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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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Mapleton has an estimated 1,949 residents, up from 1,661 at the 2021 Census — a change of 288 people, or 17.3%. Growth has averaged 3.1% a year over five years, faster than 88% of areas nationally. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 72.0% of that increase. That puts 145 residents on each 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
According to evaluations of updated ABS figures for the wider district alongside address records verified by AreaSearch following the Census, the suburb of Mapleton is calculated to have approximately 1,949 inhabitants as of Aug 2026. Relative to the 2021 Census tally of 1,661 people, this represents an expansion of 288 people (17.3%). Such growth stems from an estimated resident base of 1,924 derived from the ABS ERP release in June 2025, coupled with 15 validated new addresses identified post-Census. With a density of 145 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers generous living space alongside capacity for additional building.
Outpacing both Rest of Qld (9.4%) and the nationwide benchmark, Mapleton's 17.3% expansion stands out as a regional benchmark. The primary catalyst for this influx was interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 72.0% of total demographic gains, complemented by positive contributions from natural increase and overseas migration. Projections for each SA2 district applied by AreaSearch draw from ABS/Geoscience Australia data published in 2024 using 2022 as a baseline. Queensland State Government SA2 forecasts released in 2023 from 2021 numbers are utilised for subsequent periods beyond 2032 or where data is missing. Because these state forecasts lack cohort breakdowns, AreaSearch incorporates age-specific proportional distributions from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (issued in 2023 using 2022 figures). Looking forward, the suburb of Mapleton is slated for demographic gains trailing slightly behind the national regional median, with aggregated SA2 modeling indicating an addition of 173 persons by 2041, representing a 7.6% cumulative rise over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
47 new dwellings have been approved in Mapleton over the past five years, an average of 9 a year. That places the area in the 73rd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 5 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 17, 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
Analysis by AreaSearch of ABS building permit records across statistical areas reveals that Mapleton generates roughly 9 dwelling approvals per annum, totaling an estimated 47 homes throughout the preceding 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), with 17 approved to date in FY-25. The district welcomed an average of 5.4 people per year per completed residence over the prior 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), indicating that demand heavily outstrips construction activity, placing upward pressure on property values and intensifying buyer competition while anticipated construction costs average $557,000 per dwelling.
Furthermore, approvals for commercial builds stand at $1.5 million in the current financial year, underlining a landscape dominated by residential development. Relative to Rest of Qld, residential building activity in Mapleton is notably subdued, tracking 56.0% below the regional per capita norm. Although building activity has recently accelerated, the limited volume of new construction continues to support valuations and interest in established dwellings. Furthermore, recent development consists exclusively of standalone homes, maintaining low-density living and appealing to buyers seeking space. An expanding residential sector is evidenced by an average ratio of roughly 122 people for every approved home. Longer-term projections indicate that Mapleton will expand by 148 residents leading up to 2041 according to the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. Under existing development trends, incoming residential supply appears well positioned to satisfy local requirements, presenting favorable purchasing conditions and potentially enabling demographic growth to exceed anticipated levels.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Mapleton
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 50 current infrastructure and development projects close to Mapleton, worth an estimated $2.41 billion. 15 are already under construction and 15 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and health & medical. 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
Infrastructure upgrades, major works, and strategic planning initiatives exert a transformative impact on regional outcomes. No projects were identified by AreaSearch as having a direct bearing on the locality. Prominent surrounding developments include the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Stage 1, Nambour General Hospital Redevelopment, Unitywater Infrastructure Program 2023-2027, and the New Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme Project.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
The Grove Nambour Heights
A boutique residential estate offering 58 home sites ranging from 600 sqm to over 2000 sqm, with a mix of flat and sloping blocks. Stage One is sold out with house and land packages available. Stage Two releases are available for presale, providing a relaxed hinterland lifestyle close to Nambour amenities.
Parklane Estate Burnside
Parklane Estate is a 38-lot residential subdivision in Burnside on the Sunshine Coast. The site was sold in July 2024 with an approved subdivision and has since been rebranded as Parklane Estate. Civil construction and infrastructure works are underway, with premium residential lots and house and land packages now being actively marketed. Estate completion is targeted for 2026.
Windsor Park Estate
A boutique land development in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland offering 68 lots ranging from 450m2 to 6,205m2 with elevated views, scenic paths, and green spaces, located 20 minutes from beaches. Marketed by Ken Guy Buderim, construction is largely complete on the estate infrastructure, with land titled and new homes currently being constructed and sold.
