Mount Low

Mount Low lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Drawing from ABS population statistics for the surrounding region and subsequent address validations conducted by AreaSearch after the Census, the suburb of Mount Low has an estimated population of 6,086 individuals as of May 2026. This indicates a growth of 598 residents (10.9%) compared to the 2021 Census, which registered 5,488 people. This updated figure is derived from an intermediate population estimate of 5,950 calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 ERP data release, combined with an additional 133 confirmed new addresses established post-census. The resulting population density stands at 753 persons per square kilometer, which aligns closely with typical densities across AreaSearch's assessed areas. With its 10.9% rate of expansion since the 2021 census, the suburb of Mount Low outpaced both the broader SA4 region (7.1%) and the SA3 area, positioning it as a leading growth zone. Natural increase was the primary contributor, accounting for roughly 47.0% of the overall population expansion in recent times, though net interstate and overseas migration also remained positive.

Projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline by the ABS and Geoscience Australia are utilized by AreaSearch. For any SA2 regions lacking this coverage, or for projections extending past 2032, Queensland Government SA2 projections published in 2023 with a 2021 baseline are applied. Since these state-level figures do not detail age cohorts, AreaSearch distributes growth across age segments using proportions from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections, which use a 2022 baseline. Looking at long-term demographic trajectories, the suburb of Mount Low is projected to experience rapid growth, ranking in the top 10 percent of non-metropolitan locations in Australia. The area is expected to add 3,049 residents by 2041 under aggregated SA2 forecasts, representing a 47.9% increase over the 16 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Mount Low when compared nationally

Based on analysis of ABS building approvals assigned from local statistical data, the suburb of Mount Low averages about 33 approved homes annually. This translates to an estimated 169 residential approvals over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), with 24 recorded during FY-26 so far. Given that approximately 3 new residents have been added for each constructed home over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, the supply of housing is running considerably behind demand, which typically intensifies buyer rivalry and elevates pricing, while newly built homes carry an average estimated value of $405,000. In addition, commercial approvals total $3.5 million for the current financial year, pointing to a quiet period for business-related construction.

Relative to the Rest of Qld, the suburb of Mount Low displays a somewhat high level of building activity, with per-person approvals running 45.0% higher than the regional average over the 5 year period. This provides buyers with a reasonable selection of properties while supporting current home values, even though development pace has slowed down recently. Furthermore, all new residential construction has consisted of standalone houses, preserving the low-density profile of the neighborhood and emphasizing family-oriented layouts. There are roughly 237 residents for each dwelling approval, suggesting substantial capacity for further building expansion.

Looking forward, the quarterly projections from AreaSearch indicate that the suburb of Mount Low will add 2,913 people by 2041. If building rates do not accelerate from their current levels, the supply of homes may fail to match population growth, potentially heightening competition among purchasers and supporting upward price trends.

Mount Low has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and land planning decisions significantly influence property performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 7 projects that are expected to impact the local market. Prominent developments include the Sanctum Master Planned Community, Lincoln Lifestyle Northern Beaches, Bushland Beach Master Planned Development, and the Townsville Business Park (40057 Bruce Highway), with the list below outlining those of primary interest.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Mount Low significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

The workforce within the suburb of Mount Low is evenly split between professional and manual occupations, with a solid representation of workers in key public services, and an unemployment rate of only 2.5% according to aggregated statistical district statistics. As of March 2026, there are 2,946 employed residents, with the local unemployment level sitting 1.5% below the Regional Qld figure of 3.9%, while workforce participation is relatively standard at 67.4% versus 64.3% in Regional Qld. Census data indicates that a modest 4.8% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by past public health restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local workers are healthcare and social assistance, public administration and safety, and construction. Public administration and safety is a major local specialty, with its share of employment reaching 2.0 times the regional average. Conversely, primary industries like agriculture, forestry, and fishing have a minimal footprint, employing only 0.1% of the workforce compared to 4.5% across the region. The residential nature of the suburb of Mount Low means local jobs are limited, as shown by the disparity between the count of local workers at the Census and the size of the resident workforce.

An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics for the broader area indicates that over the 12 months ending March 2026, the local labour force contracted by 4.3% while the number of employed residents fell by 4.6%, causing a 0.4 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. By comparison, Regional Qld experienced a 0.1% rise in employment, a 0.3% expansion of the labor force, and a 0.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 offer additional context on future labor demand for the suburb of Mount Low. These forecasts, which span five-year and ten-year periods, have been applied to the local workforce mix to model future trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sector growth rates vary. Applying these industry weightings suggests local employment could expand by 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, representing a basic extrapolation that does not incorporate local population forecasts.

