Rothwell

An assessment of population growth drivers in Rothwell reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of May 2026, Rothwell's population is estimated at around 8,459 people. This reflects an increase of 921 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,538 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population as 8,454 following examination of the latest ERP data release by ABS in June 2025 and an additional 132 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 806 persons per square kilometer. Rothwell's 12.2% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both national (9.3%) and state averages, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was primarily responsible for this population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) are applied for each age cohort where utilized. Considering projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth is anticipated for Australian statistical areas. Rothwell is expected to grow by 282 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 3.3% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Rothwell, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Rothwell has seen around 15 dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 79 homes were approved, with a further 153 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, 0.4 new residents per year arrive for each new home built over these five years.

This indicates that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially driving population growth beyond current expectations. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $331,000. In FY-26, $3.7 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. New development consists of 38.0% detached houses and 62.0% townhouses or apartments, showing a trend towards denser development that appeals to downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers.

This shift contrasts with the current housing stock, which is 70.0% houses, suggesting decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options. The estimated population density in Rothwell is 372 people per dwelling approval, indicating a quiet development environment. Looking ahead, AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Rothwell to gain 277 residents by 2041, with current construction levels expected to meet demand and create favourable conditions for buyers while potentially driving growth beyond forecasts.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 25 projects likely affecting the region. Notable projects include Wellbrook by Azure, Freshwater Hub, Thyme Lifestyle Resort Rothwell (formerly Grace Living Rothwell), and Mango Hill Urban Village. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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.

The employment landscape in Rothwell shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Rothwell's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs. Key sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. As of December 2025, 3,972 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.5%, and estimated employment growth of 6.3% over the past year.

The unemployment rate is 0.4% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation stands at 60.2%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 69.6%. A low 11.4% of residents work from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment specialization is high in health care & social assistance (1.2 times the regional level), but lower in professional & technical services (4.5% vs regional average of 8.9%).

Many residents commute elsewhere for work. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 6.3%, while labour force grew by 6.2%, keeping unemployment stable. In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment growth of 3.2% and labour force growth of 3.0%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.8% over ten years for Rothwell, based on its current employment mix.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The suburb of Rothwell has a median taxpayer income of $48,581 and an average income of $55,149 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is lower than average nationally, contrasting with Greater Brisbane's median income of $58,236 and average income of $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $54,100 (median) and $61,414 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Rothwell all fall between the 19th and 20th percentiles nationally. The largest income segment comprises 30.1% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (2,546 residents). Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 79.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 17th percentile.

Rothwell displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The latest Census evaluation found that Rothwell's dwelling structure comprised 69.5% houses and 30.5% other dwellings. In comparison, Brisbane metro had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rothwell was at 31.1%, with the remainder being mortgaged (27.5%) or rented (41.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Rothwell was $1,676, below Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Rothwell was recorded at $380, matching Brisbane metro's figure but exceeding the national average of $375. Nationally, Rothwell's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863.

Rothwell has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 69.5% of all households, including 25.3% couples with children, 28.0% couples without children, and 15.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.5%, with lone person households at 27.9% and group households comprising 2.8%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 14.8%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (28.7%). Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes primary education (10.6%), secondary education (9.0%), and tertiary education (3.9%).

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

Rothwell has 23 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 35 individual routes, collectively facilitating 2,648 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good with residents typically located 304 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward, with car being the primary mode at 89%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.2, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 11.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

On average, there are 378 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 115 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Rothwell is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Rothwell faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and prevalence of chronic conditions across various age groups. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% (~4,149 people), compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (11.1%) and mental health issues (9.9%), while 58.4% report no medical ailments, lower than Greater Brisbane's 69.2%.

Working-age residents face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Rothwell has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 25.9% (~2,190 people), compared to Greater Brisbane's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors align with national rankings for the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Rothwell records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Rothwell's cultural diversity was found to be above average, with 9.4% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 23.0% born overseas. The predominant religion in Rothwell was Christianity, comprising 57.2% of the population, compared to 47.8% across Greater Brisbane. In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups were English (31.1%), Australian (26.6%), and Scottish (8.1%).

Notably, certain ethnic groups showed higher representation in Rothwell than regionally: Samoan at 1.7% vs 0.9%, Maori at 1.6% vs 1.1%, and New Zealand at 1.1% vs 1.0%.

Rothwell hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Rothwell is 43 years, significantly higher than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. The 75-84 age group constitutes 11.4% of Rothwell's population, compared to Greater Brisbane's percentage, while the 25-34 age group makes up 9.9%, lower than Greater Brisbane's figure. This concentration in the 75-84 age group is higher than the national average of 6.1%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 12.0% to 13.0%, while the 85+ cohort has decreased from 5.2% to 4.4%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Rothwell. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 31%, reaching 1,261 people from a starting point of 964. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 84% of total population growth, reflecting Rothwell's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 15-24 and 0-4 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.