Malanda

Malanda is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of Nov 2025, Malanda's population is estimated at around 1,955, a decrease of 45 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 2,000. This decrease is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 1,908 based on ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and additional 39 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 44 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Malanda has shown resilient growth with a compound annual growth rate of 1.2%, outpacing its SA3 area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 79.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, using 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, with proportional growth weightings applied for age cohorts lacking category splits. Looking ahead, demographic trends suggest a population increase just below the median of regional areas nationally by 2041, with Malanda expected to grow by 179 persons reflecting an increase of 11.8% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Malanda recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Malanda had approximately 7 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY21-FY25, about 37 homes were approved, with 3 more in FY26 so far. Each year, around 4 people moved to the area for each new dwelling built over these years.

This high demand outpaces supply, potentially driving up prices and increasing buyer competition. New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $465,000, aligning with broader regional development. In FY26, $718,000 in commercial approvals were recorded, indicating a predominantly residential focus.

Compared to the rest of Qld, Malanda has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 49th percentile nationally for area assessed, suggesting limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing properties. Recent development comprised entirely detached dwellings, maintaining Malanda's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes. With around 331 people per dwelling approval, Malanda exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Malanda is projected to grow by 231 residents through to 2041. Development pace keeps up with projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as population expands.

Malanda has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 15thth percentile nationally

No infrastructure changes identified by AreaSearch will affect the area. Key projects include North Queensland Super Hub, North and Far North Queensland REZs, Queensland National Land Transport Network Maintenance, and Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan SuperGrid.

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The employment landscape in Malanda presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.9%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Malanda has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 3.9%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025859 residents are employed, mirroring Rest of Qld's 3.9% unemployment rate. However, workforce participation lags at 49.4%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Notably, agriculture, forestry & fishing has a significant presence with an employment share 2.3 times the regional level, while construction's presence is limited at 6.1% compared to regionally at 10.1%.

Local employment opportunities appear limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Over the year to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.1%, with a 3.4% employment decline, causing unemployment rate to rise by 1.3 percentage points. Conversely, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.8%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 provide insight into potential future demand in Malanda. These projections suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Malanda's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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 2022 shows that Malanda's median income is $38,320 and average income is $48,732. This is below the national average. Rest of Qld has a median income of $50,780 and an average income of $64,844. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth suggest Malanda's median income will be approximately $43,681 and average income $55,550. Census data indicates that incomes in Malanda fall between the 8th and 11th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. In Malanda, 29.1% of individuals earn between $400 - $799, compared to the region's leading bracket of $1,500 - $2,999 at 31.7%. After housing costs, 85.9% of income remains in Malanda, ranking at the 11th percentile nationally.

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

In Malanda, as per the latest Census evaluation, 92.1% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 7.9% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This is similar to Non-Metro Qld's composition of 91.0% houses and 9.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Malanda stood at 42.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.5% and rented ones at 29.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in Malanda was $250, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $270. Nationally, Malanda's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 67.6% of all households, including 21.7% couples with children, 32.0% couples without children, and 13.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 32.4%, with lone person households at 29.9% and group households comprising 2.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.4.

Malanda shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 17.7%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 44.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.0%) and certificates (32.6%). Educational participation is high at 28.8%, with 12.4% in primary, 10.3% in secondary, and 2.4% in tertiary education.

The area has two schools serving 966 students: Malanda State School and Malanda State High School. It functions as an education hub with 49.4 school places per 100 residents, higher than the regional average of 16.8, attracting students from surrounding communities.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Health data shows significant challenges in Malanda. Common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 47% of the total population (~909 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.2 and 9.0% of residents respectively. 62.7% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 67.5% in the Rest of Qld. Malanda has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 29.0% (566 people), compared to 25.1% in the Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Malanda's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 88.5% of its population being citizens, 86.5% born in Australia, and 95.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Malanda, comprising 51.2% of people, compared to 52.6% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (30.8%), English (28.1%), and Irish (9.6%).

Notably, German ancestry is overrepresented at 4.8%, compared to 4.3% regionally, New Zealand at 0.9% versus 0.6%, and Maori at 0.8% compared to 0.3%.

Malanda ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Malanda's median age is 50 years, which is notably older than Rest of Qld's 41 and significantly higher than Australia's median of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent at 14.3%, while the 25-34 group is relatively smaller at 6.9% compared to Rest of Qld. Post-2021 Census data reveals that the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 8.4% to 10.1%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has decreased from 15.7% to 14.3%, and the 55 to 64 group has dropped from 15.1% to 13.9%. Demographic modeling suggests that Malanda's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 85+ age cohort projected to expand considerably, adding 83 people (an increase of 89%) from 93 to 177. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 59% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 group is expected to decrease by 9 residents.