Oakhurst (Qld)

Population growth drivers in Oakhurst are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the population of the suburb of Oakhurst (Qld) is estimated at around 1,870. This figure reflects an increase of 153 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,717. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 1,869 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 36 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 76 persons per square kilometer. Oakhurst's growth rate of 8.9% since the census is within 0.2 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 9.1%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Interstate migration contributed approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the area.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population dynamics anticipate lower quartile growth of national regional areas, with the area expected to expand by 66 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a reduction of 1.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data indicates Oakhurst averaged approximately 10 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 54 homes. As of FY26 so far, 7 approvals have been recorded. Between FY21 and FY25, an average of 0.6 people moved to Oakhurst per year for each dwelling built. This suggests new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing buyers with more options while facilitating population growth that may surpass current expectations.

The average expected construction cost value of new properties in Oakhurst is $431,000. In FY26, $28.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Oakhurst shows comparable new home approvals per person, supporting market stability aligned with regional patterns. New building activity comprises 78.0% standalone homes and 22.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining Oakhurst's traditional low-density character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

This shift from the area's existing housing (currently 99.0% houses) suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 221 people per dwelling approval, Oakhurst shows a developing market. Population projections indicating stability or decline suggest reduced housing demand pressures in Oakhurst, benefiting potential buyers.

Oakhurst has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

No infrastructure changes are anticipated in the area as AreaSearch has identified zero relevant projects. Notable initiatives include Central Acres Estate, Mary Harbour Development, Energy Storage Industries' battery manufacturing facility, and Maryborough Manufactured Home Park Development.

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The exceptional employment performance in Oakhurst places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Oakhurst has a balanced workforce comprising white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well-represented in the area. The unemployment rate was 0.7% as of September 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 11.5%. This is based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 1,029 residents were employed. The unemployment rate was 3.4% below Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation in Oakhurst was 71.2%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, 5.3% of residents worked from home. Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered when interpreting this data. The key industries of employment among Oakhurst residents are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. Manufacturing is particularly strong, with an employment share of 2.3 times the regional level. Conversely, accommodation & food shows lower representation at 3.5% compared to the regional average of 8.3%. The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident indicates a higher than normal level of local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 11.5%, and labour force grew by 11.2% in Oakhurst. This resulted in a fall of 0.3 percentage points in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment rise by 1.7%, labour force grow by 2.1%, and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Oakhurst. National employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Oakhurst's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 indicates that Oakhurst had a median income among taxpayers of $63,301 and an average income of $73,081. This is higher than the national average, which was $53,146 in Rest of Qld. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $69,574 for median income and $80,323 for average income as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Oakhurst rank modestly, between the 42nd and 55th percentiles. The largest segment comprises 38.5% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, with 719 residents falling into this category. This is similar to patterns seen in the surrounding region where 31.7% occupy this income range. After housing costs, residents retain 87.5% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power.

Oakhurst is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Oakhurst, as per the latest Census evaluation, 98.6% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 1.4% comprising other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This is in contrast to Non-Metro Qld's dwelling structure, which consisted of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Oakhurst was 34.4%, mirroring that of Non-Metro Qld. Most dwellings were either mortgaged (58.1%) or rented (7.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Oakhurst was $1,517, lower than the Non-Metro Qld average of $1,655 and significantly below the national average of $1,863. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent in Oakhurst was $345, aligning with both Non-Metro Qld's figure and the national average of $375.

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

Family households account for 84.8% of all households, including 40.2% couples with children, 35.9% couples without children, and 7.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 15.2%, with lone person households at 13.0% and group households comprising 2.2%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Oakhurst exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 11.7%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.1%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.7%) and postgraduate qualifications (0.9%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 49.6% of residents aged 15 and above holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (39.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.8% in primary education, 8.6% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Oakhurst has one active public transport stop operating within its boundaries. This stop is served by a mix of bus routes, with one route providing service. In total, these routes offer 20 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in Oakhurst is limited; residents typically live 3230 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the primary mode of transportation, used by 95% of residents.

Vehicle ownership averages 2.1 per dwelling, which is higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 5.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages two trips per day, resulting in approximately 20 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Oakhurst is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Oakhurst faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (~1,050 people), compared to 52.5% across the rest of Queensland. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 10.1% and 8.3% of residents respectively. Sixty-six point two percent of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across the rest of Queensland. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 17.1% of residents aged 65 and over (319 people), which is lower than the 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. National rankings for health indicators are even higher than those of the general population.

The latest Census data sees Oakhurst placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Oakhurst's population was found to be predominantly Australian-born, with 90.2% having been born in Australia, and 92.7% being citizens. The majority of residents spoke English only at home, with 97.4%. Christianity was the primary religion, comprising 52.8% of Oakhurst's population, slightly higher than the regional average of 52.2%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian was the most prevalent, at 32.6%, followed by English at 32.2% and Irish at 8.0%. Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented in Oakhurst at 6.8%, compared to 4.7% regionally. Similarly, New Zealand ancestry was slightly underrepresented at 0.7%, versus 0.9% regionally, while Filipino ancestry was also underrepresented at 1.2%, compared to the regional average of 0.9%.

Oakhurst's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Oakhurst is 39 years, which is lower than Rest of Qld's average of 41 but close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 0-4 are prominent at 8.2%, while the 15-24 group is smaller at 8.6% compared to Rest of Qld. Between 2021 and present, the 0-4 age group has grown from 7.2% to 8.2%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 15.2% to 14.0%. By 2041, demographic projections show that the 25-34 age cohort is expected to increase by 29 people (12%) from 244 to 274. Meanwhile, both the 65-74 and 45-54 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.