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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Stafford Heights has an estimated 7,192 residents, up from 6,992 at the 2021 Census — a change of 200 people, or 2.9%. That puts 2,480 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Stafford Heights has an estimated population of around 7,192, based on AreaSearch evaluations of broader ABS regional updates and post-Census address validations. This represents a gain of 200 people (2.9%) compared to the 2021 Census tally of 6,992 people. This figure is determined from an estimated resident population of 7,192 following the ABS ERP release from June 2025 alongside 5 validated new addresses added after the Census date. With a density ratio of 2,480 persons per square kilometer, the locality ranks in the upper quartile across locations evaluated nationwide by AreaSearch.
In recent times, population gains were largely underpinned by overseas migration, which made up approximately 77.0% of total growth. Projections for each SA2 area in the suburb of Stafford Heights utilise the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia dataset with a 2022 baseline, supplemented after 2032 and for unmapped SA2s by Queensland State Government SA2 figures released in 2023 from 2021 data. Because state datasets omit age-specific cohorts, proportional adjustments are applied from the ABS Greater Capital Region 2023 release (2022 baseline). Under this framework, long-term demographic patterns point to a population reduction of 646 persons by 2041. In contrast, certain age segments will experience expansion, most notably residents aged 85 and over, who are forecast to increase by 183 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
48 new dwellings have been approved in Stafford Heights over the past five years, an average of 9 a year. That is 2.7 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 57, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
ABS building approval statistics reviewed by AreaSearch indicate an average annual approval volume of around 9 new homes in Stafford Heights, yielding roughly 48 homes throughout the past 5 financial years. Approvals in FY-25 to date have reached 57. Between FY-21 and FY-25, the addition of new residents averaged just 0.6 new residents per year per approved home, demonstrating that construction is matching or outstripping local needs, providing substantial options for purchasers and allowing scope for future population expansion. Furthermore, newly approved properties carry an average construction cost of $618,000, underscoring an emphasis on high-end residential stock, while $2.2 million in approved commercial activity this financial year highlights the predominantly residential character of the suburb.
Recent residential building activity is distributed between 47.0% detached dwellings and 53.0% medium and high-density housing, delivering accessible entry prices that appeal to downsizers, first-home buyers, and property investors. This marks a clear transition from the local baseline where houses make up 97.0%, reflecting both constrained land availability and demand for varied, cost-effective residential options. The area records approximately 221 people per dwelling approval, denoting a lower-density residential setting. With demographic projections remaining steady or reducing, Stafford Heights is likely to encounter muted housing pressure, establishing advantageous circumstances for prospective buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Stafford Heights
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 2 current infrastructure and development projects inside Stafford Heights, worth an estimated $85 million. A further 68 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $16.7 billion. 9 are already under construction and 22 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and retail. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure investment, urban planning, and development projects play a major role in regional performance. AreaSearch has pinpointed 17 key initiatives influencing the locality, including the Stafford Heights Aged Care & Retirement Village Expansion, Stafford City Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Everton Park Urban Village, and MONARC Mixed-Use Precinct.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Stafford Heights Aged Care & Retirement Village Expansion
Expansion of the existing Churches of Christ aged care and retirement living precinct at Stafford Heights, delivering more than 80 new independent living units together with upgraded aged care and community facilities. Construction is continuing with staged delivery expected through 2026.
Rode Rd, Stafford Heights
Effinity's project on the city's northside includes 32 apartments, retail space, and two basement parking levels. Featuring a communal rooftop garden, the development focuses on urban consolidation and housing diversity in Stafford Heights.
Stafford City Shopping Centre Redevelopment
A significant 150 million AUD plus redevelopment of Stafford City Shopping Centre. The project involves a major expansion including a new full-line Coles supermarket, an upgraded and expanded Aldi, and a suite of new specialty retail tenancies. The plan features a refurbished dining and entertainment precinct to integrate with the Kedron Brook area, alongside comprehensive site access and parking improvements to support the Transforming Stafford precinct vision.
