Upper Caboolture

Upper Caboolture lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the population of Upper Caboolture is estimated at around 6,059 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 972 people (19.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,087 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 5,719 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 764 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 383 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Upper Caboolture's 19.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.3%), along with the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 61.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as 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, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. 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 (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. As we examine future population trends, exceptional growth, placing in the top 10 percent of statistical areas across the nation, is predicted over the period with the suburb of Upper Caboolture expected to increase by 3,558 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 53.1% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Upper Caboolture among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Upper Caboolture saw approximately 121 new home approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 608 dwellings. As of FY-26443 approvals have been recorded. The area has experienced an average of 1.3 people moving in per year for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25. This indicates a balanced supply and demand market, supporting stable conditions.

The average construction cost value for new dwellings is $356,000. In FY-26, commercial approvals valued at $2.1 million have been registered, reflecting the area's residential nature.

Detached houses make up 83.0% of new building activity, with townhouses or apartments comprising the remaining 17.0%, preserving Upper Caboolture's low-density character and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 37 people per dwelling approval, Upper Caboolture exhibits growth area characteristics. By 2041, AreaSearch projects an addition of 3,218 residents to the area. Current development patterns suggest that new housing supply should meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 37 projects that could affect this region. Notable projects include Westbrook Estate, Bright Community, Aire Lilywood, and Westbrook at Lilywood, as detailed in the following list for relevance.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Upper Caboolture ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Upper Caboolture's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs. The construction sector stands out with a significant representation. The unemployment rate was 3.5% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.6%.

As of December 2025, 2,854 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 0.7% lower than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in Upper Caboolture is somewhat below standard at 66.8%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 69.6%. Only 11.9% of residents work from home, as reported in the Census. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

The area shows strong specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level. However, professional & technical jobs are under-represented at 4.2% compared to Greater Brisbane's 8.9%. The predominantly residential area offers limited local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 4.6%, while labour force grew by 4.5%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. In comparison, Greater Brisbane saw employment grow by 3.2% and unemployment fall by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Upper Caboolture's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

Upper Caboolture's median assessed income was $50,499 during financial year 2023, lower than the national average of $57,195. Greater Brisbane had a higher median income at $58,236 and an average income of $72,799 in the same period. By March 2026, estimates suggest Upper Caboolture's median income will be approximately $56,236 and average income around $63,692, based on a 11.36% growth since financial year 2023. The 2021 Census showed household incomes in Upper Caboolture were at the 50th percentile nationally. The dominant earnings category was $1,500 - 2,999, with 39.4% of locals (2,387 people) falling into this range. This is similar to the regional pattern where 33.3% occupy this range. Housing costs consume 15.9% of income in Upper Caboolture, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 58th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Upper Caboolture's latest Census data shows 96.5% houses and 3.5% other dwellings, compared to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Upper Caboolture was 25.8%, similar to Brisbane metro, with mortgaged dwellings at 51.7% and rented at 22.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,820, lower than Brisbane's $1,863. Median weekly rent in Upper Caboolture was $360, compared to Brisbane's $380. Nationally, Upper Caboolture's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Upper Caboolture features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 84.8% of all households, including 40.4% couples with children, 29.1% couples without children, and 14.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 15.2%, consisting of 12.7% lone person households and 2.3% group households. The median household size is 3.1 people, which is larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6 people.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.6%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 9.3%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.7%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 46.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (35.7%). Educational participation is high, with 32.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 12.8% in primary education, 10.5% in secondary education, and 3.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Upper Caboolture has four active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by one route, offering a total of 109 weekly passenger trips. Transport access is limited, with residents typically located 1012 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 91%, while train usage stands at 5%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 2.0, higher than the regional average.

In the 2021 Census, only 11.9% of residents worked from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 15 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 27 weekly trips per stop.

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

Upper Caboolture faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both younger and older age cohorts exhibit high prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is relatively low, at approximately 50% of the total population (~3,021 people), compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 10.5 and 9.1% of residents respectively, while 65.9% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. The working-age population experiences notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors, with 16.2% of residents aged 65 and over (981 people), compared to 15.1% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Upper Caboolture exhibited lower cultural diversity, with 84.8% born in Australia and 90.5% being citizens. English was the language spoken at home by 95.5%. Christianity dominated religiously at 42.8%, while Judaism was underrepresented at 0.0% compared to Greater Brisbane's 0.1%.

Ancestry-wise, Upper Caboolture had higher proportions of English (32.5%) and Australian (31.0%) than regional averages of 26.8% and 23.2%, respectively. Irish ancestry was at 6.9%. Notable differences included New Zealand (1.0% vs 1.0%), Maori (1.0% vs 1.1%), and German (5.0% vs 4.2%) representations.

Upper Caboolture's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Upper Caboolture has a median age of 33 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 and significantly lower than Australia's national average of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Upper Caboolture has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (16.3%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (13.5%). According to data from the 2021 Census, the percentage of residents aged 75-84 increased from 3.6% to 6.1%, while those aged 35-44 rose from 12.9% to 14.2%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45-54 decreased from 12.1% to 10.5%. Demographic projections suggest that Upper Caboolture's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 75-84 cohort expected to grow by 148%, adding 548 residents and reaching a total of 918.