Idalia

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

As of Nov 2025, Idalia's population is estimated at around 4,890, reflecting a 7.2% increase since the 2021 Census which reported 4,563 people. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of ABS ERP data released Jun 2024, showing a resident population of 4,866. Idalia's population density is 1,442 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth exceeded the SA4 region average of 6.9%, driven primarily by interstate migration contributing approximately 46.0% of overall gains. All migration drivers including overseas and natural growth were positive factors. For projections, ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a 2022 base year is adopted for SA2 areas, while Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections based on 2021 data are used for non-covered areas post-2032.

Projections show an above median population growth for regional Australia, with Idalia expected to grow by 1,067 persons to 2041, reflecting a 21.4% increase over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Idalia had around 7 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 35 homes were approved, with another 7 in FY-26. On average, each home built over these years accommodated about 13.7 new residents.

This demand outpaces supply, potentially influencing prices and buyer competition. New properties are constructed at an average cost of $297,000, below the regional average, suggesting affordable housing options. In FY-26, there have been $4.1 million in commercial approvals, indicating Idalia's residential character. Compared to Rest of Qld, Idalia has significantly lower building activity, at 63.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity may strengthen demand and prices for existing properties.

New development consists mostly of detached dwellings (86.0%), with a smaller proportion of medium and high-density housing (14.0%), maintaining Idalia's traditional suburban character focused on family homes. With around 1214 people per approval, Idalia appears established and mature. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Idalia is projected to grow by 1,047 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Idalia has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Seven projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Wulguru Group Stuart Facility Expansion, Townsville Connection Road (Stuart Drive), University Road to Bowen Road Bridge (Idalia) Upgrade, Kirwan Health Campus Expansion, and GEON Build-to-Rent at Fairfield & Co.

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

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The exceptional employment performance in Idalia places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Idalia has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 1.0%, as per AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

As of June 2025, Idalia had 3,000 residents employed while its unemployment rate was 2.9% lower than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Idalia is high at 76.4%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Major employment sectors include health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training. Notably, public administration & safety has a strong presence with an employment share 3.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction has limited presence at 5.8%, compared to the regional average of 10.1%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population to resident population. Over the year ending June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.0% and employment declined by 2.2% in Idalia, causing unemployment to rise slightly. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.8%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Idalia's employment mix suggests local employment could grow by 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022, Idalia had a median income among taxpayers of $79,557. The average income stood at $93,581. This was among the highest in Australia, compared to levels of $50,780 and $64,844 across Rest of Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $90,687 (median) and $106,673 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Idalia, between the 91st and 93rd percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that the largest segment comprises 38.3% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (1,872 residents), aligning with the broader area where this cohort likewise represents 31.7%. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 39.1% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. Housing accounts for 13.6% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 91st percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Idalia, as per the latest Census, consisted of 79.9% houses and 20.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 81.3% houses and 18.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Idalia stood at 18.5%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (38.4%) or rented (43.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,920, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $400, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $305. Nationally, Idalia's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,920 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were also higher at $400 compared to the national figure of $375.

Idalia features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 75.4% of all households, including 37.6% couples with children, 28.2% couples without children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 24.6%, with lone person households at 17.4% and group households comprising 7.2%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in Idalia aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Idalia is notably high, with 34.8% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to 20.1% in the SA4 region and 20.6% in the Rest of Qld. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 24.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 32.6% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 11.0% and certificates at 21.6%. Educational participation is high, with 33.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.5% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 7.5% pursuing tertiary education. Oonoonba State School serves Idalia, with an enrollment of 515 students as of the latest data. The school's ICSEA score is 994, indicating typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities. It focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. There are 10.5 school places per 100 residents in Idalia, which is below the regional average of 16.7. Some students may attend schools in adjacent areas due to this discrepancy.

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

Idalia's public transport analysis shows nine active stops operating within the area, all of which are bus services. These stops are covered by three different routes that collectively facilitate 165 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as good, with residents typically located 357 meters from their nearest stop.

On average, service frequency across all routes amounts to 23 trips per day, equating to approximately 18 weekly trips per individual stop.

Idalia's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Health outcomes data shows exceptional results across Idalia, particularly among younger cohorts with low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 64% of Idalia's total population (3,143 people) has private health cover, compared to 53.3% in Rest of Qld and a national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 7.5% of residents and asthma impacting 6.3%.

A total of 76.4% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the 67.8% in Rest of Qld. Idalia has 8.4% of residents aged 65 and over (410 people), lower than the 14.9% in Rest of Qld.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Idalia was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Idalia's cultural diversity was found to be above average, with 20.1% of its population born overseas and 13.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the main religion in Idalia, comprising 54.0% of people. Hinduism showed notable overrepresentation in Idalia at 3.2%, compared to 0.8% across Rest of Qld.

The top three represented ancestry groups were English (27.8%), Australian (24.6%), and Irish (8.2%). Korean was notably overrepresented at 1.6% in Idalia, versus 0.2% regionally; Italian was also overrepresented at 5.5%, compared to 3.6%; Spanish showed minor overrepresentation at 0.6%.

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

Idalia's median age is 31 years, which is significantly younger than Rest of Qld's 41 and considerably younger than the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 19.4%, compared to Rest of Qld, while the 65-74 cohort is less prevalent at 5.2%. Between 2021 and present, Idalia's median age has decreased by 1 year to 31 from 32. During this period, the 25-34 age group grew from 16.7% to 19.4%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 15.5% to 17.0%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 13.9% to 11.6%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 15.1% to 13.8%. By 2041, Idalia's population is forecasted to see substantial demographic changes. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 41%, adding 386 residents to reach 1,335. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort shows minimal growth of just 3% (21 people).