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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 4,925 residents, up from 4,756 at the 2021 Census — a change of 169 people, or 3.6%. 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
Demographic updates from the ABS for the surrounding region, combined with new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, indicate that the suburb of Oakey has an estimated population of around 4,925 as of Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 169 people (3.6%) compared to the 2021 Census tally of 4,756 people. This updated figure is derived from an estimated resident population of 4,869 determined by AreaSearch after assessing the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025), alongside 23 validated new addresses recorded since the Census date. With a density ratio of 38 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers residents considerable space.
The suburb of Oakey recorded 3.6% growth since census, trailing the broader SA4 region (5.0%) by only 1.4 percentage points and showing sound demographic momentum. Natural growth served as the primary contributor to local expansion, generating approximately 45.0% of recent population additions, while positive contributions were also recorded across all other components, including overseas migration and interstate migration. Projections for each SA2 area released by the ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024 (utilising 2022 as a base year) are incorporated by AreaSearch. For locations lacking this coverage, as well as projections extending past post-2032, Queensland State Government SA2 projections published in 2023 from 2021 data are used. Because these state figures do not provide breakdowns by age bracket, AreaSearch applies proportional weighting across cohorts based on the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023, based on 2022 data). Looking at demographic trends ahead, population growth in the suburb of Oakey is projected to track slightly below the national non-metropolitan median, with aggregated SA2-level figures anticipating an increase of 193 persons to 2041, representing an overall gain of 2.8% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building approvals in Oakey remain subdued, with 1 new dwellings approved annually, totaling 7 approvals over five years. This restrained level of construction is typical for regional localities where local demand and infrastructure capacity naturally constrain development. Because of the small sample size, individual development projects can have a noticeable impact on year-to-year growth metrics and comparative statistics. Residential building activity in Oakey is substantially quieter than across Rest of Qld, and building volumes fall well short of national averages. All recent residential construction has consisted exclusively of detached dwellings, preserving the spacious rural character of the locality.
A ratio of 811 people per dwelling approval underlines the subdued pace of property development across the area. Based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the population of Oakey is projected to expand by 137 residents through to 2041. Should building approvals continue at their current subdued pace, housing supply could find it difficult to keep up with demographic growth, which may heighten buyer competition and place upward pressure on values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Oakey
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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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 $8.41 billion. 25 are already under construction and 18 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 infrastructure investment and strategic project delivery represent major catalysts for community performance. A single project with expected local impact has been identified in AreaSearch records, with key regional infrastructure including the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC), Toowoomba Day Surgery Theatre, Clifford Park Special School - Relocation of Denise Kable Centre, and Inland Rail - Gowrie to Kagaru (G2K).
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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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
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.
Country Club Living Retirement Village Cotswold Hills
Country Club Living is developing a 183-unit masterplanned retirement village on a 14.55-hectare parcel situated within the Essence Estate master plan in Cotswold Hills. The development includes a residents-only clubhouse, a private nine-hole golf course, and associated community and recreational amenities. Development approval was granted by Toowoomba Regional Council.
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.
2,231 residents of Oakey are employed, from a labour force of 2,364. Unemployment sits at 5.6%, with participation at 58.7%. 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 3,943, 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
Workforce data aggregated by AreaSearch reveals that Oakey maintains a balanced employment base across blue-collar and white-collar roles, supported by a prominent manufacturing and industrial sector, an unemployment rate of 5.6%, and relatively steady job conditions over the past year. As of March 2026, employed residents count 2,231, while the local jobless rate sits 1.7% above the 3.9% recorded for Regional Qld. Workforce participation is notably subdued at 58.7%, compared with 64.2% in Regional Qld. Census data indicated that 5.4% of employed locals worked from home, though this figure reflects Covid-19 lockdown circumstances.
