Chart Color Schemes
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
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Moranbah has an estimated 9,947 residents, up from 9,425 at the 2021 Census — a change of 522 people, or 5.5%. Growth has averaged 0.8% a year over five years. Natural increase accounts for 65.0% of that increase. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. 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 municipal data analysis and new locations verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Moranbah has an estimated population of 9,947 in May 2026. This represents an addition of 522 residents (5.5%) relative to the 2021 Census, when the count stood at 9,425 people. The calculation is derived from a local resident base of 9,928, which AreaSearch calculated utilizing the ABS June 2025 release of estimated resident population figures, alongside 57 validated new addresses identified after the Census. This population level yields a density of 3.3 persons per square kilometer, which ensures residents have substantial personal space.
The 5.5% expansion since the census puts the suburb of Moranbah within 2.1 percentage points of the broader SA4 region (7.6%), showing robust local growth dynamics. Natural population increases drove the majority of these gains, accounting for roughly 65.0% of the growth in recent times. AreaSearch incorporates regional projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024 using 2022 as their baseline. In instances where SA2 boundaries lack this coverage, or for periods past 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 utilizing 2021 data are substituted. Because these state-level figures do not segment by age bracket, AreaSearch distributes growth using proportional age weightings modeled on the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 from a 2022 baseline. Looking at long-term forecasts, the suburb of Moranbah is projected to experience growth slightly below the median rate of regional Australian localities, with regional aggregations pointing to a rise of 626 persons by 2041, representing a cumulative 16-year gain of 6.1%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
44 new dwellings have been approved in Moranbah over the past five years, an average of 8 a year. That is 0.9 approvals per 1,000 residents. Few approvals have been recorded in the most recent months, well below the longer-run average; the latest ABS periods are still being reported. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of statistical building approvals indicates that the suburb of Moranbah averages approximately 8 annual dwelling approvals, accumulating to roughly 44 completed residences over the previous 5 financial years. In the current financial year of FY-26, no development approvals have been recorded. With a ratio of 9.2 new residents for each completed dwelling between FY-21 and FY-25, demand is running far ahead of supply, putting pressure on pricing and intensifying buyer competition, while new builds average a construction cost of $570,000, pointing to a focus by developers on upmarket, premium properties.
Furthermore, commercial approvals have reached $15.2 million this financial year, showing steady activity in the commercial sector. Compared to the broader state, the suburb of Moranbah registers approximately half the building volume per capita, ranking in the 13th percentile nationwide, which limits choices for buyers and bolsters demand for existing homes. This pace falls below the national benchmark, highlighting the established nature of the suburb and suggesting possible planning constraints. Recent activity shows 20.0% of approvals were for standalone houses and 80.0% were for multi-dwelling formats like apartments or townhouses. This pivot to higher density provides affordable access points and attracts downsizers, property investors, and first-time buyers. This marks a clear departure from the current property mix, where standalone houses comprise 82.0% of stock, indicating a dwindling supply of vacant land, changing tastes, and a demand for diverse, budget-friendly options. The ratio of 1244 individuals for every approved dwelling highlights the quiet pace of building activity. Forecasts indicate that the suburb of Moranbah will add 607 residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimates. If building rates remain unchanged, residential supply may fail to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and driving capital appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Moranbah
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 10 current infrastructure and development projects inside Moranbah, worth an estimated $282 million. A further 39 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $17 billion. 13 are already under construction and 14 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and environmental & disaster management. 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 projects, planning choices, and major works are critical drivers of regional performance. In total, 15 projects with local relevance have been identified. Key projects include the Isaac Resources Excellence Precinct, the Moranbah Mixed Use Development, the Moranbah North Waste Coal Mine Gas Power Project Expansion, and the Moranbah Affordable Housing Project.
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
Isaac Resources Excellence Precinct
A jointly funded innovation, research and training precinct in Moranbah focused on resources, critical minerals, mine rehabilitation, renewable energy, workforce development and industry collaboration. Construction is continuing with staged works scheduled through mid-2027, alongside industry partnerships and tenant planning.
