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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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Oakey has an estimated 4,916 residents, up from 4,756 at the 2021 Census — a change of 160 people, or 3.4%. Density is about 39 people per 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
Based on demographic assessments by AreaSearch using updated census datasets and newly validated street addresses, the suburb of Oakey has a calculated residency of approximately 4,916 individuals as of May 2026. This indicates a rise of 160 residents (3.4%) from the 4,756 citizens documented during the 2021 Census. This adjustment stems from an updated resident count of 4,864, calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 release of estimated resident figures, alongside 22 validated new addresses confirmed post-census. The resulting population density stands at 38 persons per square kilometer, which represents a spacious distribution.
The suburb of Oakey registered a post-census expansion rate of 3.4%, trailing the SA4 region (5.0%) by 1.6 percentage points, showcasing a steady local growth trajectory. Natural birth and death patterns served as the principal demographic engine, accounting for roughly 45.0% of the population increase, while interstate relocation, overseas arrivals, and other growth factors also registered positive contributions. Projections established by ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are utilized for SA2 regions. For areas omitted from this dataset, or for projections extending past 2032, AreaSearch incorporates Queensland Government estimations published in 2023 utilizing 2021 as the base year. Because these state-level figures do not segment demographics by age brackets, AreaSearch allocates cohort growth using weightings from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections configured from 2022 statistics. Looking forward, the suburb of Oakey is projected to experience a population rise falling just below the median rate for regional areas. Aggregated SA2 models suggest an expansion of 208 residents by 2041, representing a total increase of 3.2% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
24 new dwellings have been approved in Oakey over the past five years, an average of 4 a year. That is 1.0 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 7, 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 of statistical building permits by AreaSearch indicates that Oakey averages approximately 4 residential approvals per year, summing to 24 authorized dwellings during the previous 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, with 7 approvals logged during the current FY-26 period. The ratio of new arrivals to finished homes stands at 2.7 people per completed property over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, which reflects robust residential demand. The average building value for new residential construction is $281,000, which sits below regional benchmarks and offers more affordable entry points for home purchasers.
Compared to wider Queensland regional averages, Oakey exhibits minor development volumes, sitting 64.0% below the regional per capita benchmark. This constrained supply pipeline typically exerts upward pressure on prices and demand for pre-existing stock. This construction rate also lags behind national standards, illustrating local residential maturity and potential regulatory restrictions. Additionally, recent residential construction consisted exclusively of standalone houses, preserving the low-density footprint and offering options for buyers prioritizing space. The ratio of 1946 residents for every single building approval underscores the subdued building environment. Long-range forecasts indicate that Oakey will add 156 new residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. Current building volumes are keeping pace with this projected growth, though prospective buyers may experience heightened market competition as the local population increases.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Oakey
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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 51 current infrastructure and development projects close to Oakey, worth an estimated $8.31 billion. 26 are already under construction and 16 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, health & medical and communities, precincts & urban renewal. 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 economic performance is heavily influenced by updates to public infrastructure and major regional projects. AreaSearch has identified 1 major project expected to affect the immediate area. Principal projects of interest include the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC), the Toowoomba Day Surgery Theatre, the relocation of the Denise Kable Centre to Clifford Park Special School, and the Gowrie to Kagaru (G2K) section of the Inland Rail project, with details provided on those most relevant to local property.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Country Club Living Retirement Village (Cotswold Hills)
A proposed 183-unit retirement village with a residents' private nine-hole golf course, planned for a 14.551-hectare site.
InterLinkSQ Terminal Precinct
InterLinkSQ is a proposed 200 hectare intermodal freight terminal and logistics precinct at Charlton, west of Toowoomba. The masterplanned development includes a 24 hectare intermodal terminal, warehousing and industrial land with road and rail connections intended to integrate with Inland Rail. While planning approvals remain in place and the project website is still active, the project has suffered a major setback following the 2026 cancellation of the Queensland section of Inland Rail funding. InterLink Pty Ltd has entered liquidation and the future delivery of the terminal in its originally proposed form is uncertain.
Habitat - Mt Kynoch Masterplan
A $200 million masterplanned residential estate north of Toowoomba comprising approximately 1,000 lots across 145.97 hectares. Developed by Habitat Mt Kynoch Pty Ltd, the community is situated atop the Great Dividing Range offering elevated lifestyle living with sweeping views. Stage 1 (81 lots) was completed in April 2025, Stage 2 is currently under construction, and Stage 3 is now selling. A future medical and retail precinct is planned within the estate.
