Salisbury (Qld)

Salisbury has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Salisbury's population is estimated at around 7,510 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 720 people (10.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,790 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 7,503 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 47 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,643 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Salisbury's 10.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.3%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 76.0% 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 are adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. 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 for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. As we examine future population trends, a population increase just below the median of Australian statistical areas is expected, with the suburb expected to expand by 446 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 5.8% in total over the 16 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Salisbury when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis indicates approximately 23 new homes approved annually in Salisbury based on statistical area data. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 117 homes were approved, with an additional 19 approved so far in FY-26. On average, each home built over these five years accommodates about 5.2 new residents per year, suggesting supply is lagging demand, which may lead to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

The average expected construction cost for new dwellings is $602,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. This financial year has seen $52.2 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting significant local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Salisbury records about three-quarters of the building activity per person and ranks among the 53rd percentile nationally, suggesting an established area potentially facing planning limitations. Recent building activity consists solely of detached houses, maintaining Salisbury's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes.

With around 302 people per dwelling approval, the market is developing. By 2041, AreaSearch estimates a population growth of 439 residents. Given current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth beyond current forecasts.

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

Area infrastructure significantly impacts local performance. AreaSearch identified 14 potential impact projects. Notable ones are Cross River Rail's Salisbury Station Upgrade, Henson Road Industrial Estate in Nathan, Salisbury's Moorooka Neighbourhood Plan, and Salisbury Marketplace. The following details those likely 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.

AreaSearch analysis places Salisbury well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Salisbury has a highly educated workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.2%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.6% in the past year (AreaSearch). As of December 2025, 4,382 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.0% below Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation is at 74.5%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 69.6%. Approximately 21.5% of residents work from home (Census). Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical sectors. Salisbury specializes in education & training with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Retail trade has limited presence at 7.3%, compared to the regional average of 9.4%. The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.6, indicating above-average local employment opportunities (Census). Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 2.6% while labour force grew by 2.8%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points (AreaSearch). In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 3.2% and a 0.1 percentage point drop in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Salisbury's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years (simple weighting extrapolation).

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Salisbury suburb has a median taxpayer income of $61,637 and an average income of $71,978, based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. These figures are higher than the national averages of $58,236 (median) and $72,799 (average). Considering an 11.36% increase in wages from financial year 2023 to March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $68,639 (median) and $80,155 (average) by that date. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Salisbury are around the 74th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 33.7% of locals (2,530 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, similar to the surrounding region's 33.3%. Notably, 30.5% exceed $3,000 weekly, suggesting strong purchasing power in the community. Despite high housing costs consuming 15.5% of income, disposable income remains at the 75th percentile, with the area's SEIFA income ranking placing it in the 7th decile.

Salisbury is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Salisbury, as per the latest Census evaluation, 89.3% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 10.8% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. In Brisbane metro, this ratio was 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Salisbury stood at 24.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.2% and rented ones at 30.4%. 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 for Salisbury was $400, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Salisbury's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Salisbury features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 72.5% of all households, including 34.6% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 27.5%, with lone person households at 21.5% and group households comprising 6.0%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

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

In Salisbury, 39.6% of residents aged 15+ have university qualifications, surpassing the Queensland average of 25.7% and the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 26.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.1%). Vocational credentials are held by 29.1% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 10.5% and certificates at 18.6%. Educational participation is high, with 30.4% currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.9% in primary, 7.7% in tertiary, and 7.1% in secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.9% in primary education, 7.7% in tertiary education, and 7.1% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 39 active stops operating within Salisbury. These are served by 12 routes providing a total of 2,691 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good accessibility to these stops, with an average distance of 211 meters to the nearest one. In this residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the dominant mode at 79%, followed by trains at 8% and buses at 7%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 21.5% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 384 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 69 weekly trips per stop.

Health outcomes in Salisbury are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Salisbury's health indicators show below-average outcomes according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

The level of common health conditions among the general population is somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts. Private health cover is very high, with approximately 56% of the total population (~4,184 people). Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 10.2 and 7.5% of residents respectively. Around 71.3% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 11.3% of residents aged 65 and over (848 people), which is lower than the 15.1% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Salisbury, as per the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census of Population and Housing conducted on the 27th of August, 2016, exhibits a higher level of cultural diversity than most local markets. The proportion of overseas-born residents stands at 25.9%, while those speaking a language other than English at home constitute 19.8%. Christianity is the predominant religion in Salisbury, accounting for 44.3% of the population.

Notably, Hinduism is overrepresented in Salisbury compared to Greater Brisbane, with 3.7% versus 2.2%. The top three ancestry groups based on country of birth of parents are English (24.6%), Australian (23.1%), and Other (10.0%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Russian residents make up 0.6% in Salisbury compared to 0.3% regionally, Polish residents comprise 0.9% versus 0.5%, and Korean residents account for 0.6% versus 0.5%.

Salisbury's population is younger than the national pattern

Salisbury's median age is 35 years, nearly matching Greater Brisbane's average of 36 years, which is slightly younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Salisbury has a higher percentage of residents aged 35-44 (17.4%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (5.7%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 11.5% to 13.2%, while the proportion of residents aged 0-4 has decreased from 7.0% to 5.9%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Salisbury. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 22%, adding 211 residents to reach a total of 1,180. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 0-4 age cohorts.