Mount Cotton

Population growth drivers in Mount Cotton are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, as of May 2026, the estimated population of Mount Cotton is around 7,718. This reflects an increase of 416 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,302. The change is inferred from the resident population of 7,717, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 180 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by natural growth, contributing approximately 66.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data are applied for each age cohort. Considering the projected demographic shifts, over this period, projections indicate a decline in overall population by 8 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 75 to 84 age group, which is projected to expand by 149 people.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Mount Cotton has received approximately 4 dwelling approvals per year on average over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 22 homes. As of FY-26, 9 approvals have been recorded. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an average of 9.6 people moved to Mount Cotton annually for each dwelling built.

This demand significantly exceeds new supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction cost value of new homes is $646,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

Recent building activity comprises solely standalone homes, preserving Mount Cotton's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. As of FY-25, there were an estimated 1161 people in the area per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. Population is expected to remain stable or decline, potentially reducing pressure on housing and creating opportunities for buyers.

Mount Cotton has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Ten projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly, primarily influencing local infrastructure performance. These key projects include Shoreline Redlands Master-Planned Community, Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area, Redlands Satellite Health Centre (Talwalpin Milbul), and Redlands Coast Regional Sport and Recreation Precinct. The list below details those most likely to be 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.

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Mount Cotton performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Mount Cotton has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well-represented. The unemployment rate was 1.2% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 5.0%. As of December 2025, 4,897 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 3.0%, lower than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation was high at 85.3% compared to Greater Brisbane's 69.6%. According to Census responses, 19.5% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries for employment were construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction was particularly prominent with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level, while health care & social assistance was under-represented at 13.0% compared to Greater Brisbane's 16.1%.

Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 5.0%, labour force grew by 5.2%, leading to a slight unemployment rise of 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment growth of 3.2% with a fall in unemployment of 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Mount Cotton. Over five years, national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6%, and over ten years by 13.7%. Applying these projections to Mount Cotton's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though this extrapolation does not account for localised population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Mount Cotton has a median income of $61,160 and an average income of $72,931. This is higher than the national averages of $58,236 (median) and $72,799 (average). Comparing this to Greater Brisbane's figures, Mount Cotton's median income is $3,924 higher while its average income is $232 more. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 would be approximately $68,108 (median) and $81,216 (average). Census 2021 data reveals that Mount Cotton's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 86th and 93rd percentiles. The predominant income bracket in Mount Cotton is $1,500 - 2,999, with 39.7% of locals (3,064 people) earning within this range. This is slightly higher than the surrounding region's 33.3%. Notably, 39.6% of residents earn over $3,000 per week, indicating considerable affluence and supporting premium retail and service offerings. Housing accounts for 14.8% of income in Mount Cotton. Residents' strong earnings place them within the 92nd percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile nationally.

Mount Cotton is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Mount Cotton's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 99.7% houses and 0.3% other dwellings, compared to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mount Cotton stood at 19.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 67.0% and rented ones at 13.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,100, exceeding Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Mount Cotton was $475, higher than Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Mount Cotton's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,100 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Mount Cotton features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 89.9% of all households, including 54.6% couples with children, 26.2% couples without children, and 8.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 10.1%, with lone person households at 8.8% and group households comprising 1.2% of the total. The median household size is 3.1 people, which is larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Mount Cotton shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Mount Cotton's educational qualifications trail Greater Brisbane's benchmarks, with 23.0% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 30.5%. This gap suggests potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 44.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (14.7%) and certificates (29.8%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.0% in primary education, 8.9% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Mount Cotton has 12 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. There is one route serving these stops, offering a total of 148 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility in Mount Cotton is limited, with residents typically living 662 meters away from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 94% of residents. On average, there are 2.1 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 19.5% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 21 trips per day across all routes, equating to about 12 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mount Cotton's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data for Mount Cotton shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions.

Common health issues are seen across all age groups. Private health cover is high at approximately 56%, covering about 4,329 people. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (8.8%) and asthma (8.3%). About 73.8% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. Under-65s have better than average health outcomes. Mount Cotton has 10.0% residents aged 65 and over (771 people), lower than Greater Brisbane's 15.1%. Overall rankings align with national averages.

Mount Cotton ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mount Cotton's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 80.2% of its population born in Australia, 92.0% being citizens, and 94.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Mount Cotton, comprising 45.9% of the population. The most notable overrepresentation was in the 'Other' category, which constituted 0.6% compared to Greater Brisbane's 1.3%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English at 33.2%, Australian at 27.4%, and Scottish at 8.0%. Notably, South Australian (1.4%), New Zealand (1.2%), and German (4.7%) ethnicities were overrepresented compared to regional averages.

Mount Cotton hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Mount Cotton's median age is 35 years, nearly matching Greater Brisbane's average of 36 years but somewhat younger than Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Mount Cotton has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (17.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.9%). This concentration of 5-14 year-olds is well above the national average of 12.0%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the percentage of Mount Cotton's population aged 75 to 84 has grown from 1.8% to 3.6%, while the percentage of residents aged 25 to 34 has declined from 13.2% to 10.9% and the percentage of those aged 35 to 44 has dropped from 17.9% to 16.8%. By 2041, Mount Cotton's population is projected to see substantial demographic changes. The cohort aged 85 and above shows the strongest projected growth at 180%, adding 138 residents to reach a total of 216. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 57% of the population growth, highlighting trends towards an aging population. Conversely, population declines are projected for the cohorts aged 15 to 24 and 5 to 14.