Southside (Qld)

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Drawing on ABS demographic revisions for the surrounding region alongside recent address counts verified by Districts since the Census, Southside's current population is projected to be approximately 7,573 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 1,261 people (20.0%) from the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 6,312 people. The calculation is based on a resident population of 7,541 estimated by Districts using the latest ERP data release from the ABS (June 2025) plus an additional 493 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population size corresponds to a density of 406 persons per square kilometer, indicating substantial area per resident and capacity for upcoming expansion. The 20.0% growth rate of Southside since the 2021 census outpaced the Rest of Qld (9.2%) and the national average, placing it among the region's leading growth areas. Population expansion was chiefly propelled by arrivals from other states, who made up about 82.0% of the overall population increases lately, although all growth components including international migration and natural increase remained positive.

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Southside possesses a balanced labor force consisting of white-collar and blue-collar workers, with strong representation in public service sectors, a jobless rate of just 3.7%, and an estimated job growth rate of 6.4% over the preceding year, as compiled by Districts from statistical area data. In March 2026, 3,328 local residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 0.2% lower than the Regional Qld level of 3.9%, though the rate of participation in the workforce is considerably lower (54.9% compared to 64.3% in Regional Qld). Census returns indicate that a minor 5.4% of workers operated from home, though the influence of COVID-19 restriction periods should be taken into account.

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The suburb of Southside displays income levels that sit below the national average according to taxpayer details from the ATO compiled by Districts for financial year 2023. The suburb of Southside's median taxpayer income is $42,422, with the average income recorded at $51,361, compared to Regional Qld medians and averages of $53,146 and $66,593. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index rise of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current projections estimate these figures at approximately $47,241 (median) and $57,196 (average) as of March 2026. Census records show that household, family, and individual incomes in Southside all lie between the 10th and 11th percentiles across the country. Analysis shows that 28.0% of the population (2,120 individuals) earn weekly incomes in the $400 - 799 bracket, contrasting with the wider region where the - bracket is most common at . Housing cost burdens are significant, leaving residents with only of their income, which sits at the th percentile.

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Residential property types in Southside, as measured in the recent Census, consisted of 88.1% separate houses and 11.8% alternative dwellings (townhouses, apartments, and other housing types), compared to Regional Qld which registered 76.4% separate houses and 23.6% alternative dwellings. Furthermore, the level of outright home ownership in Southside was significantly higher than Regional Qld at 39.8%, while the remaining homes were held under a mortgage (30.7%) or occupied by tenants (29.5%). The median monthly home loan payment in the area was far below the Regional Qld average at $1,387, and the median weekly rent was recorded at $285, compared to regional figures of $1,655 and $345. On a national level, Southside's monthly mortgage costs are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well below the national median of $375.

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Family units constitute the majority of households at 69.9%, which includes 23.4% couples raising children, 31.7% couples without children, and 13.7% single-parent households. Non-family arrangements make up the remaining 30.1%, consisting of single-person households at 27.5% and group households at 2.8%. The median household size of 2.4 residents is slightly smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

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The region presents low levels of academic credentials, with university graduation rates (13.1%) sitting well below the national level of 30.4%. This highlights a clear opportunity for targeted education programs. Undergraduate degrees are the most common credential at 9.5%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.0%) and postgraduate degrees (1.6%). Vocational and technical training is very common, with 39.9% of residents aged 15+ holding trade qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (9.2%) and certificates (30.7%).

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Public transport analysis identifies 31 active transit stops operating within Southside, consisting of bus services. These stops are served by 1 distinct routes, which provide a combined total of 22 weekly passenger journeys. Transit access is classified as limited, with residents living an average of 1068 meters from their nearest transit stop. Being a largely commuter-focused residential area, most workers travel outside the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary mode of travel at 97%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.4 cars per household. A relatively small 5.4% of residents work from home (based on the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions).

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Health indicators highlight significant issues in Southside, based on Districts' evaluation of death rates and chronic illness rates, with common health conditions prevalent in both younger and older cohorts, alongside a very low rate of private health insurance coverage at roughly 48% of the population (~3,601 people). This is lower than the 52.5% recorded in Regional Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

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Southside displays low levels of multicultural diversity, with 89.5% of its inhabitants born in Australia, 91.7% holding citizenship, and 96.8% communicating only in English at home. The predominant religious affiliation in Southside is Christianity, which is practiced by 55.8% of the local population, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld.

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With a median age of 45, Southside is significantly older than the Regional Qld average of 41 and well above the national median of 38. The age distribution shows that residents aged 75 - 84 are highly represented (9.4%), whereas the 35 - 44 cohort is relatively small (10.7%) compared to the wider Regional Qld. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 expanded from 10.3% to 12.1%, and the 0 to 4 group grew from 4.7% to 5.8%. In contrast, the 65 to 74 demographic decreased from 14.4% to 12.7%, and the to cohort fell from to . Looking ahead to demographic models project notable changes in Southside's age makeup. Leading this transition, the to age bracket is projected to expand by ( people), growing from to . Conversely, the number of individuals aged to is projected to decrease by .

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Southside currently has an estimated 439 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 287 children aged 0-2 and 190 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 48% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 18% by 2041 (to approximately 518 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 664. Recent growth has been driven by high birth rates observed in the area, with approximately 12.2 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area among the top 30% of areas assessed nationally.