Ormiston

Population growth drivers in Ormiston 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 since the Census, Ormiston's population is estimated at around 7,054 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 675 people (10.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,379 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 7,042, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025, and an additional 206 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,422 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Ormiston's 10.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (8.3%), along with the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 52.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for 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 where utilised, AreaSearch is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Looking at population projections moving forward, a population increase just below the median of national statistical areas is expected, with the suburb expected to increase by 706 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 9.8% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Ormiston among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Ormiston averaged approximately 58 new dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 291 homes were approved, with an additional 39 approved so far in FY-26. This translates to about 2.4 people moving to the area per new home constructed over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost value of new homes is approximately $731,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. In FY-26, commercial approvals totalled $4.4 million, suggesting limited commercial development activity.

Detached houses comprise 72% of new developments, with townhouses or apartments making up the remaining 28%, preserving Ormiston's suburban character. The area has approximately 102 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an expanding market. By 2041, Ormiston is projected to gain around 694 residents according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Given current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling population growth exceeding current forecasts.

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

Twelve projects identified by AreaSearch are anticipated to influence the local area's performance. Key initiatives include Redland Hospital Expansion, Redlands Coast Smart and Connected City Strategy, Redlands Research Station Expansion, and Ormiston College Master Plan Redevelopment. The following details projects expected to have significant relevance:.

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

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The labour market strength in Ormiston positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Ormiston has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.0% as of the past year's data aggregation by AreaSearch. Employment growth over this period is estimated at 5.0%.

As of December 2025, Ormiston has 3,901 working residents and an unemployment rate of 2.1%, which is below Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Ormiston is 66.1%, lower than Greater Brisbane's 69.6%. According to Census responses, 23.1% of Ormiston residents work from home.

Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Public administration & safety has limited representation at 6.0%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 7.0%. Over the year ending December 2025, employment increased by 5.0% while labour force grew by 5.4%, raising unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment rise by 3.2%, labour force grow by 3.0%, and a decrease in unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ormiston's industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 indicates that Ormiston's median income is $56,553 and average income is $76,601. This compares to Greater Brisbane's median income of $58,236 and average income of $72,799 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% from financial year ending June 2023 to March 2026, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $62,977 and an average income of $85,303 in Ormiston by that date. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Ormiston cluster around the 55th percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 27.7% of locals (1,953 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income category, similar to the broader area where 33.3% occupy this range. A substantial proportion, 30.6%, earn above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity in the locality. After housing costs, 86.0% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in Ormiston, as per the latest Census, consisted of 75.7% houses and 24.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Brisbane metro had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ormiston was at 41.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.3% and rented ones at 21.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, higher than Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $450, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Ormiston's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Ormiston features high concentrations of family households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 77.2% of all households, including 33.5% couples with children, 32.7% couples without children, and 10.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.8%, with lone person households at 21.3% and group households comprising 1.4%. The median household size is 2.6 people, aligning with the Greater Brisbane average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 29.8%, higher than the SA4 region average of 23.7% and Queensland's state average of 25.7%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 19.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational credentials are held by 35.1% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 13.7% and certificates at 21.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.2% in secondary education, 8.6% in primary education, and 4.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Ormiston has 24 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 31 individual routes, collectively facilitating 1,958 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is deemed good with residents typically located 233 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 89%, while train usage stands at 6%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 23.1% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 279 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 81 weekly trips per stop.

The level of general health in Ormiston is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population and nearer the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Ormiston shows better-than-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

The prevalence of common health conditions is low among its general population but closer to the national average for older, at-risk cohorts. Private health cover is very high in Ormiston, with approximately 58% (~4,059 people) of the total population having it. Arthritis and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.5 and 7.9% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 66.2%, report being completely free from medical ailments compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among working-age individuals in Ormiston are generally typical. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 27.9% (1,968 people), compared to Greater Brisbane's 15.1%. While health outcomes among seniors in Ormiston are above average, they rank lower nationally than those of the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Ormiston was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Ormiston had a cultural diversity score above average, with 9.4% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home, as per the data from 30 June 2016. Additionally, 30.3% of Ormiston's population was born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Ormiston, accounting for 56.1% of the population, compared to 47.8% across Greater Brisbane as of 2016.

The top three ancestry groups in Ormiston were English at 33.0%, Australian at 22.3%, and Scottish at 9.5%. Notably, South Australian ancestry was overrepresented in Ormiston at 1.6%, compared to the regional average of 0.6%. Similarly, Welsh ancestry stood at 0.9% (vs 0.5%) and New Zealand ancestry at 1.2% (vs 1.0%).

Ormiston hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Ormiston is 47 years, which is notably higher than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 years and also exceeds the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to the Greater Brisbane average, the 75-84 age cohort is significantly over-represented in Ormiston at 10.9%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 5.9%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 8.6% to 10.9% of Ormiston's population, while the 15 to 24 age cohort has risen from 12.1% to 13.4%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age group has decreased from 7.0% to 5.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Ormiston. The 85+ age cohort is projected to surge dramatically, expanding by 365 people (123%) from 296 to 662. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 80% of the projected growth. Conversely, the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.