Miles

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the estimated population of Miles as of Feb 2026 is around 1,976 people. This reflects an increase of 102 people (5.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,874 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 1,959 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 78 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4.6 persons per square kilometer. Miles's growth of 5.4% since the 2021 census exceeded that of the SA3 area (3.8%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth contributing approximately 60.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and interstate migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. 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. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. Considering projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth of regional areas across the nation is anticipated. The suburb of Miles is expected to expand by 68 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 1.4% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Miles according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Miles has seen minimal construction activity over the past five years. A total of 17 new dwellings were approved annually, with an average of three approvals per year. This reflects Miles' rural nature where development is typically driven by specific local housing needs rather than broad market demand.

The small number of approvals means individual projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics. Miles has much lower development activity compared to the Rest of Qld and below national averages. New building activity consists of 60% detached houses and 40% townhouses or apartments, indicating an expanding range of medium-density options. This shift is notable as it represents a departure from the area's existing housing composition, currently at 81% houses. The estimated population density per dwelling approval is 484 people, reflecting Miles' quiet development environment.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Miles is expected to grow by 27 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Miles has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Area infrastructure significantly impacts local performance. AreaSearch identified one major project likely affecting the area: Arrow Energy's Surat Gas Project North. Key projects include Arrow Energy's Surat Gas Project, Arrow Energy's Surat Pipeline Project, and Nathan Dam and Pipelines Project. Relevant details are listed below.

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Miles has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Miles has a balanced workforce comprising both white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominently represented. The unemployment rate was 5.2% in the past year.

Employment grew by an estimated 3.4%. As of September 2025974 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.1% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation is similar to Rest of Qld at 65.7%. Only 7.3% of residents work from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts.

Employment is concentrated in retail trade, health care & social assistance, and construction. Notably, agriculture, forestry & fishing has high employment levels at 2.0 times the regional average. However, health care & social assistance has a limited presence with 11.0% employment compared to 16.1% regionally. The area may have limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the working population vs resident population count. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 3.4%, while labour force grew by 6.3%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 2.7 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Qld where employment rose by 1.7%, labour force grew by 2.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, issued May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Miles's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.5% over five years and 11.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The suburb of Miles's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2023 was $43,638. The average income stood at $47,610 during the same period. According to AreaSearch data aggregated from the latest ATO figures, these incomes are below those of Rest of Qld, which had median and average incomes of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively in financial year 2023. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated current incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $47,963 (median) and $52,328 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Miles all fall between the 17th and 31st percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket in Miles comprises 28.9% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly, with 571 residents falling into this category. This is consistent with broader trends across the broader area, where 31.7% of residents earn within the same range. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 88.5% income retention, total disposable income in Miles ranks at just the 22nd percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure in Miles, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 80.7% houses and 19.2% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Miles was 30.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 19.6% and rented ones at 49.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,020, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Miles was $200, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Miles' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,020 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 63.5% of all households, including 22.5% couples with children, 26.6% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 36.5%, with lone person households at 34.1% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 14.4%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (0.7%) and graduate diplomas (0.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.4%) and certificates (33.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 33.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (13.5%), secondary education (10.3%), and tertiary education (2.4%).

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Miles is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Miles faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch through mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Multiple health conditions affect both younger and older age groups, with private health cover at approximately 46% of Miles' total population (around 910 people), compared to 52.5% in the rest of Queensland and a national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 10.0% and 9.5% of residents respectively, while 62.4% claim to have no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in the rest of Queensland.

Working-age residents face notable health challenges due to higher chronic condition rates. Miles has 21.8% of its population aged 65 and over (430 people), which is higher than the 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with national rankings.

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

Miles had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 81.9% citizens, 88.5% born in Australia, and 93.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 63.6%, compared to 52.2% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (34.1%), English (27.5%), and Scottish (7.3%).

Notably, Welsh (0.8%) and South African (0.8%) were overrepresented in Miles compared to regional averages of 0.5%. Additionally, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher at 6.8% than the regional average of 3.9%.

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

The median age in Miles is 38 years, slightly below Rest of Qld's average of 41 but in line with Australia's median age of 38 years. In Miles, the 25-34 age group comprises 15.2%, higher than Rest of Qld, while the 35-44 cohort makes up 10.1%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 25 to 34 age group grew from 13.6% to 15.2%, and the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 9.5% to 10.9%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 12.5% to 10.6%, and the 0 to 4 group dropped from 6.4% to 5.2%. Population forecasts for Miles indicate significant demographic changes by 2041. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 15 people, reaching 345 from 300. Conversely, the 55 to 64 and 5 to 14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.