Queens Park Estates
Queens Park Estates is a 204 lot residential subdivision on the northside of Toowoomba at Meringandan West, close to the new $1.3Bn Toowoomba hospital under construction. Stage 1 and 2 are sold out and Stage 3 is now selling, with construction underway across all three stages. The estate sits next to Meringandan State School and future approved supermarket, dining, medical, childcare and private school amenity, with elevated H Class soil blocks and eligibility for the $30,000 first home owners grant.
Toowoomba Region Sports Precinct
A $197 million multi-stage regional sports and recreation precinct being developed by Toowoomba Regional Council on Council-owned land at Charlton, adjacent to the Toowoomba Bypass and Toowoomba Connection Road. The precinct features high-quality rectangular fields, a tartan athletics track, a premier hub clubhouse, parking, and a District Recreation Park incorporating cultural and indigenous landmarks. Planned for delivery across seven stages over approximately 20 years, the facility is designed to meet growing regional demand and attract state and national sporting events to the Darling Downs.An updated Master Plan was endorsed by Council in June 2025, enabling pursuit of Local Government Infrastructure Designation to streamline approvals. Detailed design of Precinct A is on track for completion by late 2025, with $2.1 million allocated in the 2025-26 budget for Precincts A and B design.
The Views Sanctuary Rise Estate
A residential estate with 97 homes across 9.54 hectares, featuring elevated land with views towards Toowoomba Ranges and Gowrie Mountain, integrated with Cranley Park. Located 6km from Toowoomba's CBD.
Gainsborough Lodge
Gainsborough Lodge is a masterplanned residential community in Glenvale, on the western edge of Toowoomba, developed on the site of a former thoroughbred horse stud by Wagner Corporation and Richards Group. Council approvals to date cover Stages 1 to 9, comprising 396 lots across roughly 42.2 hectares, with the finished community expected to house over 5,000 new residents. Stage One sold out and completed construction in late 2025, Stage Two (49 lots) is underway and due late 2026, with Stages Three and Four following through 2027.Lots range from approximately 530m2 to 953m2, set among tree-lined avenues, walking trails, future parks, and a planned village centre reusing the site's heritage stable buildings.
Toowoomba Fairways Country Club Retirement Village
A $100 million retirement village development featuring 183 units by Country Club Living. This major aged care and lifestyle project provides modern retirement living options in the Cotswold Hills area with resort-style amenities, including a private 9-hole golf course, swimming pool, and clubhouse.
2,222 residents of Oakey are employed, from a labour force of 2,355. Unemployment sits at 5.6%, with participation at 58.8%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.0% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 3,939, about 80% 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
Oakey maintains a balanced mix of white and blue collar jobs, with manufacturing and industrial fields being particularly prominent. The unemployment rate stands at 5.6%, and employment has shown relative stability throughout the past year, according to AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of March 2026, 2,222 residents are employed, while the unemployment rate remains 1.7% higher than Regional Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Oakey is significantly lower at 58.8% compared to Regional Qld's 64.3%. Census data indicates that only 5.4% of residents work from home, although the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account.
The primary employment sectors for local workers are manufacturing, healthcare and social assistance, and retail trade. Production and manufacturing jobs are highly concentrated, showing a presence 3.8 times greater than the regional average. Conversely, hospitality and food services are underrepresented, employing only 5.5% of the local workforce compared to 8.3% across Regional Qld. Comparing census employment locations to residential figures suggests that local job openings remain limited. Analysis of data from the ABS and SALM for the 12 months ending March 2026 reveals that the local workforce expanded by 1.9% while overall jobs contracted by 0.4%, leading to a 2.2 percentage point rise in the unemployment rate. This compares to Regional Qld, which saw a 0.1% increase in jobs, a 0.3% rise in the total labor force, and a minor 0.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 provide context for local trends, outlining five-year and ten-year industry demands. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary by sector. Applying these specific industry trends to the local job profile suggests employment growth of 5.0% over five years and 11.6% over ten years, using a weighted extrapolation that excludes local population adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Oakey is $1,213 a week (about $63,000 a year), with median personal income at $651 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $43,189 a year against an average of $48,359. 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
ATO records for the 2023 financial year show that personal earnings in the suburb of Oakey sit below the national average, with a median of $43,189 and an average of $48,359. These values compare to a median of $53,146 and an average of $66,593 across Regional Qld. Adjusted for a 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year, estimated earnings as of March 2026 are approximately $48,095 for the median and $53,853 for the average. 2021 Census data indicates that family, household, and individual earnings in the suburb of Oakey rank between the 14th and 19th percentiles nationwide.
