Manunda

An assessment of population growth drivers in Manunda reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the population of Manunda is estimated at around 5,529 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 338 people (6.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,191 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 5,479, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 22 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,276 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Manunda's 6.5% growth since census positions it within 1.7 percentage points of the SA3 area (8.2%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 72.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. Considering the projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase in the top quartile of national regional areas is forecast, with Manunda expected to grow by 1,593 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 27.9% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Manunda is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Manunda has averaged around 4 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 24 homes were approved, with 1 more approved so far in FY-26. The population has fallen during this period, suggesting that new supply has likely kept up with demand, offering good choice to buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $528,000, indicating a developer focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY-26, there have been $13.3 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Rest of Qld, Manunda shows substantially reduced construction, being 75.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties, although recent development activity has picked up. This is also under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations.

Recent building activity consists entirely of detached houses, preserving the area's suburban nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. Developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (39.0% at Census), reflecting persistent strong demand for family homes amid densification trends. The location has approximately 520 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Manunda is expected to grow by 1,543 residents through to 2041. Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Manunda has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 36 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Stan Williams Park Upgrades, 164 & 172 Hoare Street development, and 10-30 Pease Street Residential Development, Cairns Chinese Culture and Heritage Centre, Raintrees Shopping Centre Redevelopment. The following list 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 conditions in Manunda face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Manunda has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 10.5%, based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 2,528 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 6.4% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation in Manunda stands at 61.0%, lower than Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, only 10.6% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade. The area has a notable concentration in accommodation & food, with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, with only 1.3% of residents employed compared to 4.5% regionally. There are substantial local employment opportunities, indicated by a worker-to-resident ratio of 0.8. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 1.9%, while employment dropped by 5.7%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 3.6 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with unemployment rising by only 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Manunda's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localized population projections.

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

The median taxpayer income in Manunda is $40,412 and the average is $50,261 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. These figures are below the national averages of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated median income is approximately $44,417 and average income is around $55,242 as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Manunda fall between the 5th and 19th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The earnings profile shows that 29.5% of residents earn between $800 and $1,499 annually (1,631 individuals), which differs from the surrounding region where the dominant income band is $1,500 to $2,999 at 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Manunda, with only 80.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 5th percentile nationally.

Manunda features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Manunda's dwelling structure, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 38.8% houses and 61.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Manunda stood at 21.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 21.9% and rented ones at 57.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent in Manunda was $259, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Manunda's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,300 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 51.6% of all households, including 15.0% couples with children, 18.8% couples without children, and 16.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 48.4%, with lone person households making up 43.0% and group households comprising 5.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Manunda faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area has university qualification rates of 18.2%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (30.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.2% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 22 active transport stops in Manunda, served by a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by five individual routes, offering a total of 640 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 252 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode at 86%, with 3% cycling. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 10.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 91 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 29 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Manunda is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Manunda faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is low at approximately 47% of the total population (~2,605 people), compared to 52.5% in Rest of Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (8.9%) and arthritis (7.5%), while 69.9% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. The area has 16.3% of residents aged 65 and over (901 people), lower than the 20.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings higher than those for the general population.

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

Manunda was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 30.4% of its population born overseas and 23.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion in Manunda is Christianity, comprising 47.7% of the population. However, the most notable overrepresentation was in the 'Other' category, making up 2.5% of the population compared to 0.8% across the rest of Queensland.

Regarding ancestry, the top three represented groups in Manunda are English at 21.9%, Other at 20.9%, and Australian at 18.5%. These figures differ significantly from regional averages: English is notably lower (29.6%), Other is substantially higher (6.9%), and Australian is also notably lower (26.5%). Additionally, there are notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal is notably overrepresented at 8.7% compared to 3.9% regionally, Filipino at 2.5% versus 0.9%, and Korean at 0.7% versus 0.2%.

Manunda's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Manunda is 38 years, which is slightly below Rest of Qld's average of 41 but aligns with Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 age group constitutes 16.2% of Manunda's population, compared to Rest of Qld's figure, while the 5-14 cohort makes up 9.5%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has increased from 14.5% to 16.2%, and the 65-74 cohort has decreased from 10.1% to 8.4%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Manunda. Notably, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 47%, adding 419 people and reaching a total of 1,315 from its current figure of 895. Conversely, the 15-24 cohort is expected to show minimal growth of just 6%, with an increase of 47 people.