Kooralbyn

Kooralbyn has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Kooralbyn's population is estimated at around 2,058 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 361 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,697. The change is inferred from AreaSearch estimates based on latest ERP data release by ABS in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. Kooralbyn's growth rate of 21.3% exceeded the national average of 9.9%. Interstate migration contributed approximately 87.0% of overall population gains. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. Population projections indicate an above median growth for the suburb, expecting an increase of 406 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 10.4% over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Kooralbyn averaged around 18 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 93 homes were approved, with a further 10 approved in FY-26. This averages to about 2 people moving to the area per new home constructed over these five years.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $370,000. In FY-26, $3.6 million in commercial approvals have been registered. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Kooralbyn has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person but ranks among the 93rd percentile nationally for building activity.

New building activity comprises 91.0% detached dwellings and 9.0% townhouses or apartments. With around 63 people per dwelling approval, Kooralbyn exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Population forecasts suggest Kooralbyn will gain approximately 214 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Kooralbyn has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

No factors influence an area's performance more than local infrastructure changes, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch identified zero projects likely impacting this area. Key projects are Bromelton State Development Area, Inland Rail - Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton (K2ARB), Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025, Cross River Rail Enhancement. Below 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 drivers in Kooralbyn are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Kooralbyn's workforce is balanced between white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent. The unemployment rate was 9.1% in September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 6.1%.

This is based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of the same date, 647 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 5.1% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Kooralbyn was significantly lower at 45.0%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. According to Census responses, 16.1% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries include retail trade, construction, and education & training. Retail trade is particularly strong with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 10.5% compared to Greater Brisbane's 16.1%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population count. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 6.1%, while labour force increased by 1.0%, reducing the unemployment rate by 4.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 3.8% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a 0.5 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate potential future demand within Kooralbyn. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Kooralbyn's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.2% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates that Kooralbyn's median income is $38,316 and average income is $45,964. This is below the national averages of $58,236 median and $72,799 average in Greater Brisbane. Assuming a 9.91% increase based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for Kooralbyn as of September 2025 would be approximately $42,113 (median) and $50,519 (average). Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Kooralbyn fall between the 2nd and 2nd percentiles nationally. Income brackets reveal that 31.9% of locals (656 people) earn between $400 - $799 weekly, contrasting with broader area patterns where $1,500 - $2,999 is dominant at 33.3%. This indicates a significant proportion of lower-income residents in Kooralbyn, with 41.2% earning less than $800 per week. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 3rd percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure in Kooralbyn, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 77.7% houses and 22.3% other dwellings including semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings. This compares to Brisbane metropolitan area's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kooralbyn stood at 41.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.5% and rented ones at 19.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Kooralbyn was recorded at $250, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Kooralbyn's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Kooralbyn features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 66.6% of all households, including 18.1% couples with children, 39.1% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for 33.4%, with lone person households at 29.9% and group households making up 2.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.7%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 44.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (32.6%). A total of 23.7% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, comprising 9.5% in primary, 7.7% in secondary, and 2.2% in tertiary education.

A substantial 23.7% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 9.5% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Kooralbyn is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Kooralbyn faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 45% of the total population (~934 people), compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (13.0%) and mental health issues (12.7%). Only 52.8% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, lower than the 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors at 30.8%, with 633 people aged 65 and over compared to 15.2% in Greater Brisbane. Senior health outcomes present additional challenges, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

Kooralbyn ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Kooralbyn, as per the census conducted on Tuesday 9 June 2020, showed lower cultural diversity with 76.7% of its population born in Australia and 87.0% being citizens. English was spoken at home by 95.1%. Christianity was the dominant religion, practiced by 48.7%, while Judaism, though small at 0.4%, was higher than Greater Brisbane's 0.1%.

Top ancestry groups were English (32.9%), Australian (26.8%), and Irish (9.3%). Notably, Hungarian (0.5%) French (0.8%) and Welsh (0.7%) groups were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.2%, 0.5% and 0.5% respectively.

Kooralbyn ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Kooralbyn has a median age of 53, which is higher than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 and significantly higher than the national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group makes up 19.3% of Kooralbyn's population, compared to Greater Brisbane's figure, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 4.2%. This concentration in the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.5%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75-84 age group has grown from 8.2% to 10.0% of Kooralbyn's population. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has declined from 5.9% to 4.2%, and the 35-44 group has dropped from 9.2% to 7.8%. By 2041, Kooralbyn is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 49% (100 people), reaching 306 from 205. This aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 73% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 0-4 age cohorts.