A significant cohort representing 30.1% of the population (1,479 individuals) earns weekly wages between $800 and 1,499, differing from regional trends where the $1,500 to 2,999 bracket is most common at 31.7%. Discretionary income remaining after housing costs stands at 85.2%, placing the area in the 16th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Oakey had 1,715 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 93% detached houses and 0% apartments. 29% are owned with a mortgage, 37% rented and 34% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $265 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,238 a month. Rent absorbs 21.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Housing composition at the time of the latest census showed that standalone houses made up 92.6% of local dwellings, with 7.4% consisting of semi-detached, apartment, or other housing formats, compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% alternative dwellings in Regional Qld. Home ownership rates matched regional averages at 34.4%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 29.0% and rental properties making up 36.5% of homes. The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,238, which is lower than the Regional Qld average, while the median weekly rent was $265, compared to regional benchmarks of $1,655 and $345 respectively.
Locally, mortgage costs are lower than the national median of $1,863, and weekly rents are below the Australian figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Oakey counted 1,715 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.5 people each. 25% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 27% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.2 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families comprise the majority of households at 70.1%, consisting of couples with children at 25.4%, couples without children at 27.0%, and single parent households at 16.9%. Non-family households represent the remaining 29.9%, with single-person households at 27.3% and shared group households at 2.6%. The median household occupancy of 2.5 people is identical to the Regional Qld average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
7.9% of adults in Oakey hold a university qualification, including 6.2% with a bachelor degree and 0.6% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 95% of areas nationally. A further 31.4% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 893 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 913 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
The region shows lower rates of higher education, with university completion rates at 7.9% compared to the national average of 30.4%. Among university qualifications, bachelor degrees represent 6.2%, graduate diplomas make up 1.1%, and postgraduate degrees account for 0.6%. Technical qualifications are highly prevalent, with 39.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational certificates or diplomas, split between advanced diplomas at 8.0% and certificates at 31.4%. Active enrollment in education is high, with 28.2% of residents undertaking formal study. This student population includes 11.7% in primary school, 9.3% in high school, and 1.5% attending tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Oakey means driving: households keep an average of 1.5 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
59.9% of residents in Oakey report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 94% of areas nationally. 9.1% need daily assistance with core activities, and 46.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Public health metrics indicate notable challenges in Oakey based on mortality statistics and the prevalence of long-term illnesses across age cohorts, alongside an exceptionally low rate of private health insurance coverage at 46% of the population (~2,279 people). This rate sits below the Regional Qld average of 52.5% and the Australian average of 55.7%. The most prevalent chronic conditions among residents are arthritis at 10.2% and asthma at 10.2%, while 59.9% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Chronic health issues are elevated among working-age residents.
Seniors aged 65 and over represent 21.4% of the population (1,052 people), exceeding the Regional Qld average of 20.4%. Health profiles for this older cohort are generally consistent with national senior averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Oakey is largely Australian-born, at 90.1% of residents, with 6.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (31.5%) and English (28.3%). 8.4% 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
The local population has low cultural diversity, with citizens making up 89.7% of the community, 90.1% born in Australia, and 93.7% using only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, practiced by 61.2% of residents, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. The primary ancestral origins declared by residents are Australian at 31.5%, which is higher than the regional benchmark of 26.5%, followed by English at 28.3%, and Australian Aboriginal at 8.4%. Notable differences in other ancestries include German backgrounds at 7.5% (compared to 4.7% regionally), Filipino at 1.5% (compared to 0.9% regionally), and New Zealand origins at 0.7% (compared to 0.9% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Oakey is 40. 26.2% 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
With a median age of 40, Oakey is similar to the Regional Qld median of 41 and slightly older than the national median of 38. The 15 to 24 age bracket is well represented at 14.1% compared to Regional Qld, while the 35 to 44 age bracket is lower at 10.7%. Since the 2021 Census, the 65 to 74 age group rose from 10.2% to 12.0%, and the 25 to 34 age bracket increased from 10.9% to 12.1%. In contrast, the 5 to 14 age group fell from 14.4% to 12.2%, and the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 13.0% to 11.8%.
Projections suggest significant demographic changes by 2041, led by a 39% increase in the 75 to 84 cohort (an increase of 130 people), growing from 334 to 465. Residents aged 65 and over will account for 63% of the projected growth, while the 55 to 64 and 45 to 54 cohorts are expected to shrink.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Oakey
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, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 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 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 — 22 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (4,756 at the 2021 Census → 4,916 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 (SAL32209). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.