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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
Sales Activity
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Sales Detail
Population
Woree has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends
Based on an evaluation of ABS demographic updates for the broader region alongside address registries validated by AreaSearch since the Census, the population of the suburb of Woree is estimated to be approximately 5,263 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 136 residents (2.7%) from the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 5,127 individuals. The shift is calculated from a resident base of 5,252, projected by AreaSearch using the latest ERP data release from the ABS (June 2025) plus 2 additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level corresponds to a density of 884 persons per square kilometer, matching typical averages found in AreaSearch evaluations. Demographic expansion in the locality was chiefly fueled by overseas migration, which accounted for approximately 51.0% of all population increases in recent times.
AreaSearch implements projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for every SA2 region, published in 2024 with 2022 as the baseline year. For SA2 territories lacking this coverage, and for any years after 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 and based on 2021 statistics are used. Because these state-level models omit age brackets, AreaSearch allocates cohort growth proportions based on the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023, utilizing 2022 data) for each age group. Looking at future demographic developments, the suburb of Woree is projected to experience population growth above the median for non-metropolitan Australia, with regional projections indicating an increase of 1,026 residents by 2041, representing a total rise of 19.3% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is lower than average in Woree according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets
According to AreaSearch evaluations of ABS building permit statistics compiled from local area files, the suburb of Woree average roughly 4 homes receiving planning permission each year, with a total of 23 residences approved over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 469 during the course of FY-26. Given that 3.8 people migrated to the area for every house constructed over those 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demand outstrips supply, which generally drives up prices and intensifies buyer competition, while new projects average an estimated cost of $702,000, showing that builders are focusing on higher-end luxury properties. Additionally, there were $70,000 of commercial permits issued in this financial year, showing very low commercial building momentum.
Relative to the Rest of Qld, the suburb of Woree displays considerably lower construction volumes (75.0% below the regional per capita benchmark). This lack of new inventory generally bolsters demand and values for pre-existing houses. This rate also sits below national norms, highlighting the mature development status of the neighborhood and pointing to potential zoning constraints. Additionally, recent building approvals have comprised detached dwellings exclusively, maintaining the low-density feel of the area with a focus on separate houses designed to draw buyers seeking spacious living. Builders are currently constructing detached residences at a higher rate than the baseline proportion suggests (49.0% at the Census), reflecting sustained demand for family-sized properties despite general densification trends. The ratio of 955 people in the suburb of Woree per building approval underscores a quiet, low-density development landscape.
Demographic projections indicate the suburb of Woree will add 1,015 residents by 2041 (starting from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current building patterns persist, new housing volumes may fail to keep pace with demographic expansion, potentially elevating competition among purchasers and sustaining upward pressure on property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Woree
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Woree has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
Changes in local infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning initiatives are key drivers of regional performance. In total, 19 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having a potential local impact. Significant projects include the Woree Social and Affordable Housing Precinct, the Bayview Heights to White Rock Underground Cable Project, the Cairns Reservoirs Remediation Package 2, and the Bruce Highway Cairns Southern Access Corridor Stage 5 - Foster Road Intersection Upgrade, with the most relevant ones detailed in the list below.
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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
Woree Social and Affordable Housing Precinct
Queensland's largest social and affordable housing precinct, delivering 490 modern, energy-efficient apartments specifically for seniors over 55 and people living with disability. The project utilizes innovative modular construction, with 1,008 volumetric timber modules being delivered to the site. The precinct features four distinct three-storey villages with landscaped gardens, community facilities, and onsite support services managed by Community Housing Limited. It is located near the Woree Aquatic Centre and local transit routes.
Bayview Heights Reservoir Refurbishment
Remediation works are ongoing at the Bayview Heights water reservoir as part of a critical package to extend the service life of nine reservoirs across the Cairns region. Following an unsuccessful re-lining attempt in 2024 due to deteriorated roof conditions, the reservoir remains offline through the 2025-26 wet season. Current plans involve removing the roof in the 2026 dry season to restore serviceability. The project is vital for maintaining network pressure and water security, particularly during peak demand and extreme weather events which recently triggered Level 4 water restrictions in March 2026.
Resource Recovery 2040
A major roadmap and infrastructure program to overhaul Cairns waste management. The project addresses the 2026 closure of the Bedminster Advanced Resource Recovery Facility and aims to reach Queensland Government recovery targets of 90% by 2040. Key initiatives include the introduction of a 3-bin system for food and garden organics (FOGO) starting in 2026, the development of new in-vessel composting facilities, and upgrades to existing materials recovery and transfer station assets.
