Hodgson Vale

Population growth drivers in Hodgson Vale are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of November 2025, the estimated population for the Hodgson Vale statistical area (Lv2) is around 1,561. This figure reflects an increase of 117 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,444. The latest estimate is inferred from AreaSearch's validation of resident population data, based on ERP figures released by the ABS in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 59 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Hodgson Vale (SA2) has exhibited resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 2.5%, outperforming its corresponding SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed significantly to this growth, accounting for nearly 57% of overall population gains during recent periods.

However, all drivers including natural growth and overseas migration were positive factors. AreaSearch's projections for the Hodgson Vale (SA2) are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia figures 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 from 2023, based on 2021 data, are adopted. Where state projections lack age category splits, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, using 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population trends suggest an above median growth for regional areas nationally. According to aggregated SA2-level projections, Hodgson Vale (SA2) is expected to grow by 234 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of approximately 17.5% over the 17-year period.

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

Hodgson Vale has seen very limited development activity, averaging one approval per year over the five-year period from 2017 to 2021. This resulted in a total of seven dwellings approved during this time. The low development levels are typical of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is constrained by local demand and infrastructure capacity.

It should be noted that with such low approval numbers, yearly growth figures and relativities can vary significantly based on individual projects. Hodgson Vale has substantially lower development levels compared to the rest of Queensland and is also below national averages. Recent development in the area has been exclusively detached houses, catering primarily to families seeking a rural lifestyle and more space. The estimated population density per dwelling approval is 1053 people, reflecting the quiet and low-activity development environment.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Hodgson Vale is projected to add 273 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth in the future.

Hodgson Vale 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 has identified two projects expected to influence the region. Notable projects include Herries Range Wind Farm, Gainsborough Lodge, Clifford Park Special School - Relocation of Denise Kable Centre, and Inland Rail - Gowrie to Kagaru (G2K), with the following list focusing on those most pertinent.

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 of employment trends sees Hodgson Vale performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Hodgson Vale has a well-educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 0.8% as of September 2025.

This is lower than the Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 5.0%, based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025974 residents were in work. The workforce participation rate was 72.5%, higher than Rest of Qld's 59.1%.

Dominant employment sectors among residents include education & training, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area has a particular specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level. Health care & social assistance had limited presence at 13.6% compared to the regional level of 16.1%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 5.0% and labour force grew by 4.8%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.7%, labour force expand by 2.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data as of 25-Nov-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01% (losing 1,210 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Hodgson Vale's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

The suburb of Hodgson Vale has an income level above the national average, according to the latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Hodgson Vale is $59,419, with an average income of $70,689. These figures compare to those for Rest of Qld, which are $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on a 9.91% growth in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, current estimates suggest approximately $65,307 (median) and $77,694 (average) as of September 2025. The Census 2021 income data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Hodgson Vale all rank highly nationally, between the 78th and 93rd percentiles. The distribution data shows that the largest segment comprises 34.9% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (544 residents), which is consistent with broader trends across the region showing 31.7% in the same category. Notably, a significant 37.6% earn above $3,000 weekly, reflecting pockets of prosperity that drive robust local economic activity. After housing costs, residents retain 88.9% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Hodgson Vale's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, were entirely houses with no other dwellings such as semi-detached homes or apartments. This contrasts with Non-Metro Qld's mix of 81.4% houses and 18.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hodgson Vale stood at 40.1%, higher than Non-Metro Qld, with mortgaged properties at 54.3% and rented ones at 5.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, exceeding the Non-Metro Qld average of $1,517. The median weekly rent in Hodgson Vale was $365, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $310. Nationally, Hodgson Vale's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 91.3% of all households, including 52.0% couples with children, 33.3% couples without children, and 4.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 8.7%, with lone person households at 6.7% and group households making up 1.8%. The median household size is 3.1 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational achievement in Hodgson Vale places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 27.4% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Rest of Qld average of 20.6%. This rate also exceeds that of the SA3 area (23.1%). Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 20.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%).

Vocational credentials are prominent, with 36.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas comprise 11.3% and certificates make up 25.0%. Educational participation is high at 33.4%, including 12.5% in primary education, 12.3% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Hodgson Vale's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Hodgson Vale. Both young and old age cohorts have a low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population, which amounts to about 861 people. This compares to 51.5% across Rest of Qld. The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and arthritis, impacting 8.9 and 7.5% of residents respectively, while 72.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 65.3% across Rest of Qld. Hodgson Vale has 14.3% of residents aged 65 and over, which totals 223 people, lower than the 18.8% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Hodgson Vale's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 90.4% of its population born in Australia, 95.0% being citizens, and 96.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Hodgson Vale, comprising 73.2%, compared to 58.8% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups are English (29.7%), Australian (28.5%), and Irish (11.4%).

Notably, Welsh (1.0%) is overrepresented in Hodgson Vale compared to the regional average of 0.4%. Similarly, German (7.8%) and Scottish (9.9%) groups are also relatively more represented than their respective regional averages of 8.0% and 7.9%.

Hodgson Vale's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Hodgson Vale is 39 years, which is lower than Rest of Qld's average of 41 but close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 45-54 are prominent at 16.3%, while the 25-34 group is smaller at 7.9% compared to Rest of Qld. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 14.0% to 15.0%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 16.9% to 14.7%, and the 55-64 group has dropped from 14.0% to 12.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that the 35-44 age cohort is expected to increase by 63 people (27%) from 234 to 298. Meanwhile, the 15-24 group is projected to decrease by 19 residents.