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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Laidley Heights has an estimated 1,557 residents, up from 1,429 at the 2021 Census — a change of 128 people, or 9.0%. Growth has averaged 1.2% a year over five years. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 66.0% of that increase. Density is about 97 people per square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Demographic updates from the ABS alongside post-Census address validations tracked by AreaSearch place the population of the suburb of Laidley Heights at approximately 1,557 as of Aug 2026. Compared with the 2021 Census tally of 1,429 people, this represents an addition of 128 people (9.0%). This estimate builds upon an AreaSearch figure of 1,518 residents derived from the ABS June 2025 ERP release, combined with 3 validated new addresses recorded since the Census benchmark. The local population density stands at 96 persons per square kilometer, preserving generous open space and leaving capacity for future development.
Over the last decade, the suburb of Laidley Heights recorded consistent expansion with a compound annual growth rate of 1.7%, exceeding nationwide trends. Inbound interstate migration served as the primary growth engine, accounting for roughly 66.0% of recent population gains, with natural increase and overseas migration also making positive contributions. Projections compiled by AreaSearch incorporate the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia datasets using 2022 as their base year. For timeframes following 2032 or locations outside that scope, modelling adopts the Queensland State Government 2023 SA2 release based on 2021 numbers. Because state-level forecasts omit age-specific breakdowns, AreaSearch allocates proportional cohort shares guided by the ABS Greater Capital Region 2023 release (2022 base year). Under these aggregated SA2 projections, the suburb of Laidley Heights is positioned in the upper quartile of tracked statistical locations, with an expected increase of 402 persons to 2041, translating to an overall growth rate of 23.3% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
36 new dwellings have been approved in Laidley Heights over the past five years, an average of 7 a year. That is 5.8 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 9, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
ABS building approval statistics reviewed by AreaSearch show that Laidley Heights recorded an annual average of roughly 7 new residential dwelling approvals, reaching a combined total of 36 homes across the past 5 financial years. During FY-25 to date, 9 approvals have been logged. Between FY-21 and FY-25, the area added an average of 2.2 new residents per dwelling each year, demonstrating solid underlying demand that underpins local property values, with expected construction costs averaging $472,000 per home. Additionally, commercial development has shown significant momentum, registering $93.5 million in commercial approvals during the current financial year.
Per capita dwelling approval rates in Laidley Heights track at approximately two-thirds of the level seen in Greater Brisbane, placing the locality in the 67th percentile across all nationally evaluated markets. All recent residential activity has been confined to detached houses, preserving the neighborhood's low-density footprint and offering spacious homes targeted at families. The area currently records around 190 people per dwelling approval, highlighting an expanding housing market. Based on the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch, demographic projections anticipate that Laidley Heights will add 363 residents through to 2041. If residential construction continues at its existing pace, home building activity may lag behind population growth, which could intensify competition among purchasers and place upward pressure on values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Laidley Heights
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 4 current infrastructure and development projects close to Laidley Heights, worth an estimated $40 million. 2 are already under construction and 2 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, business parks & technology hubs and communities. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure investment and strategic capital works serve as vital catalysts for regional growth and property dynamics. Across the area, no major projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having a direct local impact. Key broader infrastructure initiatives include the Warrego Highway Upgrade Program, Water for Lockyer, Inland Rail - Queensland Sections, and Inland Rail - Gowrie to Kagaru (G2K), which represent the most relevant developments planned for the surrounding region.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Plainland Crossing
A master-planned residential and commercial community in Plainland, midway between Ipswich and Toowoomba on the Warrego Highway. The development delivers approximately 400 residential lots across multiple stages alongside an 11-hectare retail and commercial precinct now fully sold and occupied by national retailers including Bunnings, Aldi, and Woolworths. Commenced in 2015, the estate offers a range of lot sizes with underground power, NBN, and sewer connections, and includes multiple landscaped parks.