Moranbah Mixed Use Development
DA approved staged mixed-use development in Moranbah comprising 132 mixed zoned lots, including a 96-apartment complex and a 96-room hotel. Civil works for power, water, roads, and infrastructure completed, with millions invested. Positioned to support mining expansion with new housing demands from upcoming Winchester South Project Coal mine.
Isaac Regional Local Government Infrastructure Plan
Draft infrastructure plan covering transport, water supply, parks and sewerage networks across the Isaac region including St Lawrence. Focuses on high-level infrastructure essential for future development over the next 10 to 15 years in urban and rural sectors.
Moranbah North Waste Coal Mine Gas Power Project Expansion
The project involved an 18 MW expansion of the existing Moranbah North Waste Coal Mine Gas Power Station, increasing its total capacity to 63 MW. It captures and combusts waste coal mine gas to generate electricity for the national grid, providing approximately 400 GWh annually and avoiding around 313,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions per year.
Moranbah Community Centre Revitalisation
Major upgrade of 50-year-old community centre to address growing corporate and community needs. Funded by Resources Community Infrastructure Fund and Isaac Regional Council.
Moranbah Resource Recovery Centre Expansion
Expansion and improvement of Moranbah's waste facility including a new refuse transfer station, a 30,000 m2 engineered and lined landfill cell, and stormwater and leachate ponds to improve environmental performance and regional capacity.
Moranbah Affordable Housing Project
A 16-unit affordable housing complex in Moranbah, including five units designed to Liveable Housing Australia's gold standards for tenants supported by the National Disability Insurance Scheme, providing safe and secure homes for the community.
Moranbah Town Square Development Project
Community infrastructure project removing old fountain structure and creating new creative garden setting with benches, shade structures, water features and improved lighting.
6,596 residents of Moranbah are employed, from a labour force of 6,678. Unemployment sits at 1.2%, with participation at 87.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 4.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 11,147, about 112% of the resident population, so the area draws in more workers than it sends out. 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 suburb of Moranbah supports a highly capable workforce, with a strong concentration of industrial and manufacturing workers, a minimal unemployment rate of 1.2%, and an estimated job growth rate of 4.7% over the last year. As of March 2026, employed residents numbered 6,596, while the local jobless rate sat 2.7 percentage points below the Regional Qld rate of 3.9%, and participation was exceptionally high at 87.1% compared to Regional Qld's 64.3%. Census figures show a modest 3.9% of the workforce worked from home, though this was during a period affected by pandemic restrictions.
Key industries for local workers include mining, accommodation & food, and education & training. The workforce is highly concentrated in mining, representing 11.8 times the regional proportion. Conversely, the healthcare and social assistance sector is underrepresented, employing only 4.2% of the local workforce compared to 16.1% across Regional Qld. A ratio of 0.9 workers per resident at the time of the Census indicates a strong local jobs market. Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, aggregated from broader statistical areas, during the year to March 2026, employment levels increased by 4.7% and labour force increased by 5.4%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Qld experienced employment growth of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a 0.1 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Moranbah. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Moranbah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 4.2% over five years and 10.5% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Moranbah is $3,079 a week (about $160,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,553 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $88,563 a year against an average of $103,819. 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
Tax statistics for financial year 2023 show the suburb of Moranbah has a median taxpayer income of $88,563 and an average of $103,819. This stands well above the Regional Qld median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, March 2026 estimates suggest a median of $98,624 and an average of $115,613. According to the Census, household, family, and individual incomes all rank in the 97th to 98th percentiles nationally. The largest income group consists of 33.1% of residents (3,292 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which is similar to the wider region where 31.7% fall into this band.