137 Burnside Road Development Site
A 2.83 hectare (7 acre) site zoned Emerging Community, offered for sale as an ideal residential subdivision opportunity with potential for 20+ elevated lots (STCA) featuring hinterland views in a high-growth corridor. The site has established roads and nearby services.
Burnside Hills
A boutique residential subdivision project offering 25 house and land opportunities in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. It is marketed as being 'Now Selling' and is situated close to Nambour.
Nambour Waste Precinct Project
The project transforms the Nambour waste facility into a regional hub to support sustainable waste management and a circular economy. Totaling more than 83 million AUD in works, it features a completed state-of-the-art Materials Recovery Facility, a signalised traffic intersection upgrade at Cooney Road, ongoing construction of a new resource recovery centre, and landfill improvements. Future additions planned include a tip shop and a landfill gas to energy plant.
Millwood Rise Residential Development
Boutique residential community nestled in the hillside of Nambour, consisting of 63 residential homesites with beautiful views to the surrounding hillside and easy access to shops, medical services, schools, and Sunshine Coast beaches.
Solandra Estate Nambour
Multi-stage residential estate development in Nambour with community facilities and landscaping. Stage 3 features 600sqm+ blocks.
749 residents of Mapleton are employed, from a labour force of 807. Unemployment sits at 7.2%, with participation at 47.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth, so in an area growing as fast as this one it understates the likely rise in local jobs. The working-day population is estimated at 1,604, about 82% 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
Mapleton possesses an educated labor force concentrated in essential service industries, alongside an unemployment rate of 7.2% derived from statistical area aggregations by AreaSearch. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 749, while local joblessness exceeded the 3.9% figure for Regional Qld by 3.3%, signaling potential for economic improvement as labor market participation of 47.3% trails the regional standard of 64.2%. Census figures also showed 24.1% of workers operating from home, though potential distortions from Covid-19 restrictions must be acknowledged. The primary employment fields for the local workforce consist of health care & social assistance, education & training, along with accommodation & food.
Health care & social assistance demonstrates notable concentration locally, capturing 1.3 times the regional proportion of jobs. Conversely, retail trade accounts for only 5.4% of positions in the area, falling short of the 10.0% benchmark across Regional Qld. Comparisons between resident workers and local operational jobs in Census counts point to a constrained internal employment base. According to AreaSearch's compilation of ABS and SALM figures from surrounding statistical districts, the year leading to March 2026 saw the local labor pool contract by 1.0% and total jobs fall by 2.3%, elevating the unemployment rate by 1.3 percentage points. In comparison, Regional Qld experienced a 0.1% increase in employment, a 0.3% expansion in the labor force, and a 0.1 percentage point rise in unemployment. Long-range outlooks can be informed by Jobs and Skills Australia projections released in Mar-26. When these national forecasts of 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years are weighted against Mapleton's sector profile, projected local employment expansion reaches 6.9% across five years and 14.4% across ten years, although this illustrative weighting model does not incorporate localized demographic forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Mapleton is $1,089 a week (about $57,000 a year), with median personal income at $591 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $41,421 a year against an average of $52,392. 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
Aggregated ATO postcode data from financial year 2023 compiled by AreaSearch indicates that taxpayers in the suburb of Mapleton earned a median income of $41,421 and an average income of $52,392. These figures fall below national norms and regional counterparts of $53,146 and $66,593 recorded across Regional Qld. Incorporating an 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 elevates estimated earnings to $46,126 at the median and $58,344 on average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed family, household, and individual incomes between the 6th and 10th percentiles across Australia.