The Range View Estate
Acreage development offering vast plots of land for rural lifestyle. Focus on sustainable living, green spaces, and thoughtful infrastructure.
Plainland Crossing - Endeavour Way Industrial Development
Industrial and bulky goods precinct within the Plainland Crossing town centre. The final release of commercial lots is actively being developed and marketed for showrooms, bulky goods, and warehousing. Fully serviced commercial lots with direct access to Warrego Highway via Gehrke Road. National retailers including Bunnings and Aldi are already established nearby.
Ebenezer Regional Industrial Area
A future major industrial and employment hub for South East Queensland. The project includes the delivery of catalytic trunk infrastructure and a proposed Ebenezer Intermodal Terminal to support the Inland Rail project.
695 residents of Laidley Heights are employed, from a labour force of 721. Unemployment sits at 3.6%, with participation at 57.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,252, about 80% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labor market in Laidley Heights displays a balanced mix of blue-collar and white-collar roles across multiple sectors, featuring an unemployment rate of only 3.6% alongside an estimated 9.8% expansion in employment over the preceding year according to AreaSearch statistical aggregations. As of March 2026695 residents are employed. The jobless rate sits 0.7% under the 4.3% recorded for Greater Brisbane, although labor force participation is noticeably lower at 57.0% versus 70.1% across Greater Brisbane. Census records indicate that 10.7% of local workers operated from home, a figure influenced by prevailing Covid-19 restrictions at the time.
Local employment is predominantly concentrated in transport, postal & warehousing, retail trade, and health care & social assistance. Workforce concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing is especially marked, registering 9.6 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, professional & technical roles are comparatively sparse, engaging only 4.0% of workers in Laidley Heights relative to 8.9% throughout Greater Brisbane. Comparing resident workers against jobs located within the area indicates that internal local employment options remain limited. SALM and ABS data examined by AreaSearch across broader statistical boundaries indicates that in the 12 months to March 2026, local employment grew by 9.8% while the labor pool expanded by 8.6%, driving a 1.1 percentage points reduction in unemployment. In comparison, Greater Brisbane posted a 3.2% rise in employment and a 3.4% increase in the labor force, with unemployment rising by 0.1 percentage points. National forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide further context for future employment across Laidley Heights. Nationally, employment is projected to climb 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trajectories vary widely across individual industries. Aligning these sector projections with the local industry profile indicates employment in Laidley Heights could expand by 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years (a basic weighted projection shown for illustration that excludes local demographic forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Laidley Heights is $1,469 a week (about $76,000 a year), with median personal income at $596 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $46,011 a year against an average of $52,500. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to AreaSearch ATO figures at the postcode level for financial year 2023, earnings in the suburb of Laidley Heights trail national benchmarks, recording a median income of $46,011 and an average income of $52,500. By comparison, Greater Brisbane generated a median income of $58,236 and an average income of $72,799. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of roughly $51,238 (median) and $58,464 (average) as of March 2026. Individual earnings place in the 11th percentile ($596 weekly) based on Census reporting, while household earnings sit higher in the 33rd percentile.
The primary income bracket covers 37.6% of residents (585 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, which aligns closely with the 33.3% regional share. While disposable income falls into the lower 37th percentile, overall housing costs remain manageable, with residents retaining 87.0% of their earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Laidley Heights had 510 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 99% detached houses and 0% apartments. 51% are owned with a mortgage, 9% rented and 40% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $345 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,365 a month. Rent absorbs 23.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential stock in Laidley Heights at the latest Census consisted of 99.4% houses and 0.6% other dwellings (incorporating apartments, semi-detached properties, and 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Brisbane metro where houses accounted for 73.5% and other dwellings made up 26.5%. Outright home ownership stood substantially higher than the Brisbane metro benchmark, reaching 40.0%, while the remaining properties were either held with a mortgage (50.7%) or occupied by tenants (9.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment of $1,365 was noticeably lower than the Brisbane metro figure of $1,863, and the median weekly rent of $345 sat below the metropolitan standard of $380.
