Tara (Qld)

Tara has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Tara's population is estimated at around 2,077 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 97 people (4.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,980 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 2,073 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 132 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1.6 persons per square kilometer. Tara's 4.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (3.8%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by natural growth, contributing approximately 48.0% 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 areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. Over this period, projections indicate a decline in overall population by 101 persons by 2041. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 85 and over age group, which is projected to increase by 35 people.

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

Tara has seen limited development activity with an average of one approval per year over five years (seven approvals in total). This low level of development reflects the rural nature of the area, where projects are typically driven by local housing needs rather than broader market demand. The small number of approvals means individual projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Tara's development activity is notably lower compared to the rest of Queensland and well below national averages. Recent building activity has consisted entirely of standalone homes, aligning with rural living preferences for space and privacy. The estimated population per dwelling approval in Tara is 820 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. With stable or declining population forecasts, Tara may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Given stable or declining population forecasts, Tara may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects that may impact the area: New Tara Hospital, Western Downs Green Power Hub, Sixteen Mile Solar Farm, and Hopeland Solar Farm. The following details these key projects with potential relevance.

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

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Employment conditions in Tara face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Tara's workforce comprises white and blue-collar jobs with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 18.6%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025627 residents are employed while the unemployment rate stands at 14.5% above Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation in Tara lags significantly at 44.8%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census responses indicate that only 12.0% of residents work from home, although Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Dominant employment sectors among residents include agriculture, forestry & fishing, education & training, and public administration & safety. Tara shows strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 4.1 times the regional level, while professional & technical services have lower representation at 0.6% versus the regional average of 5.1%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Tara's labour force increased by 5.2%, while employment decreased by 6.1%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate by 9.8 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Tara. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Tara's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.4% over five years and 11.8% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The suburb of Tara's median income among taxpayers was $38,235 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $43,392 during the same period. This compares to figures for Rest of Qld's which were $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $42,024 (median) and $47,692 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Tara all fell between the 0th and 2nd percentiles nationally. The income distribution showed that 34.8% of residents earned within the $400 - 799 bracket (722 people). This is unlike trends in the broader area where 31.7% fell within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. With 45.3% earning under $800 per week, Tara faced considerable income constraints affecting local spending patterns. Despite modest housing costs with 91.0% of income retained, the total disposable income ranked at just the 4th percentile nationally.

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

In Tara, as per the latest Census, 94.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 5.6% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Non-Metro Qld's distribution of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Tara stood at 56.3%, with mortgaged properties at 17.3% and rented ones at 26.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $758, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Tara was $180, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Tara's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $758 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 58.2% of all households, including 16.3% couples with children, 26.5% couples without children, and 12.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 41.8%, with lone person households at 34.8% and group households comprising 7.5%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Tara faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 9.1%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 6.4% of residents holding one, followed by graduate diplomas (1.6%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.2% of residents aged 15+ possessing them, including advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (30.8%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.7% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 1.0% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Tara faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 44% of Tara's total population (~922 people), compared to 52.5% in the rest of Queensland and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.7%) and mental health issues (11.9%), while 52.8% report no medical ailments, lower than the 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. Working-age residents face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Tara has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 24.1%, compared to 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors are challenging, with national rankings broadly similar to those of the general population.

Tara is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Tara's population was found to be predominantly culturally homogenous, with 86.8% being citizens, 89.7% born in Australia, and 95.9% speaking English only at home. The dominant religion in Tara is Christianity, accounting for 53.2% of the population, slightly higher than the regional average of 52.2%. In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are Australian (32.3%), English (29.8%), and Scottish (7.8%).

Notably, Hungarian, Australian Aboriginal, and German ethnicities have higher representations in Tara compared to the regional averages: Hungarian at 0.6% vs 0.2%, Australian Aboriginal at 6.9% vs 3.9%, and German at 4.8% vs 4.7%.

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

Tara's median age is 48, which is higher than Rest of Qld's figure of 41 and significantly greater than the national norm of 38. The 55-64 age group constitutes 17.7% of Tara's population, compared to Rest of Qld, while the 35-44 cohort makes up 9.7%. This concentration in the 55-64 age group is well above the national figure of 11.2%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 9.8% to 11.0%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 13.3% to 10.5%, and the 5 to 14 group has dropped from 12.6% to 10.9%. By 2041, Tara's age composition is expected to change significantly. Leading this shift, the 85+ group will grow by 50%, reaching 75 from 49. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 84% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 65 to 74 age groups.