Glass House Mountains (Qld)

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Analysis of ABS demographic updates and quarterly validation of address data by Districts suggests that the suburb of Glass House Mountains has a population of approximately 6,181 as of May 2026. This represents an addition of 580 residents (10.4%) compared to the 2021 Census, which recorded 5,601 people. This estimation is based on a resident population of 6,163 calculated by Districts using the June 2025 ABS ERP release, supplemented by 171 validated new addresses registered since the Census. The density of the suburb of Glass House Mountains stands at 85 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and capacity for future expansion. The 10.4% rate of expansion since the 2021 census paced ahead of the Rest of Qld (9.2%) and the national benchmark, establishing the suburb of Glass House Mountains as a local growth leader. The primary driver of this growth was interstate migration, accounting for roughly 52.0% of the demographic gains, though natural increase and overseas migration also made positive contributions.

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The local workforce exhibits a balanced mix of professional and manual roles, with construction showing particularly high representation, and the unemployment rate stands at 3.5% based on aggregated local data. Employment was held by 3,036 residents as of March 2026, with the jobless rate tracking 0.4% lower than the 3.9% recorded in Regional Qld, while labor participation is close to the Regional Qld benchmark of 64.3%. Census data indicates that 15.1% of working residents performed their duties from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of pandemic restrictions.

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Tax data from the ATO aggregated by Districts for financial year 2023 indicates that income levels in Glass House Mountains are below the national average. The median taxpayer income is $49,936 and the average is $60,610, compared to Regional Qld benchmarks of $53,146 and $66,593. Adjusting for a 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 yields estimated values of approximately $55,609 for the median and $67,495 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census ranks household, family, and personal incomes modestly, placing them between the 36th and 49th percentiles. The primary weekly income bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, which includes 35.7% of residents (2,206 people), comparable to the regional rate of 31.7%. Discretionary funds remaining after housing costs account for 85.1% of income, and the SEIFA index places the area in the 5th decile for income.

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At the time of the most recent Census, the local housing stock consisted of 98.3% houses and 1.7% other dwellings, such as apartments and semi-detached properties, whereas Regional Qld recorded 76.4% houses and 23.6% other options. The home ownership rate stood at 37.4%, which is higher than the regional average, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (46.1%) or rented (16.5%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,820 was higher than the Regional Qld average of $1,655, and the median weekly rent of $400 also exceeded the regional average of $345. Locally, mortgage obligations are lower than the national average of $1,863, while rental costs are higher than the Australian median of $375.

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Families make up 81.3% of local households, consisting of couples with children (33.9%), couples without children (35.4%), and single-parent homes (11.1%). Non-family households account for the remaining 18.7%, with single-person households representing 15.8% and group households making up 3.3%. The median household size is 2.8 persons, larger than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

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The region shows lower rates of higher education, with 16.3% of residents holding a university qualification compared to the national rate of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are held by 12.1% of the population, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.1% and graduate diplomas at 2.1%. Practical and vocational credentials are common, with 45.8% of individuals aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.9%) and certificate-level training (33.9%).

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Analysis of public transit indicates 3 active stops operate locally, incorporating train and bus services. These stops support 41 different routes, delivering a combined total of 470 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is classified as limited, with residents living an average of 1394 meters from the closest stop. Given the residential nature of the suburb, 92% of working residents commute by car, which remains the primary mode of travel. Vehicle ownership averages 1.9 per household, exceeding the regional average. The 2021 Census recorded 15.1% of residents working from home, which may reflect the impact of pandemic conditions.

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Assessments of mortality rates and chronic illness indicators by Districts suggest notable health difficulties in the area, with common ailments affecting both younger and older cohorts, and private health insurance coverage is relatively low, held by approximately 51% of the population (~3,165 people).

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Cultural diversity metrics are below the national average, with 83.2% of residents born in Australia, 89.3% holding citizenship, and 95.7% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the main religious affiliation, representing 46.7% of the population, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld.

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The median age of 41 years matches the average for Regional Qld, while tracking older than the national median of 38 years. Compared to Regional Qld, there is a larger proportion of residents aged 35 - 44 (14.4%) and a smaller share aged 25 - 34 (10.8%). Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age bracket grew from 12.8% to 14.4%, while the 65 to 74 group fell from 12.0% to 10.6% and the 55 to 64 bracket decreased from 13.5% to 12.3%. Projections to 2041 indicate that the 35 to 44 age group will grow by 23% (an increase of 207 people) to reach 1,098 from 890, while the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to decrease.

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Glass House Mountains currently has an estimated 352 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 210 children aged 0-2 and 140 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 14% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 21% by 2041 (to approximately 425 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 639. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 10.2 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area within the middle tier nationally.