Compared nationally, local mortgage commitments are well below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents compare favorably against the nationwide benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Laidley Heights counted 510 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 556 today, averaging 2.7 people each. 30% are couples with children, against 37% couples without children. 18% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Households in the area are overwhelmingly family-based, comprising 78.8% of all residences. Among these, couples without children represent 36.8%, couples with children make up 29.6%, and single parent families account for 11.3%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 21.2%, made up of lone person households at 18.1% and group households at 3.1%. The area registers a median household size of 2.7 people, slightly exceeding the Greater Brisbane benchmark of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
10.8% of adults in Laidley Heights hold a university qualification, including 8.2% with a bachelor degree and 1.6% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 30.9% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Tertiary attainment levels present an area for targeted improvement, as university qualification rates in the locality stand at 10.8%, substantially below the Greater Brisbane benchmark of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees account for the largest proportion at 8.2%, with postgraduate qualifications representing 1.6% and graduate diplomas comprising 1.0%. In contrast, vocational and technical qualifications are widespread, with 42.5% of the population aged 15+ possessing trade credentials, consisting of 30.9% holding certificates and 11.6% holding advanced diplomas. A significant share of the community is engaged in study, with 26.5% of residents currently undertaking formal education.
Among those enrolled, 10.9% attend primary education, 9.1% are in secondary education, and 2.8% are enrolled in tertiary education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Laidley Heights means driving: households keep an average of 2.0 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
55.4% of residents in Laidley Heights report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 89% of areas nationally. 8.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 48.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
An examination of mortality statistics and chronic disease rates by AreaSearch points to notable health headwinds in Laidley Heights, with widespread medical conditions observed across both younger and older cohorts. Uptake of private health insurance is low, covering approximately 48% of residents (~747 people), compared against 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and a nationwide benchmark of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions represent the most prevalent diagnoses locally, affecting 13.7% and 9.6% of the population, while 55.4% of residents reported having no medical conditions compared to 69.2% throughout Greater Brisbane. Working-age residents experience elevated rates of chronic illness.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 22.8% of the community (354 people), exceeding the 15.0% proportion in Greater Brisbane, with senior health metrics tracking broadly in line with overall national distributions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Laidley Heights is largely Australian-born, at 85.0% of residents, with 4.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (30.3%) and Australian (29.6%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics show Laidley Heights sitting below broader averages, with Australian-born residents accounting for 85.0% of the community, Australian citizens making up 90.3%, and 95.8% speaking exclusively English at home. Christianity forms the dominant religious faith, representing 56.4% of the population in Laidley Heights compared with 47.8% recorded across Greater Brisbane. Looking at parent country of birth, the three most common ancestries in Laidley Heights are English at 30.3%, Australian at 29.6% (well above the 23.2% regional average), and Irish at 9.4%. Other ancestral backgrounds show distinctive local representations, with German ancestry notably elevated at 9.2% (against 4.2% regionally), Dutch at 1.7% (compared to 1.2%), and Russian at 0.4% (versus 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Laidley Heights is 46, older than 82% of areas nationally. 19.5% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age distribution in Laidley Heights reflects a mature family and retirement demographic. Based on estimates updated to August 2026, seniors and retirees aged 65+ make up 22.8% of the community compared to 15.0% across Greater Brisbane, while younger to mid-life adults aged 25 - 44 represent 20.3% against a regional benchmark of 30.6%. The median age is estimated at 46 as at August 2026, remaining level with the 2021 Census outcome and sitting 10 years above the Greater Brisbane median of 36 recorded at that Census, as well as higher than the national median of 38 at that Census.
By 2041, senior cohorts are projected to drive local growth, adding 184 residents (52%) to total 539.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Laidley Heights
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 3 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,429 at the 2021 Census → 1,557 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL31608). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.