The Prince Charles Hospital Expansion
The Prince Charles Hospital Expansion is a major health project delivered by Queensland Health and Metro North Health, with Hutchinson Builders leading detailed design and construction. The project delivers a new multi-storey acute services building adding 93 inpatient beds, a significantly expanded emergency department with 53 treatment bays, new operating theatres, and paediatric outpatient services. Site works and construction activities are actively underway at the Chermside campus.
McDowall Village Master Plan Redevelopment
A concept master plan for the refurbishment and strategic expansion of McDowall Village Shopping Centre. The project focuses on revitalizing the IGA-anchored center by upgrading external facades, enhancing pedestrian connectivity between Beckett and Hamilton Roads, and reconfiguring internal tenancies to support new convenience retail and service offerings. As of May 2026, the project is progressing through feasibility and preliminary planning under CMC Property Management, with a focus on improving the suburban village atmosphere.
23-25 Sammells Drive Residential Development
Development approval for a multi-unit residential project comprising 33 apartments (10 one-bedroom and 23 two-bedroom configurations) across a 1,093 sqm site. The proposal involves the demolition of two existing residential dwellings to facilitate the mid-rise apartment complex. The site represents an infill development opportunity close to Westfield Chermside and key transport corridors.
705-707 Hamilton Road Development
Residential development project on Hamilton Road in Chermside West. Details of specific development proposal to be confirmed through planning process.
12 Kelso Street Build-to-Rent
A proposed 10-storey build-to-rent residential development featuring 226 studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments tailored for key worker housing. The scheme includes communal co-working spaces, landscaped ground-floor gardens, outdoor areas, and a rooftop amenity deck. The application was submitted to Brisbane City Council under development application A006388483.
4,059 residents of Stafford Heights are employed, from a labour force of 4,319. Unemployment sits at 6.0%, with participation at 74.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.1% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 5,535, about 77% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The workforce in Stafford Heights is notably well educated, with professional services making up a strong share of employment. The unemployment rate stands at 6.0%, and estimated employment growth over the past year reached 6.5%, according to AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of March 2026, 4,059 residents were employed, while the local unemployment rate was 1.7 percentage points higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.3%. Workforce participation was fairly standard at 74.2%, compared to 70.1% in Greater Brisbane. Census responses indicated that a moderate 22.8% of residents worked from home, although the effects of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account when interpreting this figure.
Key sectors employing local residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. Professional & technical roles demonstrate strong concentration, capturing an employment share 1.2 times that of the broader region. Conversely, manufacturing accounts for a smaller footprint of 3.8%, below the regional mark of 6.4%. Comparison of Census workforce figures to resident numbers suggests local employment positions within the suburb itself are relatively constrained. According to ABS and SALM metrics compiled across broader statistical areas, annual local employment advanced by 6.5% while the total labor force grew by 7.1%, resulting in a 0.5 percentage points uptick in the unemployment rate. Over the identical timeframe, Greater Brisbane recorded employment expansion of 3.2%, labor supply growth of 3.4%, and an unemployment rise of 0.1 percentage points. Looking ahead, national forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 project overall nationwide employment to rise by 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, with performance varying by sector. Aligning these national trajectories with the specific industry distribution of Stafford Heights indicates potential local employment gains of 7.1% over five years and 14.4% over ten years (calculated via simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes, excluding localized population forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Stafford Heights is $2,159 a week (about $112,000 a year), with median personal income at $929 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $64,421 a year against an average of $77,445. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Tax office figures at postcode level for financial year 2023 aggregated by AreaSearch show Stafford Heights residents recorded a median income of $64,421 and an average income of $77,445, exceeding Greater Brisbane equivalents of $58,236 and $72,799. Adjusting for an 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 places March 2026 income estimates at roughly $71,739 (median) and $86,243 (average). Census findings from 2021 align local personal, family, and household earnings near the 73rd percentile across Australia. Weekly earnings between $1,500 - 2,999 account for 29.7% of residents (2,136 individuals), compared to 33.3% across the wider region, while 33.0% receive over $3,000 weekly, reflecting strong earnings capacity.
