts with Rest of Qld's median income of $50,780 and average income of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $61,330 (median) and $73,340 (average). Census 2021 income data shows Gracemere's household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly between the 44th and 47th percentiles. Income brackets indicate that 38.5% of Gracemere residents earn between $1,500 - 2,999 annually (4,957 individuals), similar to metropolitan regions where this cohort represents 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Gracemere, with only 84.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 49th percentile.

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

Gracemere's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.1% houses and 3.8% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gracemere was 23.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 36.7% and rented ones at 40.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, aligning with Non-Metro Qld's average. The median weekly rent was $340, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $300. Nationally, Gracemere's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,517 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $340 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 77.8% of all households, including 34.0% couples with children, 25.5% couples without children, and 17.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 22.2%, with lone person households at 19.2% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which exceeds the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Gracemere faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 10.9%, significantly below the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 8.4%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.3%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.2%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (34.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 34.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.4% in primary education, 10.0% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education. Gracemere's three schools have a combined enrollment of 984 students as of the latest data point, while the area has varied educational conditions (ICSEA: 915). The three schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Limited local school capacity (7.6 places per 100 residents vs 17.6 regionally) means many families travel to nearby areas for schooling.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Gracemere is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Gracemere faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across age cohorts, notably higher among older residents.

Private health cover stands at approximately 53%, impacting around 6,785 people. The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 10.0% and 9.7% of residents respectively. About 66.2% report no medical ailments, compared to 64.7% in Rest of Qld. As of 2016, 12.5% of Gracemere's population is aged 65 and over (1,609 people), lower than the 18.5% state average. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to specific challenges faced by this age group.

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

Gracemere's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 89.9% of its population being Australian citizens and 91.6% having been born in Australia. Additionally, 95.7% spoke English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Gracemere, accounting for 51.1% of the population, compared to 56.3% across the rest of Queensland.

The top three ancestry groups were Australian (33.6%), English (28.9%), and Australian Aboriginal (7.5%). Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented in Gracemere at 5.1%, compared to 4.9% regionally, while Maori ancestry stood at 0.7% (vs 0.5%) and New Zealand ancestry at 0.7% (vs 0.6%).

Gracemere hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Gracemere's median age is 32 years, which is lower than the Rest of Qld average of 41 and substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Rest of Qld, Gracemere has a higher concentration of 5-14 year-olds at 16.0%, but fewer 55-64 year-olds at 8.7%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 15-24 age group has grown from 12.9% to 14.0% of the population. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 17.9% to 16.0%, and the 55-64 group has dropped from 10.2% to 8.7%. Demographic modeling suggests Gracemere's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 42%, adding 803 residents to reach 2,735. Meanwhile, the 55-64 group is expected to decrease by 8 residents.