Cairns Reservoirs Remediation Package 2
Remediation works are underway across nine Cairns Regional Council reservoirs at eight sites: Mayer Street, Panguna, Bayview Large, Barron View, Runnymede, Brinsmead, Dempsey Street A and B, and Crest Close. The program includes concrete rehabilitation and strengthening, internal protective coatings, steel roof replacements at two reservoirs, access upgrades, minor civil works, access road repairs and temporary water supply works to improve water quality, reliability and security. Council reported in October 2025 that safety assessments, geotechnical surveys and structural testing had been completed, with repair and cleaning works progressing.
Bayview Heights to White Rock Underground Cable Project
Essential maintenance and refurbishment of 2.7km of 275kV underground high voltage transmission cables installed in 1997. The project addresses critical infrastructure risks through the removal of approximately 400 high-risk trees and the refurbishment of cable joint bays. Significant community enhancements include the installation of park benches, water bubblers with dog bowls, and shade structures along the Crowley Creek walking path. As of 2026, core transmission works are complete, and the project is in the extended maintenance phase for the establishment of 24,000 new compatible plants, with final completion expected in 2027.
Cairns Community and Multicultural Centre
Cairns Regional Council is progressing a community and multicultural centre at Tiffany Street, White Rock to provide social facilities, outreach services and inclusive meeting space for White Rock and Cairns multicultural communities. The planned centre includes a commercial kitchen, multipurpose rooms for up to 200 people, small meeting rooms, service-provider space, foyer and reception, and covered outdoor areas. As of late 2025, the capital project was in preliminary design, with Council awarding the proposed five-year lease and operation contract to Centacare Far North Queensland, subject to final trustee lease arrangements.
Cairns Gateway Estate (Riverstone Road North)
A 13.9 hectare mixed-use master planned development at the southern gateway to Cairns, now marketed as Cairns Gateway Estate. The site sits at the intersection of the Bruce Highway A1 and Riverstone Road (Gillies Highway), with 474m of highway frontage. Approved as an 11-lot subdivision across three precincts: Transport Oriented Service Activity (Precinct 1), Industry and Service Activity (Precincts 2A & 2B), and Community and Accommodation Activity (Precinct 3). Stage 1 civil works are complete with 9 of 11 lots sold, including Pearl Mobil Service Station, Hungry Jacks, Banjo Bakery, and Grace Removals. Stage 2 civil works are planned for June 2026. The development will provide the first fuel stop between Innisfail and Cairns over a 90 km stretch.
Bruce Highway Cairns Southern Access Corridor Stage 5 - Foster Road Intersection Upgrade
Grade separation and intersection upgrade at Bruce Highway and Foster Road in Cairns, forming Stage 5 of the Cairns Southern Access Corridor. Jointly funded by the Australian Government ($180 million) and Queensland Government ($45 million) on an 80:20 basis, totalling $225 million. The project builds on earlier corridor upgrades and will improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance road safety at one of Cairns' key southern access points. Planning is being undertaken by AECOM Australia and forms part of the broader Bruce Highway Upgrade Program.
Employment
Employment conditions in Woree face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally
The suburb of Woree features a diverse labor force spanning office and manual roles, with a solid footprint in essential services and an unemployment rate of 9.5%, according to aggregated AreaSearch data. In March 2026, there were 2,423 employed residents, while the jobless rate was 5.6% higher than the Regional Qld figure of 3.9%, highlighting room for economic improvement, and the participation rate was slightly subdued (61.7% compared to 64.3% in Regional Qld). Based on Census records, a modest 11.5% of working residents performed their duties from home, though pandemic restriction factors should be kept in mind.
The primary employment fields for working locals are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food services. The neighborhood demonstrates a strong concentration in transport, postal & warehousing, with its employment proportion reaching 1.7 times the regional level. On the other hand, agriculture, forestry & fishing is underrepresented at 1.1% compared to the regional average of 4.5%. Even though there are local job opportunities in the area, a high proportion of working residents commute outside the locality, based on the ratio of Census workers to the local population.