High-income households earning over $3,000 weekly make up 51.8% of the total, which supports local retail spending. Residents retain 95.5% of their income after meeting housing costs, showing strong disposable income, and the area sits in the 5th decile of the SEIFA index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Moranbah had 2,634 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 82% detached houses and 1% apartments. 20% are owned with a mortgage, 71% rented and 9% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $111 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 3.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 9.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the last Census, the housing mix in the suburb of Moranbah consisted of 81.9% houses and 18.1% semi-detached dwellings and apartments, compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other options in Regional Qld. Home ownership rates in the suburb of Moranbah lagged behind the wider region at 8.8%, with 19.8% of homes mortgaged and 71.3% rented. The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,300, which was below the Regional Qld average of $1,655, while the median weekly rent was $111 compared to the regional average of $345. Locally, mortgage costs are lower than the national median of $1,863, and rents are below the Australian figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Moranbah counted 2,634 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 2,780 today, averaging 2.8 people each. 42% are couples with children, more than in 84% of areas nationally, against 22% couples without children. 22% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 75.5% of households in the suburb of Moranbah, with couples with children accounting for 42.4%, couples without children at 22.2%, and single-parent households at 9.8%. The remaining 24.5% are non-family households, including lone-person households at 21.5% and group share houses at 3.1%. The median household size of 2.8 people exceeds the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
18.0% of adults in Moranbah hold a university qualification, including 13.3% with a bachelor degree and 2.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 42.7% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 1,939 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 958 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 data shows that 18.0% of residents hold a university qualification, which is below the national average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are held by 13.3% of the population, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 2.8% and graduate diplomas at 1.9%. Vocational and technical skills are highly prevalent, with 51.4% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 8.7% and certificates at 42.7%. Enrolment levels in the suburb of Moranbah are high, with 42.9% of residents participating in education. This comprises 19.6% of the population in primary school, 11.1% in high school, and 3.4% in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Moranbah means driving: households keep an average of 1.8 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
78.8% of residents in Moranbah report no long-term health condition. 1.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 68.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.1 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 show positive trends for the suburb of Moranbah, with local illness and mortality rates aligning closely with national averages and low rates of chronic disease across all age groups. Private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, covering approximately 68% of the population (6,796 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%. Asthma affects 8.6% of residents and mental health issues impact 6.8%, representing the most common conditions, while 78.8% of the population reported no long-term illnesses compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. The working-age population exhibits good health outcomes.
Only 3.7% of residents are aged 65 and over (368 people), compared to 20.4% in Regional Qld. Senior health rankings are strong, exceeding the benchmarks set by the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Moranbah is largely Australian-born, at 85.4% of residents, with 7.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (30.2%) and English (28.7%). 4.1% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures are below national averages, with citizens accounting for 74.8% of the population, 85.4% born in Australia, and 92.1% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the major religious affiliation, accounting for 45.5% of residents. The most distinct regional variance is in the Other category, which represents 0.7% of residents compared to 0.8% across Regional Qld. The top ancestries in the suburb of Moranbah are Australian at 30.2%, English at 28.7%, and Irish at 7.3%. There are notable differences in other groups, with Maori representing 1.7% of the population compared to 0.8% regionally, New Zealanders at 1.1% compared to 0.9%, and Filipino backgrounds at 2.3% compared to 0.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Moranbah is 31, younger than 93% of areas nationally. 33.2% 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 median age in the suburb of Moranbah is 31 years, which is younger than the Regional Qld median of 41 and the national average of 38 years. The 25 - 34 age bracket is highly represented at 21.9% of the population, compared to a lower concentration of 2.9% in the 65 - 74 bracket. This young adult group exceeds the national share of 14.6%. Since 2021, the 25 to 34 group has risen from 20.0% to 21.9%, while the 5 to 14 group has decreased from 16.5% to 14.6%.
Population forecasts for 2041 project that the 25 to 34 group will grow by 348 people (16%), rising from 2,178 to 2,527, while the 15 to 24 and 5 to 14 cohorts are projected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Moranbah
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month all 10 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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 — 57 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (9,425 at the 2021 Census → 9,947 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 May 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 (SAL31912). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.