Among local income brackets, the largest group comprises 611 residents (31.4%) earning $800 - 1,499 per week, whereas the $1,500 - 2,999 band dominates regionally at 31.7%. Residual earnings post-housing expenses sit at 85.7%, placing the locality in the 9th percentile nationally and in the 5th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Mapleton had 719 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 87% detached houses and 0% apartments. 24% are owned with a mortgage, 21% rented and 56% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $350 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,534 a month. Rent absorbs 32.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 32.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records reveal that separate houses formed 87.0% of Mapleton's dwelling stock, with alternative categories such as flats, semi-detached properties, and other housing structures making up 13.1%, differing from Regional Qld ratios of 76.4% and 23.6% respectively. Unencumbered property ownership reached 55.6%, substantially surpassing the regional benchmark, while 23.6% of homes carried a mortgage and 20.8% were rented. Median financial outlays included monthly mortgage costs of $1,534 and weekly rents of $350, both below Regional Qld metrics of $1,655 and $345. On a nationwide scale, housing expenses remain modest compared to Australian median mortgage payments of $1,863 and weekly rents of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Mapleton counted 719 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 844 today, averaging 2.1 people each. 16% are couples with children, fewer than in 94% of areas nationally, against 42% couples without children. 29% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 66.8% of all households in the locality, made up of couples without children at 42.4%, couples with children at 15.7%, and single parent households at 8.6%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 33.2%, consisting of single-person households at 29.4% and group dwellings at 3.1%. The area records a median household size of 2.1 people, which is lower than the Regional Qld standard of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
30.0% of adults in Mapleton hold a university qualification, including 19.9% with a bachelor degree and 7.1% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 25.5% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 159 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,058 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment in the area is exceptionally high for the region, with tertiary qualifications held by 30.0% of individuals aged 15+, outperforming the SA3 area rate of 23.1% and the Rest of Qld level of 20.6%. Bachelor degrees represent the most prevalent qualification at 19.9%, alongside postgraduate degrees at 7.1% and graduate diplomas at 3.0%. Vocational qualifications are likewise well established, with 38.8% of residents aged 15+ possessing technical credentials, divided between advanced diplomas at 13.3% and certificates at 25.5%. Formal study engages a meaningful 21.1% of local residents. Within this cohort, primary schooling accounts for 7.0%, secondary programs represent 5.3%, and tertiary institutions enroll 2.8%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Mapleton means driving: households keep an average of 1.3 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport provision in Mapleton comprises 6 bus stops serviced by 1 distinct route, generating 20 passenger trips each week. Transit convenience is moderate, with residents situated an average of 474 meters from the nearest stop. Commuters primarily travel outside the suburb, with private vehicles accounting for 90% of journeys and walking representing 7%. Motor vehicle density sits below the regional average at 1.3 per household, while 24.1% of the workforce operated from home during the 2021 Census amid potential COVID-19 influences. Transit services run at an average rate of 2 daily journeys across network routes, providing roughly 3 departures per stop each week.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
58.5% of residents in Mapleton report no long-term health condition. 5.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 48.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators across Mapleton reflect positive broad outcomes, with AreaSearch evaluations of chronic illnesses and mortality figures aligning closely with nationwide norms across both older and younger age groups. Private healthcare coverage is notably limited, held by roughly 48% of residents (~934 people), tracking below the 52.5% regional rate across Regional Qld and the Australian average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions constitute the most prevalent diagnoses locally, affecting 13.4% and 8.9% of residents respectively, whereas 58.5% reported no chronic medical issues compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Working-age residents experience heightened rates of chronic health issues.
Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 37.9% of the population (738 people), surpassing the 20.3% figure in Regional Qld, and demonstrate strong health indicators that rank favorably against national benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Mapleton is largely Australian-born, at 76.2% of residents, with 4.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (36.9%) and Australian (22.8%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics in Mapleton sit below broader benchmarks, with 76.2% of residents born in Australia, 87.4% holding Australian citizenship, and 95.5% using only English at home. Christianity is the predominant religious faith, representing 51.1% of the community. Judaism shows a notable local divergence, accounting for 0.3% of residents compared to 0.1% across Regional Qld. Regarding parental lineage, the three leading ancestries reported in Mapleton are English at 36.9% (exceeding the regional level of 29.6%), Australian at 22.8%, and Scottish at 11.6%. Other cultural backgrounds also demonstrate distinct representation relative to regional patterns, including French at 1.0% (compared to 0.5% regionally), New Zealand at 1.0% (versus 0.9%), and Russian at 0.5% (versus 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Mapleton is 59, older than 98% of areas nationally. 14.7% 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
Demonstrating a distinct lifestyle and retirement profile, Mapleton records 37.9% of its community within senior and retiree cohorts (65+) as of August 2026, well above the 20.4% mark across Regional Qld, while 25 - 44 year olds comprise 14.3% compared to 25.5% regionally. As of August 2026, the median age is estimated at 59, matching the 2021 Census figure and sitting above the Regional Qld median of 41 and the national median of 38. The 45 - 64 age bracket experienced the most noticeable contraction post-Census, shifting from 30.6% to an estimated 27.3%.
Demographic additions through 2041 will be spearheaded by retiree and elderly brackets, projected to grow by 117 (16%) to 856 persons, whereas declines are expected among children, young adults, and mature working cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Mapleton
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 — 15 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,661 at the 2021 Census → 1,949 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 (SAL31757). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.