Analysis conducted by AreaSearch on SALM and ABS data, which were aggregated from larger statistical regions, indicates that during the year to March 2026, the labour force shrank by 1.9% while employment fell by 5.8%, resulting in an increase of 3.7 percentage points in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional Qld experienced a 0.1% rise in employment and a 0.3% increase in the labour force, with unemployment climbing by only 0.1 percentage points. Forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, provide additional context regarding potential future demand within Woree. These projections span five and ten-year intervals and have been overlaid onto the local employment structure to estimate future growth trajectories. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, expansion varies considerably across different industry sectors. When these sector-specific forecasts are applied to Woree's current employment composition, local employment is estimated to rise by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years. It is important to note that this calculation represents a basic weighted extrapolation intended for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate localized population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis
Based on AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode-level ATO data released for the financial year 2023, Woree had a median tax-filer income of $45,516, with the average income recorded at $52,513. These figures are below national benchmarks and compare to median and average levels of $53,146 and $66,593 throughout Regional Qld. Adjusted for a Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since the financial year 2023, estimated incomes would be roughly $50,687 (median) and $58,478 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census reports that household, family, and individual incomes in Woree all sit between the 10th and 24th percentiles nationally. In terms of income brackets, the largest segment includes 31.6% of residents (1,663 people) earning in the $800 - 1,499 range, contrasting with Regional Qld where the $1,500 - 2,999 range represents the largest group at 31.7%. Affordability pressures are high, with only 80.8% of income remaining after housing costs, placing the area in the 9th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Woree displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
Residential property types in Woree, as measured in the most recent Census, consisted of 48.6% separate houses and 51.5% alternative dwellings (townhouses, flats, and other housing units), compared to Regional Qld's breakdown of 76.4% separate houses and 23.6% alternative dwellings. Home ownership in Woree was lower than the regional rate, standing at 22.6%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (24.0%) or renting (53.4%). The median monthly home loan repayment was below the Regional Qld average at $1,300, while the median weekly rent stood at $280, compared to $1,655 and $345 across Regional Qld. On a national scale, mortgage payments in Woree are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent costs are below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Woree features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Families make up 62.2% of all local households, consisting of 19.9% couples with children, 21.4% couples without children, and 19.4% single-parent households. Non-family households account for the remaining 37.8%, with single-person households representing 33.4% and group homes making up 4.7%. The median household size of 2.3 individuals is slightly lower than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational outcomes in Woree fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment
The locality presents educational disparities, with university degree completion rates (15.0%) falling significantly short of the Australian benchmark of 30.4%. This highlights a clear gap and a potential target for local education programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.9%, followed by postgraduate study (2.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational and technical training is very common, with 45.4% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.9%) and certificates (34.5%).
Enrolment rates are high in the community, with 35.6% of residents actively undertaking formal education. This group comprises 12.7% attending primary schools, 10.3% in secondary schools, and 4.6% enrolled in tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Public transport services in the suburb of Woree include 18 active bus stops. These stops are served by 8 different routes, which provide a total of 696 passenger trips per week. Transport accessibility is good, with residents living an average of 231 meters from their nearest transit stop. The area is primarily residential, and most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 91%. Car ownership averages 1.0 vehicle per household, which is below the regional average. A low proportion of residents (11.5%) work from home (2021 Census; potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions).
Service frequency across all routes averages 99 trips per day, which translates to approximately 38 weekly trips for each transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Woree is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts
Woree faces notable public health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and chronic illness rates, with health conditions present across both younger and older cohorts, and private health insurance coverage is low at roughly 48% of the population (~2,526 people). This compares to a rate of 52.5% across Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%.
The most prevalent health issues recorded were mental health conditions and arthritis, affecting 8.3 and 7.4% of the population, respectively, while 69.1% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Health indicators for the working-age population are generally standard. The suburb has 18.4% of residents aged 65 and over (968 people), which is lower than the Regional Qld level of 20.4%, with national comparative health rankings being higher than the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Woree was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Woree shows high cultural diversity, with 22.9% of residents born outside Australia and 18.9% speaking a language other than English in their households. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 52.6% of residents. The most notable difference from regional averages is in the Other religious category, which represents 2.4% of the local population compared to 0.8% across Regional Qld.
Looking at parent birthplaces, the three largest ancestral groups are English at 22.5% of the population, which is below the regional average of 29.6%, Australian at 21.2%, which is below the regional average of 26.5%, and Other at 16.7%, which is higher than the regional average of 6.9%. Other specific ethnic groups show differences from regional averages: Australian Aboriginal residents make up 9.2% of the population (compared to 3.9% regionally), Filipino residents make up 2.9% (compared to 0.9% regionally), and Samoan residents represent 0.4% (compared to 0.2% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Woree's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms
The median age of Woree is 38 years, which is slightly below the Regional Qld average of 41 and identical to the national median of 38 years. The 25 - 34 age bracket is well represented at 14.4% compared to Regional Qld, while the 55 - 64 age group is smaller at 10.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age cohort has increased from 4.5% to 5.9% of the population, whereas the 55 to 64 group decreased from 12.6% to 10.4%, and the 5 to 14 group decreased from 12.5% to 11.2%. Projections for 2041 suggest changes in age structure, with the 25 to 34 age group expected to increase by 36% (274 people) to reach 1,032 from 757, while the 15 to 24 age group is projected to decrease by 2 people.