Housing costs consume 14.5% of income, disposable earnings sit in the 77th percentile nationally, and the SEIFA income metric sits in the 7th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Stafford Heights had 2,597 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 97% detached houses and 1% apartments. 38% are owned with a mortgage, 30% rented and 32% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $415 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,167 a month. Rent absorbs 19.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.2%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data indicates that housing in Stafford Heights consists of 96.8% houses and 3.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with the wider Brisbane metro balance of 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Outright home ownership stands at 32.4%, significantly higher than the metropolitan benchmark, with 37.8% under a mortgage and 29.8% rented. Typical monthly mortgage payments of $2,167 exceed the Brisbane metro median of $1,863 and the national mark of $1,863, while weekly rent of $415 is higher than Brisbane metro's $380 and the national standard of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Stafford Heights counted 2,597 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 34% are couples with children, against 29% couples without children. 20% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.5 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 75.5% of households, consisting of 33.7% couples with children, 28.5% couples without children, and 11.6% single parent families. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 24.5%, comprising lone person residences (20.1%) and group households (4.3%). The median household occupancy of 2.6 people is identical to the Greater Brisbane average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
33.9% of adults in Stafford Heights hold a university qualification, including 23.7% with a bachelor degree and 6.6% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 20.4% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 388 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 998 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment in the suburb is robust, with 33.9% of residents aged 15+ holding tertiary degrees, surpassing the QLD benchmark of 25.7% and the nationwide level of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees comprise 23.7% of qualifications, followed by postgraduate degrees at 6.6% and graduate diplomas at 3.6%. Vocational education is also well represented, with 31.1% of residents aged 15+ possessing trade certificates (20.4%) or advanced diplomas (10.7%). A significant 27.8% of the local population is enrolled in formal study. This cohort encompasses 9.1% attending primary education, 7.1% in secondary education, and 6.3% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Stafford Heights means driving: households keep an average of 1.5 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.2% of residents in Stafford Heights report no long-term health condition. 5.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 57.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health metrics evaluated by AreaSearch indicate elevated rates of chronic illness and mortality in Stafford Heights across both younger and older residents. Concurrently, private health insurance coverage is extensive, encompassing approximately 58% of the population (~4,163 people), outperforming the Greater Brisbane average of 55.8%. Mental health conditions and asthma represent the most frequently reported diagnoses, affecting 9.7 and 8.1% of residents, respectively, whereas 67.2% reported no long-term medical conditions compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. General health for the working-age population aligns with standard benchmarks. Residents aged 65 and over constitute 16.8% of the community (1,208 people), exceeding Greater Brisbane's 15.0%, with health ratings for older demographics broadly consistent with nationwide patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Stafford Heights is largely Australian-born, at 80.6% of residents, with 11.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (27.4%) and Australian (24.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural demographics in Stafford Heights mirror broader regional patterns, with 80.6% of residents born in Australia, 91.0% holding Australian citizenship, and 88.5% speaking exclusively English at home. Christianity is the predominant faith, practiced by 54.4% of the population compared to 47.8% in Greater Brisbane. English (27.4%), Australian (24.7%), and Irish (10.7%) form the primary parental ancestries within Stafford Heights. Specific community representations show variations compared to the region, including New Zealand heritage at 1.0% (vs 1.0% regionally), Italian at 5.0% (vs 2.0%), and Russian at 0.4% (vs 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Stafford Heights is 37. 25.1% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age distribution of Stafford Heights closely tracks Greater Brisbane across all broad categories, remaining within 1.8 percentage points of regional shares. The median age is an estimated 37, matching the 2021 Census figure and sitting 1 year older than Greater Brisbane's Census level of 36. Since the Census, the most notable shift occurred in the 45 - 64 age group, which decreased from 23.8% to an estimated 22.2%. Looking ahead to 2041, seniors aged 65+ are projected to experience the strongest increase, rising by 246 (20%) to reach 1,454, while cohorts of children, young adults, and young to middle aged adults are expected to decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Stafford Heights
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jun 2026 4 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jun 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 5 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (6,992 at the 2021 Census → 7,192 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL32650). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.