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

The latest ATO statistics at the postcode level for the 2023 financial year show that earnings in the suburb of Mount Low exceed national benchmarks, with a median income of $64,319 and an average income of $71,262. In comparison, Regional Qld recorded a median income of $53,146 and an average income of $66,593. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates would be approximately $71,626 for median income and $79,357 for average income as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census indicates that household, family, and individual incomes are all high, placing in the 81st to 82nd national percentiles. Looking at earnings distribution, the largest cohort accounts for 45.7% of residents (2,781 individuals) earning between $1,500 and $2,999, compared to 31.7% for this cohort across the metropolitan area. Rent or mortgage payments consume 14.9% of local incomes, and strong household earnings place residents in the 81st percentile for disposable income, with the local SEIFA income metric falling in the 5th decile.

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

According to the latest Census, the housing mix in the suburb of Mount Low was dominated by standalone houses at 97.5%, with alternative housing types like duplexes and apartments representing 2.5%, compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other properties in Regional Qld. Home ownership in the suburb of Mount Low was lower than the regional average, standing at 13.1%, while the remaining occupied properties were either held under a mortgage (51.0%) or rented (35.9%). Monthly mortgage costs were higher than the regional average at $1,733, and typical weekly rent was recorded at $370, compared to Regional Qld benchmarks of $1,655 and $345 respectively. On a national scale, mortgage outlays are below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are also lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Families make up the vast majority of households at 84.7%, consisting of couples with children at 46.3%, couples without children at 24.0%, and single parents at 13.6%. Non-family households account for the remaining 15.3%, with single-person households representing 11.7% and group houses at 3.4%. The median household occupancy of 3.0 persons is larger than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

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

The local community exhibits lower rates of higher education, with university graduation rates at 16.4% compared to the national average of 30.4%. This suggests an opportunity for targeted tertiary education programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 12.4%, followed by graduate diplomas at 2.6% and postgraduate degrees at 1.4%. Vocational and trade qualifications are highly prevalent, with 47.7% of residents aged 15 and over holding a technical qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas at 10.2% and vocational certificates at 37.5%.

A high proportion of the population is engaged in learning, with 34.4% of residents enrolled in some form of study. This cohort is made up of 14.9% in primary school, 8.3% in high school, and 4.3% in higher education.

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

Public transport networks include 16 stops within the suburb of Mount Low, offering bus services. These stops are served by 2 routes, which provide a total of 105 weekly passenger trips. Local transit access is considered limited, with residents living an average of 675 meters from their nearest stop. Because the suburb of Mount Low is primarily residential, the vast majority of workers travel outside the area, with private cars being the main transport mode for 95% of commuters. Average vehicle ownership is 1.9 cars per household, which is higher than the regional average. A minor 4.8% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect the pandemic conditions at the time.

Bus services run at an average frequency of 15 trips per day across the network, which translates to roughly 6 weekly services at each individual stop.

Health outcomes in Mount Low are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Health measures indicate below-average wellness outcomes for the suburb of Mount Low, based on mortality statistics and the rate of chronic conditions, with common illnesses slightly more prevalent across all age groups, while private health insurance coverage is high at 55% of the population (~3,374 residents). This compares to 52.5% across Regional Qld.

Mental health difficulties and asthma were the most common medical diagnoses, affecting 10.0% and 8.4% of the population respectively, though 72.6% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. General health outcomes for working-age residents are typical. Residents aged 65 and over make up 8.3% of the population (505 people), which is lower than the Regional Qld figure of 20.4%. Senior citizens in the area enjoy above-average health outcomes, with their national rankings exceeding those of the general local population.

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

The suburb of Mount Low exhibits lower levels of multicultural representation than average, with citizens making up 90.3% of the population, 90.8% of residents born in Australia, and 96.4% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religious affiliation, representing 47.8% of the population, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld.

In terms of parental heritage, the three largest ancestry groups in the suburb of Mount Low are Australian at 32.2% (higher than the regional average of 26.5%), English at 27.8%, and Scottish at 7.8%. There are also distinct differences in other groups: New Zealand heritage is represented at 0.9% (equal to the regional average of 0.9%), Indigenous Australians at 4.5% (compared to 3.9% regionally), and Italian ancestry at 4.4% (compared to 2.4% regionally).

Mount Low hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

The median age of 30 years in the suburb of Mount Low is lower than the Regional Qld average of 41 and the national average of 38 years. Compared to Regional Qld, the suburb of Mount Low has a larger share of residents aged 25 - 34 (19.4%) but fewer people aged 65 - 74 (5.7%). Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 65 to 74 grew from 4.3% to 5.7%, and the 75 to 84 cohort rose from 1.3% to 2.6%. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 age group fell from 18.2% to 15.4%, and the 0 to 4 group declined from 10.4% to 9.3%. Projections for 2041 point to shifts in the local age profile. The 25 to 34 cohort is expected to grow the most, rising by 59% (adding 692 residents to reach 1,873), while the cohort aged 85 and over is projected to see no growth, remaining at 65 people.