The top sectors employing local residents are manufacturing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Industrial activity is particularly concentrated, with manufacturing employment standing at 3.8 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, accommodation & food accounts for a modest 5.5% share of local jobs, compared to 8.3% regionally. A comparison between the Census working population and resident population suggests that local employment opportunities within the immediate area remain relatively constrained. Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, aggregated from broader statistical areas, over the 12 months to March 2026, labour force levels increased by 2.0% while employment declined by 0.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 2.1 percentage points. This compares to Regional Qld, where employment grew by 0.1%, labour force expanded by 0.3%, and unemployment rose 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Mar-26 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Oakey. 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 Oakey's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.0% over five years and 11.6% 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 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
According to the latest postcode ATO records for financial year 2023 analyzed by AreaSearch, personal earnings in the suburb of Oakey sit below national benchmarks, registering a median income of $43,189 and an average income of $48,359. These figures compare to Regional Qld benchmarks of $53,146 (median) and $66,593 (average). Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, updated estimates reach approximately $48,095 (median) and $53,853 (average) as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census places family, household, and personal earnings in Oakey between the 14th and 19th percentiles nationally.
The largest income bracket includes 30.1% of residents (1,482 residents) earning $800 - 1,499 weekly, whereas across the wider region the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is largest at 31.7%. After meeting housing costs, residents retain 85.2% of income, placing the locality at the 16th percentile nationwide.
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
Data from the latest Census shows that separate houses accounted for 92.6% of the dwelling stock in Oakey, with 7.4% comprised of other dwellings (including semi-detached dwellings, apartments, and 'other' structures), compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings across Regional Qld. Outright home ownership stood at 34.4%, matching Regional Qld, while 29.0% of properties were mortgaged and 36.5% were rented. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,238, below the Regional Qld average of $1,655, and median weekly rent was $265, compared to $345 regionally. Relative to national figures, local mortgage payments remain well below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents sit significantly under the national benchmark 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
Family households represent 70.1% of all local residences, consisting of couples without children (27.0%), couples with children (25.4%), and single parent families (16.9%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 29.9%, consisting of lone person households (27.3%) and group households (2.6%). The local median household size stands at 2.5 people, aligning with 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
Educational attainment in the area reflects lower levels of tertiary study, with university qualification rates at 7.9%, well under the Australian benchmark of 30.4%. Among degree holders, bachelor degrees represent 6.2%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.1% and postgraduate qualifications at 0.6%. Technical and vocational training is widely held, with 39.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including certificates (31.4%) and advanced diplomas (8.0%). Engagement with the education system is strong, with 28.2% of residents enrolled in formal education. This proportion comprises 11.7% attending primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 1.5% undertaking tertiary education.
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
AreaSearch evaluations of chronic condition incidence and mortality statistics point to meaningful public health challenges in Oakey across both younger and older demographics. Private health insurance coverage is notably low, encompassing approximately 46% of the total population (~2,283 people). This compares with 52.5% in Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%. The two most prevalent chronic ailments diagnosed locally are asthma and arthritis, each recorded among 10.2 and 10.2% of residents, respectively, while 59.9% of the population reported no long-term medical conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Chronic illness is notably elevated across working-age residents.
Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 21.6% of the community (1,063 people), exceeding the Regional Qld level of 20.3%, with overall senior health rankings aligning broadly with broader national patterns.
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
Cultural diversity in Oakey sits below regional norms, with 89.7% of the community holding Australian citizenship, 90.1% born in Australia, and 93.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity represents the primary religious affiliation, accounting for 61.2% of local residents compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Examining ancestry based on parental country of birth, the primary ancestries in Oakey are Australian at 31.5% (above the 26.5% regional benchmark), English at 28.3%, and Australian Aboriginal at 8.4%. Additional ethnic representations show divergence from regional averages, including German at 7.5% (compared to 4.7% regionally), Filipino at 1.5% (versus 0.9%), and New Zealand at 0.7% (versus 0.9%).
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
Compared to Regional Qld, the age structure of Oakey is weighted toward younger cohorts. Estimates updated to August 2026 indicate that children and young adults (0 - 24) account for 33.2% of the local population, exceeding the 29.6% share in Regional Qld, while young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) comprise 22.1% against 25.5% regionally. The estimated median age is 40, matching the 2021 Census level and sitting 1 year below the Regional Qld median of 41 from that same Census. Retiree and elderly cohorts (65+) have expanded since the Census from 19.3% to an estimated 21.6%.
Between now and 2041, the largest demographic increase is projected among retiree and elderly cohorts, adding 238 residents (22%) to reach 1,302, while middle aged, young retiree, and children and young adults cohorts are projected to contract.
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 Oct 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) | Aug 2026 2 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| 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 Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 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 7 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) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 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 — 23 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (4,756 at the 2021 Census → 4,925 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 Aug 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.