South Toowoomba

An assessment of population growth drivers in South Toowoomba reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering 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, South Toowoomba's population is estimated at around 5,710 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 198 people (3.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,512 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 5,702 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 18 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,543 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 81.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area as 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 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 applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort. As future population trends are examined, a population increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is expected. The suburb is expected to expand by 267 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 4.7% in total over the 17 years.

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

South Toowoomba saw approximately 9 new homes approved annually between FY-21 and FY-25. A total of 49 homes were approved in those five years, with an additional 4 approved in FY-26. Each dwelling built resulted in an average of 2.1 new residents per year over the same period.

New homes were constructed at an average value of $380,000, lower than regional levels, indicating more affordable housing options for buyers. Commercial approvals totalled $57.5 million in FY-26, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the rest of Queensland, South Toowoomba had significantly less development activity, 69.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Recent construction activity has intensified, though it remains below the national average, indicating an established area with potential planning limitations. New building activity comprised 33.0% detached houses and 67.0% attached dwellings, shifting from the area's current housing composition of 70.0% houses. This trend reflects decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring diverse, affordable housing options.

South Toowoomba has approximately 437 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established location. Future projections estimate a population growth of 268 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-suited to meet future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects that may affect the region. Notable initiatives include Grants for Growth Infrastructure Plan, Retirement Village (86 Units) - Single Storey, Mater Dei Primary School Early Years Precinct, and Ruthven Street Social and Affordable Housing Development. The following list details those most likely to be 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 labour market in South Toowoomba demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

South Toowoomba has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.9% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 15.3% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, 3,133 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.0% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation was fairly standard at 62.7%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries for employment among residents included health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. South Toowoomba showed strong specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level, while mining had lower representation at 0.8% versus the regional average of 3.6%.

The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident indicated a higher level of local employment opportunities compared to the norm. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 15.3%, and labour force grew by 12.8%, resulting in an unemployment rate decrease of 2.1 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%, with a slight increase in unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 provide further insight into potential future demand within South Toowoomba. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to South Toowoomba's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and without considering localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

South Toowoomba's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2022 was $53,135. The average income stood at $65,289 during the same period. These figures are comparable to those of Rest of Qld, which were $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates for South Toowoomba's median income would be approximately $60,569 as of September 2025, while the average is estimated to reach around $74,423 during the same period. Census data indicates that personal income ranks at the 41st percentile ($763 weekly), and household income sits at the 24th percentile. The majority of residents (31.3%, or 1,787 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, which aligns with the broader area where this cohort also represents 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in South Toowoomba, with only 82.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 23rd percentile.

South Toowoomba displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

South Toowoomba's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 69.6% houses and 30.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 81.4% houses and 18.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Toowoomba was at 22.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.2% and rented ones at 49.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,405, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent in South Toowoomba was $290, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $310. Nationally, South Toowoomba's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

South Toowoomba features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 56.5% of all households, including 18.9% couples with children, 23.0% couples without children, and 13.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 43.5%, with lone person households at 37.6% and group households comprising 5.6%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in South Toowoomba aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 26.8% among residents aged 15+, exceeding the Rest of Qld average of 20.6%. This rate also surpasses that of the SA3 area at 23.1%, indicating a strong emphasis on higher education in the community. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 18.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%).

Vocational credentials are held by 35.2% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 25.7%. Educational participation is high, with 29.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.8% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 5.3% pursuing tertiary education. The area has educational provision including St Saviour's College and St Saviour's Primary School, serving a total of 743 students. These institutions demonstrate typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 1013). Educational provision is conventional, split between one primary and one secondary institution. There are 13.0 school places per 100 residents in the area, which falls below the regional average of 17.2, suggesting some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

South Toowoomba has 40 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 6 different routes that together facilitate 706 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents to the nearest transport stop is 192 meters, indicating excellent accessibility.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 100 trips per day, resulting in approximately 17 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in South Toowoomba is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

South Toowoomba faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 53%, slightly higher than the average SA2 area but lower than Rest of Qld's 51%.

Mental health issues affect 12% of residents, while arthritis impacts 9%. Around 64.3% report no medical ailments, compared to 65.3% in Rest of Qld. The area has 13.6% of residents aged 65 and over (776 people), lower than the 18.8% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes for seniors are generally aligned with the overall population's health profile.

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

South Toowoomba's cultural diversity aligns with the broader region, with 83.7% of residents being citizens, 81.4% born in Australia, and 86.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in South Toowoomba, accounting for 51.3% of the population. The most significant overrepresentation is seen in the 'Other' category, which comprises 4.8% of South Toowoomba's population compared to 2.2% across the rest of Queensland.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (26.9%), Australian (24.9%), and Irish (9.8%). Notable differences exist in the representation of certain ethnic groups: German is overrepresented at 7.6% compared to 8.0% regionally, Australian Aboriginal at 3.6% versus 3.3%, and Maori at 0.5% versus 0.3%.

South Toowoomba's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in South Toowoomba is 35 years, which is lower than the Rest of Queensland's average of 41 years and the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age cohort is notably higher in South Toowoomba at 20.5% compared to the Rest of Queensland average, while the 65-74 age group is lower at 7.3%. This is significantly higher than the national 14.5% for the 25-34 age group. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has increased from 17.6% to 20.5%, and the 0-4 age group has increased from 5.8% to 7.0%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has decreased from 12.5% to 11.0%, and the 65-74 age group has dropped from 8.7% to 7.3%. Population forecasts for South Toowoomba in 2041 indicate significant demographic changes, with the 25-34 age group expected to grow by 23% (265 people), reaching a total of 1,436 from 1,170. Meanwhile, both the 65-74 and 5-14 age groups are projected to have reduced numbers.