Stafford (Qld)

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Stafford has an estimated population of approximately 7,491 residents as of May 2026, according to Districts evaluations of updated ABS data and post-Census address validations. This indicates a rise of 513 individuals (7.4%) relative to the 2021 Census, which recorded 6,978 residents. This updated figure of 7,491 is derived by Districts through analyzing the June 2025 ABS Estimated Resident Population release alongside 29 validated new addresses registered since the Census. Based on these numbers, the suburb of Stafford has a population density of 2,184 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical density across national locations analyzed by Districts. The suburb of Stafford recorded growth of 7.4% since the Census, keeping it within 0.6 percentage points of the broader SA3 region (8.0%) and highlighting its strong growth performance. Natural increase was the primary contributor to demographic expansion, accounting for approximately 56% of the total population gains in recent times.

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Stafford has a highly educated workforce with a significant proportion of professionals, an unemployment rate of 5.7%, and an estimated job growth rate of 7.3% over the prior year, according to compiled statistical area data from Districts. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 4,747, while the unemployment rate was 1.4% higher than the Greater Brisbane average of 4.3%. Workforce participation is particularly high, reaching 80.6% compared to 70.4% in Greater Brisbane. According to Census responses, a moderate 22.3% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 containment measures.

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According to the latest postcode-level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Stafford taxpayers have a median income of $59,813 and an average income of $71,973. This is above the national average and compares to a median of $58,236 and an average of $72,799 in Greater Brisbane. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $66,608 for the median and $80,149 for the average. In the 2021 Census, individual income was in the 75th percentile ($965 per week), while household income sat in the 50th percentile. Income distribution details show that 31.7% of the population (2,374 people) earn between $1,500 and mirroring the wider region where of residents fall into this bracket. Affordability pressures are considerable, leaving residents with only of their income, which ranks in the th percentile, while the area's SEIFA income score falls in the th decile.

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At the most recent Census, the housing mix in Stafford consisted of 66.8% houses and 33.2% other types of dwellings such as townhouses, apartments, and alternative options, compared to 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings across the Brisbane metro area. Home ownership in Stafford was lower than the Brisbane metro benchmark, standing at 19.3%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (30.9%) or rented (49.8%). The median monthly mortgage payment was higher than the Brisbane metro average of $1,863, coming in at $2,000, while the median weekly rent was $360, compared to the metropolitan median of $380. On a national level, Stafford's mortgage payments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rents are lower than the national median of $375.

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Families make up 60.5% of all households, consisting of couples with children at 22.8%, couples without children at 24.2%, and single parents at 11.7%. The remaining 39.5% are non-family households, which include single-person households at 33.5% and group share houses at 6.1%. The median size of households is 2.2 residents, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

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Levels of educational qualification in Stafford are higher than broader averages, with 36.2% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to 25.7% in QLD and 30.4% nationwide. This educational profile positions the community well for professional opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 25.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees (7.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational and technical training is also common, with 32.6% of residents aged 15 and over holding trade qualifications, comprising advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (22.0%).

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Public transport infrastructure includes 65 active bus stops located within Stafford. These stops accommodate 13 distinct routes, providing a total of 2,428 passenger trips every week. Accessibility is excellent, with the average resident living within 124 meters of a transport stop. Given the residential nature of the suburb, most workers travel out of the area, with private cars being the primary mode of travel at 81%, and bus transport accounting for 9%. Car ownership averages 1.1 vehicles per household, which is lower than the regional average. In the 2021 Census, 22.3% of residents reported working from home, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 protocols.

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Stafford experiences notable public health difficulties, based on Districts analysis of mortality statistics and the prevalence of chronic illnesses across both younger and older demographics, while private health insurance uptake is high, covering approximately 56% of the population, or about 4,173 people.

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Stafford exhibits higher cultural diversity than average, with 20.3% of the population born outside Australia and 12.6% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 48.8% of residents. The most distinct relative overrepresentation is within the Jewish faith, which accounts for 0.1% of the local population, compared to 0.1% across Greater Brisbane.

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The median age in Stafford is 35 years, which is close to the Greater Brisbane average of 36 years and slightly younger than the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Stafford has a larger proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 (20.3%) but a smaller proportion aged 75 to 84 (3.4%). This concentration of young adults aged 25 to 34 is higher than the national average of 14.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the 55 to 64 cohort has increased from 9.9% to 10.6% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 12.3% to 11.7%. Population projections for 2041 suggest shifting demographics, with the to group expected to grow the most at , adding people to reach a total of while the to and to age cohorts are projected to decline.

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Stafford currently has an estimated 449 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 265 children aged 0-2 and 176 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 4% since the previous census. though population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 8% by 2041 (to approximately 413 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 662. Recent growth has been driven by high birth rates observed in the area, with approximately 12.4 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. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.